By Javacia Harris Bowser, See Jane Write Founding Editor
When Kaneshia Sims moved to Birmingham to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham she wanted to be a doctor. Then she started taking communications classes and fell in love with writing, photography, and design.
Today she’s using those passions to fuel her work on Red PaSH Magazine, which she launched late last year.
“The mission of the magazine is to highlight, promote and shine positive light on Birmingham, its entrepreneurs, charities, leaders and artists,” Sims says. “I wanted to create a place, a voice for Birmingham and all the overlooked areas and help support people like me — people who have dreams and aspirations. I want to give them a voice and outlet to share their message.”
Sims also does marketing and promotions for local authors, artists, small business owners, churches and motivational speakers. She recently helped local author Liza Elliott with the launch of 30-A Supper Club: The Cookbook.
What do you love about Birmingham?
I love the diversity of Birmingham. I love the history. I love how we are a big city, but have small town charm. Most importantly, I love our potential. We have the best doctors, lawyers, writers, professionals, students and creative minds the world can offer. The most mind blowing part is it is all right here in our back yard.
I want to share my love for Birmingham with everyone, especially the newcomers. I want to prove all the negative people wrong about this city. We are great. We have great people, business owners, leaders and charities. Hence, the start of Red PaSH Magazine.
It warms my heart to hear small business owners tell me how much the exposure from the magazine has helped their business, self esteem and foundation for the future of their business.
How do you think the field of communications can be used to help people and strengthen communities?
I believe communications can strengthen people and communities by sharing one simple thing: knowledge. I know we have heard the saying “knowledge is power” time and time again, but it is true. Knowledge brings awareness and awareness ignites the first steps to bring about change. If I want to start eating healthier or learn a different language, the first thing I need is the knowledge to set me in the correct direction. Only then do I have all the tools necessary for me to succeed.
Our communities and generations of youth that will live beyond us need knowledge. Communications is the vehicle to give it to them — no matter if it is social medial, radio, books, magazines, lectures or seminars; those things are all vehicles to feed knowledge.
Who is your target audience for Red PaSH Magazine?
People who love Birmingham and want to help her grow by supporting her through community events, night life, parks and recreations, by buying local and supporting local arts and music. If you are interested in those things then you should be interested in reading Red PaSH. We cover people who do interesting things in the community and in their day to day lives as well.
What advice would you give to other people interested in starting a local publication?
The only advice I have to offer for someone interested in starting a local publication would be to think smart, follow your heart, be prepared to work really hard and have plenty of resources. When I say resources I don’t mean simply money; I mean friends and family to lean on when you get discouraged, a good set of people you can call for advice, professional connections and a slight understanding of what you are getting into.
The Birmingham Jane is a See Jane Write series of profiles on women in Birmingham who are making a difference in our city. If you know of a woman who is making a difference in Birmingham please send your nominations to javacia@seejanewritebham.com. And don’t be ashamed to nominate yourself!
I’ve been looking for copies of Red PaSH all over town! Where can I find them? It sounds like such a cool magazine, so I definitely want to read it.