Spotlight: Kimberly Clarida

By: Kamaara Lucas (’16), Staff Writer and Executive Public Relations Coordinator

Carolina’s campus is full of talented, passionate student leaders. To highlight the achievements of one of these hard working Tar Heels, we sat down with Kimberly Clarida. Clarida is a senior Public Policy major with minors in both Education and Entrepreneurship. She has served in numerous on-campus positions and has started two non-profit organizations, Reaching Up and the TSC Scholarship Foundation.

B.I: How does it feel to have founded two non-profit organizations? Can you tell me a bit more about them?

K.C: “Surprisingly, I do not feel too special. While I do consider it a blessing to know that I have opportunities to impact the lives of other people, I also know that both organizations operate on a very small scale and there is so much for me to do to enhance them. So, maybe it is also exciting to know that I have room to grow and develop within two outlets for the good of others.

The smallest of the two is an organization called Reaching Up (RU). I was awarded the Bryan Social Innovation Fellowship through the Carolina Center for Public Service for this project. At this current moment, it serves as a program that works to equip the youth in Columbus County to become active citizens, while helping them with character, leadership, and academic skills. RU serves youth 10-15 years old, and strives to push these young people to exceed their self-expectations and become passionate about their community. To develop passionate community leaders, a variety of team-building activities, sessions, events and resources, including mentors, are offered. Having the opportunity to allow youth to conduct community service is a win-win: the youth become involved while the community benefits from their service.

Near and dear to my heart is the TSC Scholarship Foundation. It was established in 2012-2013 with the help of family and friends. My brother passed away in a motorcycle accident on a Sunday night in July. When I was younger, he was extremely proud and supportive of my academic accomplishments. I remember him pointing to my middle school awards to explain to his daughter the value of education and hard work. So, annually the scholarship foundation hosts a bike rally and cookout as a part of motorcycle awareness for the month of May. The funds that we raise go directly towards a college scholarship to a high school senior. So far, we have given out two scholarships. This year, we will be releasing our third scholarship at our fourth bike rally.

I really look forward to revamping both organizations to increase the number of youth participants for both, and to increase our advocacy efforts and the amount of funding we are able to give students.”

B.I: Aside from these, what are you involved in on campus?

K.C: “Currently, I serve as the Co-Executive director of Healthy Girls Save the World, and as a  participant in the Buckley Public Service Scholars program. In the past, I have also held various positions both on and off campus, including serving as a Sean Douglas Leadership Fellow through the Sonja H. Stone Center for Black Culture and History, a Student Guide in the First Look Outreach Program, a Classroom Volunteer at Philips Middle School, an ESL Tutor at Culbreth Middle School, and a Team Leader, Volunteer, and Tutor at Communiversity After-School Youth Program. I was driven to participate in many of these organizations because of my love for education and youth.”

B.I: What is unique about your Carolina experience?

K.C: “My Carolina experience is unique because it has not necessarily been what I expected it to be. I have faced an array of moments that vary from me being extremely happy to me questioning my decision to enroll here. But by the grace of God, I was able to make it through each moment. The individual I was when I first stepped foot on this campus has transformed into someone who is holistically better. I barely recognize the old Kim. Funny thing is, I cannot remember exactly how it happened. It just happened. I can remember being involved in the Gospel Choir, Communiversity, and then a couple of other organizations. Eventually, in the midst of the time I spent serving others, I figured out my passions and who I really was as a young adult. So, my Carolina experience is unique because of the many facets that have molded me. I have learned how to respond to racism, to ignorance, to my own low-self esteem, to negativity, and, most importantly, to life.”

B.I: What advice would you give a younger student who is looking to leave their Heelprint?

K.C: “Do not force it. For the most part, prints are not something that you intentionally leave. You don’t wake up in the morning and say I am going to leave my prints all over my room and classroom today. No. When you live purposefully, prints will just appear. If I could advise a younger student on how to leave their Heelprint, I would wholeheartedly encourage them to utilize their gifts doing what they love to do! For me, leaving a Heelprint was not something I had to jump through mega hurdles to accomplish. It was a part of my natural rhythm. Yes, there were times when I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and challenged to think and work harder, but it was because I was perfecting my gifts to achieve things that were special to me. And when I turned around, there it was…my Heelprint.”