As founder of KDF Strategies, Kalisha advises organizations—primarily across the racial and gender justice fields—on policy, research, strategic planning, and political work.

Q & A

What led you to apply to Teach For America?

Because of my parents’ hard work, I felt like I lived a life where I barely touched or saw many of the issues that defined my parents' lives—housing discrimination, education inequity, and income insecurity. If you know that your mission is social justice, educational equity, and making a difference on the ground level, the decision to apply becomes easy.

How was the corps a catalyst for your personal transformation?

No textbook, grad school classroom, or job in Washington can get you the experience you get in the classroom—not just in instruction but in understanding the livelihood of youth, their families, and their communities. I will forever see policy and research in a unique light because of my time as Ms. Dessources.

How did TFA prepare you for the challenges you’ve faced in your career?

At the White House, my job was to coalesce policy across the federal government that specifically looked at the intersection of gender and race. Because of my time in the corps, I believed that the solutions were found in my students' voices. I could see the intersection of so many large policy issues at play. I don’t know where you get that lens other than in the classroom.