Meet Zennia
Founder, Thought Leader, Advocate, Mom and Scholar
Zennia’s journey began at the tender age of seven when she became inspired by the compassion and humanity exhibited by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She loved finding solutions to problems and helping others but did not have the support needed to achieve her academic goals and did not complete high school.
During Zennia’s early adult life, her goal was to make a livable wage. Once she became a mother that changed to providing for her daughter and later when her daughter suffered a traumatic brain injury from a car accident, it became keeping her head above water. “I worked a job to provide for her and made a decent living, but all the while, I knew I needed to go to college and get an education so I could help others heal from trauma,” said Ms. Nesmith who enrolled at Chattanooga State Community College and now knows why she is on this earth today, “My life has trained me to help people with trauma, and I am pursuing a degree in psychology to do exactly that.”
Fully immersed in academia and college life, Zennia shared her own inspirational story with HISET adult education students twice a week while in school. “I wanted them to know that I sat in their seat trying to figure it out too, and it was OK.” Later, when she began experiencing difficulty retaining information in two of her classes, and diagnosed with severe ADHD, Zennia had to extend the same grace to herself that she advocated to others. “These experiences related to my career goals of making available more resources in our communities and promoting healthy mental health initiatives,” she shared. That is exactly what Zennia has done in forming Empowered Connections.
Today, Zennia is a community servant and leader in Chattanooga. She has earned awards such as being inducted into the Spire Honor Society, The Club and Organization Award of Outstanding Service, The Global Scholar's Honor Program, The Presidential Excellence Award, Community College Student of the Year Award, and many more!
Trust your intuition and success will follow
Neomi Rhyne
Chyna's Story
Getting to Know Zennia's Daughter, Chyna
Chyna is a remarkable individual who encompasses not only physical beauty but also possesses an inner radiance that captivates all who have the pleasure of meeting her. Since the day she was born, her smile has shone brightly, never fading despite the challenges she has faced along her journey. At the tender age of four, tragedy struck when she was involved in a devastating car accident alongside her great grandmother, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. The doctors held little hope for her survival, but against all odds, Chyna defied their expectations and emerged as a constant source of light and joy in the lives of those around her.
