Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Angelee.
Hi Kristy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Of course! I’m a National Single Moms Speaker, Evangelist, Author, and Media Personality. In December 2015, I moved to Austin with my two boys, who are now teens. We needed a place to call our own, ending up in an extended stay until January 2016, when my funds ran out. Before moving from Alabama to Austin, I applied for us to live at Texas Baptist Children’s Homes until we could reach our feet. In Alabama, God spoke to me about becoming an evangelist for the single-mom community. Fast forward to living in Austin without a place to stay; the Texas Baptist Children’s Home became available on the last day our funds ran out. At that time, I worked as a manager at a retail store for $8.25 per hour. One day, while living at TBCH, with my boys away at school, I found myself alone in our shared room. Overwhelmed, I broke down in tears, seeking guidance, finances, and confirmation of the word spoken to me in Alabama. Amid my tears, I heard, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ I didn’t want to hear it at that moment. Then, the scripture was posed as a question, ‘Kristy, What’s Your I Can?’
This question made me realize my ‘I can’ in purpose, business, and family. I picked myself up off the floor, dried my eyes, and began writing the vision, formulating my LLC, and authoring my first book, ‘What’s Your I Can: Realize Your I Can in Purpose, Business, and Family,’ which is available on Amazon at bit.ly/WhatsYourICAN. In 2018, I held my first speaking seminar and have since ministered to empower thousands of single moms, particularly in the Black Indigenous People of Color Community. I now travel to speak at both faith-based and non-faith-based conferences or events. I coach and mentor, empowering single moms through community-driven initiatives such as the Elite Single Mom Empowerment Hub, Change Our Response, and Elite 10-Cities Pioneers. In addition to my speaking engagements, I am actively involved in these initiatives, fostering a holistic approach to empowerment. These include my faith-based annual conference, the 7K Single Moms Summit, which provides single moms with a faith-based approach to reclaiming their lives in Christ.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I hold on to something my father left with us from the word of God: ‘In this life, we will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ With that said, the road hasn’t been smooth, especially as a single mom on a mission to break stereotypes and change the status quo from a kingdom-leading perspective. There are various struggles, from mental and emotional challenges to financial hurdles, faced on a personal level. It’s akin to being a modern-day female Moses, leading a group of people from Egypt to their promised land. It took a lot of walking away from depending on the government to totally relying on God and His promise to provide all of my needs. This is a vulnerable and scary place to be.
Why? Because as a single mom, it’s expected for you to depend on Child Support, Government assistance, and the like as if you are a ‘beggar.’ When you break away from that and start reframing your world the way you see it, there will be those who (1) don’t understand and judge, telling you how you should be living, and (2) those who don’t want to understand and judge. You must be 100% confident in your vision and who you are. If you do, you will sink fast and hard.
Financial struggles have been a huge factor since I broke away from depending on the government as well as child support. Why Child Support? This keeps a single mom from living a lifestyle of joy, peace, and happiness—especially if you’re not in the right environment and listening to the wrong people. Those who yell, ‘Take him to court’ or ‘If I were you, this is what I would do’ and all the other bondage and limiting mindsets and talk we hear in the single mom community. After hearing God and seeing how that way of thinking, attached to bitterness, resentment, and a constant state of wondering if he would pay or not, started to creep in, I knew that wasn’t my lifestyle in being an Elite Single Mom in Christ.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a National Single Mom Speaker, Author, Chef, Media Personality, and Woman of God. As an Elite Single Mom in the Kingdom of God, I operate as a prophetess with various spiritual gifts that edify, comfort, and encourage those in the single mom community, contributing to the building of His kingdom. My mission is to empower single moms to reclaim lives of abundance, fostering healing forgiveness and providing the mental and practical guidance needed to transition from a demanding 9-to-5 to the freedom of building a business they love. Beyond offering a safe space for single moms to thrive, I am actively working towards launching my non-profit organization/foundation, ‘Andrew Way Mentor Foundation,’ dedicated to empowering their children. One source of immense pride is witnessing the Elite Single Moms Empowerment Hub members leveraging the resources I provide to generate wealth. What sets me apart from other single-mom advocates is my faith-driven approach. I speak and call things into existence, inspiring others to discover their power and purpose and recognize the greater potential within them.
I specialize in empowering single moms of color through a holistic approach. Leveraging my expertise in culinary arts, writing, coaching, mentoring, and transformational speaking, I offer practical tools and resources that address the unique needs and challenges faced by single moms of color in areas such as career, personal development, self-care, and financial management. I believe every single mom of color has the potential to become a sophisticated woman. With my guidance, I help them refine their knowledge, enhance worldly experience, and cultivate elegance, style, and poise. Through coaching sessions, culinary workshops, and motivational speeches, I provide tailored solutions for single moms of color to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals, creating a better future for themselves and their families. Ultimately, I aim to inspire single moms of color to develop a strong sense of self, fostering confidence, grace, and intelligence. By empowering them to become sophisticated, I aim to create a community of role models that can inspire future generations of women.
What were you like growing up?
HA! HA! Growing up, I was the perfect blend of stubborn, bold, a fighter, and ambitious. I came from a musically inclined family; singing was always part of the soundtrack of my life. While I found myself in a few scuffles, I managed to avoid school suspensions or ISS by toeing the line before resorting to ‘laying hands,’ so to speak. I only engaged in physical combat when defending others from bullying or when someone tried to bully me—a pet peeve, regardless of gender. Outdoors was my happy place, and I embraced a bit of a tomboy persona. Thanks to my mom, an excellent interior design expert, a creative streak runs in the family. Entrepreneurship beckoned early, with my first venture at 7—running various ‘lemonade stands’ and offering dog-walking services, inspired by my dad’s entrepreneurial work as a Forrester. I even remember being dared to lie in the street, and I did. I was snitched on, and I received a whipping because of this dangerous act. Growing up in a bustling family of eight, with six children and both parents, dull moments were non-existent. If boredom dared to creep in, my mom quickly found engaging activities. According to mom’s rules, ‘Bored’ wasn’t allowed. My childhood was marked by diverse interests, from aspiring to be the first black female NASCAR driver and cup winner to envisioning a career as a female boxer. Dreams of becoming a recording artist and a preacher also filled my young mind. Speaking of being a recording artist, I’m currently working on plans for my first single and a concert—exciting times ahead! Throughout my life, I’ve always been someone to pursue what I envision, regardless of how long it takes or whether it’s short-lived. Looking back and saying, ‘I did that!’ has always been a source of pride for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chefkristyangelee.ck.page/profile
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IamKristyAngelee
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristyAngelee
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KristyAngelee
Image Credits
TJSN – 4 Vision Eric Coleman Photography
