We’re in Los Angeles: Kwyn Townsend Riley

What is your current role? How would you describe the work that you do? 

I just accepted a new position as the Director of the Office of Black Student Services, at Loyola Marymount University, in the field of higher education. We have these different tiers of educational spaces, and higher education encompasses all institutions that are 2-4 years. I got my master’s in student counseling and personnel services. Graduated from a predominantly white institution, so I was fed connections and mentorship opportunities from the cultural offices. Now I will be helping Black students, planning Black History Month programming, and be responsible for students’ emotional and physical safety. And making sure the entire community is respecting and loving our Black students.  

What was your Chicago Scholars experience like? 

I still remember when I went in for the interview at their first office, way smaller, like half of a hallway. My mom was the one who found it because another parent told her at Kenwood. It all seemed so big and professional. I kept asking myself, “Am I a Chicago Scholar? Can I do this?” I had an IEP, wasn’t embracing academia. It seemed like a big group made up of diverse groups. When I met Stacy, my interviewer, she asked me about the biggest lesson I had learned, or something like that. I told her about when I got suspended in high school over a fight. I was so disappointed. But when you get to rock bottom, it’s the perfect place to build a foundation upon. It felt a destiny type of moment. I was 15, didn’t know boundaries or anything, but it felt important that people knew I wasn’t perfect and that I had to start over many times. I met some of the most important people at CS, and am still close to them. There are mentors that I still talk to. I was a class officer, working with Karen and Oscar, Kwesi, Patrice. Never had a clique before, but felt like I finally had one. Being first-gen of a single mom of 4, I felt like someone was looking out for me, felt seen, as a Black girl from the Southside. They are people I reached out to all through college, post-grad job help. Lashawn and Sasha helped with interview tips. When I created my LLC, I reached out to Bryan. Got to go to Columbia for free for a conference. Jeff was the keynote speaker. DJT is a Facebook friend. CS enlarged my definition of community. When I was in the running for an award with the Chicago Reader, it turned into something I didn’t know it could be. To have such a strong network supporting me. My girlfriend sits on the Associate Board. CS is a part of me. So glad my mom found it, never want to leave.  

How did Chicago Scholars support you to be the person you are today? 

As I mentioned, after I got suspended in high school, it was a hard ecosystem to navigate. I wasn’t a person with a group of people, wasn’t popular. CS saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. The CS Officer role ignited my thirst for leadership. I tried to become a leader after that, with confidence and knowing of myself to be one. I met board members and CEOs, travelled for Swing for Scholars. The exposure of showing, expanding my territory, having me in places at 15/16 that had not had access to, was not previously afforded that privilege. They made everything seem achievable. They made college, post-grad, a PhD, a possibility. They gave me the gift of dreaming bigger. Giving me that gift at that age is really radical and transformative for South Side folks. This program doesn’t measure success by test scores, but by you. They showed me that my authenticity is my superpower, and I’ll carry that with me the rest of my life. 

What advice would you have given yourself just after being accepted into the program?  

I would tell myself at 16 that CS’ belief in you should match the belief you have in yourself. It’s the fact that knowing your ability, your strength, your gift, is such a critical vitamin for growth and for your dreams. At 16, believe in yourself, love and know yourself. Have fun. High school is difficult, but at CS I didn’t feel like I had to change myself. Could be my nerdy, poet, anime, gamer self. I didn’t have to have specific knowledge or look a certain way. We were just ourselves. Enjoy those sweet moments. What I have is enough. Who I am is enough. Naturally, organically, who you are is enough. Enjoy the ride and it’s all gonna work out. Amazingly and surprisingly it all worked out.  

Growing up, my siblings all did the same thing. I didn’t know I needed something just for me. No other siblings did CS. Didn’t know I needed that until I was in there. I found my interests and my voice, that type of encouragement was really sweet and a pleasure.  

What advice do you have for current Scholars? 

You are supposed to be here. To use CS as your personal rocket ship to go as high, to go as big as you want to in this whole world. CS is for you. They have resources and people to help you. Do not be ashamed to ask for help, for a bus pass, lunch, a shoulder. CS is yours and they want to help you.  

What does being from Chicago mean to you now? 

I love Chicago so much. I think Chicago is a tangible representation of people power, of intelligent brilliant minds. Chicago is the birthplace of brilliant organizers, actions, voices of resistance. We are the décor and the music, but the people power is why I love Chicago so much. When I went to school in Dayton, I was confronted with the stereotypes of Chicago. I grew a deeper love by defending it. “Chi-raq” and the gun violence is a symptom. I had to interrogate my love of my city. Grateful for my predominately white institution that had me go hard for my city. And when I came back home, Chicago opened its arms for me. I got very involved in the culture and programs that make me feel connected with the community. Now I’m dating my girlfriend, now as somebody that lives in Chicago as an adult is so different. In my adult years, Chicago is becoming this new place for socials, especially the Black queer spaces. Chicago is an important characteristic. My imagination is one of my greatest tools of resistance. Because I had a momma that never allowed me to believe anything different, I know what is possible. When I went to Virginia, and existed as a Black person, I am both and. I am from Chicago, we are both and. Grateful that Chicago reminds me of all the intersections in our trains but also our identities. Beautiful place to be from.  

What do you wish people knew about Chicago Scholars, as well as the city of Chicago? 

I wish that people knew that Chicago has programs like CS that produce people that are changing the world. A lot of times, people talk about the stereotypes of Chicago, but I wish they knew the incredible programs that are at war with the other variables that are happening. In the violence, there is healing, in the war, so much love and joy and music. Grateful that CS paints this image that “at-risk youth” isn’t a term to be applied. If anything they are our potential, these south and west side kids. They are the reasons why there are so many dynamic lawyers, educators, higher educators, that are changing the world because an org took the time to feed us our dreams.