Kimmie Weeks

Kimmie Weeks, 27, a world renowned Liberian activist, is one of Africa’s most promising leaders. He survived a brutal civil war in Liberia, West Africa, and has been able to turn bitter memories of man’s inhumanity to man into something positive—acquiring from his experiences a strong desire to make the world a better place through inspiring messages of hope and working diligently to alleviate poverty and human suffering. In 1998, former Liberian President Charles Taylor attempted to assassinate Weeks after the latter investigated and released a groundbreaking report on the involvement of Taylor’s government in the training of children as soldiers.

Weeks is founder and Executive Director of Youth Action International (YAI), an international organization that supports victims of civil war, among other activities. He has received numerous national and international awards for his actions, including the 2007 Golden Brick Award, which honors young people under 25 years old who are making a difference in the world; and the Knight Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption, Liberia’s highest honor, which was presented to him by the country’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. He also serves on the Board of Directors of DoSomething, and as a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council (an organization with members such as Bertie Ahern, Prime Minister of Ireland; and Andrew Crockett, President of JP Morgan Chase).

Miatta Dabo is an Attorney, has passed her Certified Public Accountancy exam (CPA) and is an Entrepreneur, Model, and Writer. Her steadfast determination and strength truly exemplifies what anyone can achieve if they choose to maximize their talents and potentials. But first, she attributes much of her success to “Prayer and grace.”

“Second,” Miatta says, “I had a great time in school with an amazing group of friends in high school and college and that made it easy to deal with classes, parties, study groups, etc.  I also knew that I wanted to lay the foundation for a better life and figured outside of winning the lottery; I just had to work my behind off.”

A native of Sierra Leone, West Africa, Miatta lost many family members as a result of a decade-long civil war which broke out in 1991. “I haven't overcome them,” Miatta says of her losses. “They form the fabric of who I am today and those memories push me to become a better person, to reach higher and to make a positive difference in my life and the lives of others; especially those who are affected by civil war, or should I say unjustified homicide and genocide.  What happened in that war was disgusting, inhumane and a violation of every dignified human right imaginable.  We can only move forward and grow stronger from our scars.”