This month’s member spotlight is a feature on Onyekachi Akalonu (he/him)! Onyekachi has been a resident of Vermont for 3 years and works in community engagement and content creation. He serves as the Middle School Program Manager at the King Street Center in Burlington, where he is dedicated to uplifting and supporting students’ growth. He is also the owner of By Mezzy, LLC, where he specializes in visual art, logo design, and illustrations.
To learn more about Onyekachi’s work, visit bymezzy.com or connect with Onyekachi on Instagram: @onye.777 or LinkedIn: Onyekachi Akalonu.
Tell us a bit about your background before arriving in VT and what brought you to the state!
I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in the Bronx. My parents immigrated to the States from Nigeria and pursued careers in business and nursing. I went to Howard University in Washington, DC where I graduated with a Bachelor’s in English while minoring in Sociology. I graduated during the earliest stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this, I found myself back in the Bronx with little idea of what I wanted to do career-wise. After graduation, I spent much time traveling to different states and attending conferences and entrepreneur mindset panels. In 2020, my drive to grow my brand and make an impact in my community grew. I had energy but not a solid plan of how to execute it. In 2021, a long-time friend of mine prepared to graduate from UVM. He offered the idea of moving in with him and making a way out in Vermont. So another childhood friend and I took whatever money we had, packed a rental car, and made our way to this place we’d never heard of- Winooski, Vermont. 3 years later, the 3 of us still live together making our way as we originally planned.
How did you get into your career?
I currently work in the nonprofit space, specifically focused on youth development. I’ve always worked with youth throughout my professional life. My grandfather was a school principal so I guess his ambitions passed on to me. I strongly believe that youth are the biggest investment we adults can make. I know because I am a testament to that truth. I commend the trusted adults in my life who took a chance on a kid who, as my report cards would always say, “has trouble focusing and distracts others”.
In my free time, I enjoy making connections within my community, which culminates in my web show, Kicking It With Kachi. On my show, I interview individuals from various walks of life. My show allows me to meet the gems in our small state and use my platform to elevate their stories. In addition to that, I am the founder of a graphic design company, By Mezzy LLC. I specialize in logo and brand design. My graphic design company launched in 2022 with a grant from the Vermont Arts Council. Krystal of the VTPOC was instrumental in helping me put together my application. All three of my professional endeavors connect laterally with amazing people in various sectors.
Why are you a member of the Vermont Professionals of Color Network?
When I moved to Vermont, I only really knew the two friends I grew up with. My childhood friend introduced me to a lot of his classmates and college friends but these were his friends. While I loved my job, I only had my job and the gym. I come from a lifestyle where cousins, friends, and siblings are all within arms reach. I was suddenly in a space where I had barely anyone to call on. I didn’t know how to “fit in” this hippy, green culture. The 99% white demographic didn’t also scream “Hey! come over!” Calling my sudden move to the whitest state in the Union a culture shock is an understatement. One day, my Executive Director, Shabnam, told me about VT PoC. I didn’t even know there were enough people of color in Vermont to make an entire organization, to be honest. So I went to a networking event. I met Tino and he reminded me alot of my uncles back home in Nigeria. Afterwards, I looked up their website and saw alot of the work they do. I felt aligned with their mission and signed up!
What aspects of life in VT do you find most fulfilling? What about your professional life here stands out to you?
I didn’t know that Vermont held such a large African and Asian population! I grew up feeling disconnected from my Nigerian heritage because I was born in the States. During my time at Howard, I studied African literature and started taking learning my culture more seriously. Past that, I also took a special interest in the histories and stories of other African countries. Imagine my surprise when I moved to Winooski and saw African mothers walking with their babies swaddled to their backs. Every day, I work with the children of African and Asian immigrants and refugees. Some of the children are immigrants and refugees themselves. I feel a special connection with these children and am honored I get to help them achieve their goals.
Looking back, what advice would you have appreciated receiving about being a professional of color in VT before you arrived?
At 22 years old, I wish someone stressed the importance of trusting the pace of progress. As a young professional, I wanted to come into the workforce and immediately shake things up. I assumed millennials were quickly becoming outdated and that Generation X was living on a different planet. I learned very quickly that my vigor alone could notdispel generations of systemic abuse and trauma (shocker). I like things moving and happening constantly. I think this made me try to cut corners only to fall on my face early on. Thankfully, I had the grace of my supervisors and colleagues who helped me take a deep breath and let things happen in the time they needed to. Progress is already in motion. It is how I ended up in Vermont doing the work I do. Learning from those in the field before me gives me the ability to take their wisdom and build on it. I attribute much of my success to being open to feedback and redirection.
Tell us about the work you’re currently doing and what drives you in your profession!
I am the Middle School Program Manager at the King Street Center in Burlington. The center serves over 150 youth from ages 18 months to 18 years old. I work with about 20 middle schoolers from various walks of life. I enjoy hearing their stories and helping support their growth. Adolescence is hard, especially as a BIPOC person. They navigate several worlds and begin to develop their inner voice. I see this and I make it my job to cheer each of them on. In the nonprofit space, we say that our job is not hard work but heart work. It’s the same for me. I know what it’s like to be the only Black kid in your class. I know what it feels like to be teased for what you wear. Despite my educational woes, trusted adults who saw me as a person helped me flourish. That is part of what drives me. I know how important it is for them to see a person who looks like them who can be a “professional” while liking anime, wearing Jordans, and telling bad puns. I work hard to see them for who they are as well and I am grateful for the many lessons in patience and creative problem-solving.
What future opportunities do you see for your industry, particularly in the context of the state?
In the nonprofit space, specifically youth development, I think many interesting things are happening. A really big one is there is currently a massive push for equity. Vermont is taking a hard look at itself and trying to remedy its transgressions. I see this when I meet with business owners through the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility networking events and dinners. I see it when I see our mayor speak directly to making youth development a priority. I am aware of the still rampant bigotry that exists in our state. However, I too am aware that on multiple levels there is a movement to better engage a growing BlPOC populace.
Can you share an experience in VT that highlighted your cultural identity?
Yeah! Like I said earlier, I am the son of Nigerian immigrants. Back home in the Bronx, I lived with a mixture of various African, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean communities. It wasn’t unusual to know a few words in Arabic, Spanish, Jamaican Patois, and Nigerian pidgin. This is also reflected in our music taste. So this past summer, I partnered with the short-lived Other Half to put on a couple of African and Caribbean-themed nights. I appreciated how many BIPOC people showed up and the white people who appreciated this shift from the usual Main Street happenings. I also connected with more African people!
What advice would you give to young BIPOC professionals starting their careers in Vermont?
Being uncomfortable comes with establishing yourself in a white-dominated space. On the flip side, I also want to note that we are still in the space. I learned that worrying if I was good enough to sit at the table was futile. I also learned that obtaining a position partially because I am Black doesn’t mean I didn’t earn it through merit. In the same way, there is a need for a compassionate white man from Rutland who strives for social reform and justice, there is also a need for a Black guy in his mid-20s with tattoos creating change in the community.
How do you balance your professional life with personal interests and self-care?
I am growing as a professional so that meant establishing my work boundaries. Once my day job is done, I close all notifications from that world and work on my web show and graphic design business. Most creatives would call this clocking into your 5-9 after your 9-5. My life isn’t all work and no play though. I like to find new things in the community to try. I might head to a trivia night at the Comedy Club or check out a show at the Flynn. I also love working out and moving my body through basketball or soccer. Keeping a schedule is the best way I can keep track of everything. Vermont is also the most picturesque place I’ve lived so soaking in the green mountains on a drive is dear to me.
