WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

In 2007, attorney and entrepreneur Kya Johnson’s fiancé was killed by a drunk driver. “When you’re planning your entire future and what it’s going to look like had changed, my life was turned upside down. For that to be cut off instantly was extremely challenging. It was the first time I had experienced physical and mental grief. I was physically and mentally incapable of thinking about the next day.” 

I asked Kya, how did she get through something so tragic? “With therapy. It helped tremendously. It was a gradual process to begin to dream and live again. But with God’s grace, it happened,” she said with a smile. Kya’s smile is so warm, bright and beautiful, it makes you smile. She’s definitely one of the most beautiful, intelligent and absolutely sweetest women I’ve ever interviewed. 

She’s tough as well. She had to be. That same year that she lost her fiancé, her mother was diagnosed with dementia. “There’s a saying that anybody that had or has a family member that has been diagnosed with dementia, you almost experience two deaths. For 30 years my mother was the strongest and smartest woman I knew. And now all of a sudden, she’s a whole different person. Now you’re having to adjust to this new person that is your mother,” Kya shared while fighting back her tears. 

She continued, “With this kind of illness, you know that death is imminent. And I fooled myself to think that made it easier, but it didn’t. Again, it was God, therapy, family and friends that helped me get through it. It was extremely challenging, Busta.” Kya paused for a few seconds to gather her composure. If we weren’t on Zoom, I would’ve given her a huge hug. She looked directly into the camera, “There’s still days I miss her so much.” 

Kya is a living testimony that there is a rainbow after every storm.  Her father, Kenneth Johnson, is one of the most well-respected attorneys in the country. He and her mother have always pushed Kya and her siblings to make great choices. “My parents were the best role models in our lives. I grew up as a Cosby kid. The Cosbys were the first family I saw on TV that represented my family. My parents taught my siblings and I to always remain humble. So, we didn’t see ourselves as different from other kids. My parents were givers and very active in the community,” shared the prominent attorney. 

Kya holds a BA in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a JD from the North Carolina Central University School of Law. She’s also a very well-known entrepreneur as well. Some of her work was spotlighted in suites at the MTV Music Awards and the Emmys. “I’ve always had lots of ideas, so I had to prove to myself that they were valid ideas. So, I started a doggie t-shirt business. I made expressive t-shirts for dogs and it’s doing very well.”

She’s also the founder and CEO of RainbowMe Incorporated. She describes it as an entertainment company for kids, taking the limits off what children can imagine themselves to be. She created RainbowMe Kids, which is a multimedia platform for kids ages 2-12, with products that celebrate culturally diverse main characters and incorporate innovative technology. “Representation matters. You see the pride we have with Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. When kids see someone that reflects who they are, it builds their confidence. That takes off the limits of what children can imagine themselves to be. So, I started RainbowMe Kids out of a passion to make sure there were positive role models for kids. 

“I remember my sister and I went to see The Princess and The Frog, and we were well in our 20s. The movie theater was filled with adult women because when we were kids, we didn’t see many characters of color in cartoons. So, that was another God Drop for me to create RainbowMe Kids.” Kya’s law career was thriving, but she felt like there was more she could do. “The RainbowMe idea was my ‘burning bush’ moment, because I was like, wait a minute, Jesus. I don’t know how to do this, so are you sure you want me to do this? God said to me, I’ll give you your rod, and you just do what I tell you to do,” she said while laughing with joy. 

RainbowMe Kids creates products that feature main characters of color. The popular product is augmented with reality technology incorporated into children’s books. “With our books, we’re a step ahead of what the Metaverse will look like for kids ages 2-12. Our products incorporate some tangibility with real life for kids and social interaction as well,” said Kya. 

As a teacher, I witness daily how the lack of social interaction has caused so many students to struggle in the classroom today. It’s one of the reasons RainbowMe Kids has been very effective. Kya has certainly seen a rainbow after her storms. Her company was blessed to have caught the ears and eyes of The BeyGood Foundation. “As a part of Beyonce’s Black Parade Album Initiative, she partnered with the NAACP to support Black-owned businesses. We applied for her Black Parade grant and a few weeks later we received the grant. We were able to create our second book,” said a joyful Kya. The work and research Kya’s company has done for their RainbowMe Kids’ books will surely help our children get back in touch with the much-needed social interaction, and also connect them with heroes and positive role models that look like them. 

“Our kids are feeling emotions that they can’t put words to. They know that they are feeling lonely, depressed or need social interaction and it comes out as frustration. Adults are experiencing these same emotions as well. So, both kids and parents need some me time. Parents, take care of yourself before going home, so that you can be your very best for your children.” 

My phenomenal Person of the Week is attorney and entrepreneur Kya Johnson. For more info and to contact Kya, visit Rainbowmekids.com, email hello@rainbowmekids.com, and follow on social media @rainbowmekids.