Kimberly Bennett

Kimberly was born in Augusta, GA and raised in Athens. She attended Chase Elementary, Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School and Clarke Central High School. She attended Georgia College and State University where she studied Biology and Clayton State where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management. She is currently working on a master’s degree in Youth Development Leadership at Clemson University. Kimberly works as a Patient Service Tech for Quest Diagnostics, but her true passion is service. She is the Executive Director of Cultivating a Lifetime of Legacy Inc., a mentoring program for individuals aged 13 to 24. The organization pairs students with mentors in the community that will help them work toward an identified goal. She is part of the Local School Governance Team for Clarke Central High School and is active with the Youth Ministry at Hill Chapel Baptist Church and is a member of the Junior League of Athens. Kimberly lives on the West Side of Athens with her children , Jayln (19) and Nya (21).

 

 

 

What is your favorite part of your career?

 

That I get to connect with people. I get to inspire and motivate youth. I get to serve, and that is the exciting part about working in both the medical field and as a mentor and as an executive director: I get to be part of changes that directly affect a person’s life.

 

When you are not working and serving, what are some of your favorite things to do in Athens?

 

Well, I like to spend time with my children when they are here, or helping other children get exposed or connected to events or parks or just relaxing. My favorite pastime is Target. I love to shop at Target.

 

If you could see any band, anywhere, who would you see and where?

 

I would not necessarily have a band or someone I would like to see, but anything to do with comedy.

 

What advice would you give to your younger self?

 

I would probably tell my younger self, life is a journey and to learn to embrace each moment and opportunities with grace and humility, but also the fact that it is important to learn from your mistakes and failures. Time is too precious to hold on to yesterday’s pain.

 

Do you have a favorite book, or a book you find yourself rereading, referencing or gifting most often?

 

I do. As I said, I am a mentor and mentoring young people I find myself gifting The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardener a lot because the story is just inspirational and exemplifies someone who went through tragic things to overcome, but still had a focus on the end, like, I am going to keep trying. I am not sure if it will work, but I am going to keep pushing myself and to overcome the impossible.

 

Do you have a favorite movie or remember the first movie you saw in a movie theatre?

 

I don’t have a favorite movie, and I think the first movie I saw in a movie theatre was E.T.

 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

 

I would go to Turks & Caicos. Because I need regular relaxation and just the calmness of that place and the peace it could provide.

 

What is something interesting about you that most people might not know?

 

A lot of people may not know that I love to dance and I enjoy a variety of different music.

 

If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and where?

 

I would say Oprah just because of her entrepreneurship and the things she has overcome to get to the level of success she has career wise, I’d just like to pick her brain or get an understanding of that journey. Her ability to connect with people and speak with people is so inspiring.

 

What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word “home”?

 

Love, safety and joy.

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