December 13, 2022

Author: Akiba Bradford

After ten years of community advocacy, I am taking a leap of faith toward entrepreneurship. So how did I get here? This blog post will briefly discuss my life before becoming a candle and soap maker and the path I took to redefine my career.

How did you get into Politics?

Like many young politicos, my journey in community advocacy started in school. Whether running for junior class president, attending marches in the Bay Area, or traveling to Washington, D.C, to learn about the legislative process, speaking up for the most vulnerable has always been a part of my experience. To sharpen my community advocacy skills, I attended a small liberal arts college in the midwest called Knox College. 

Knox provided me with a familiar understanding of diversity that I was used to in the Bay Area and sharpened my writing and critical thinking skills. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology, I returned to the Bay Area and hit the ground running.

By joining organizations like the Black Young Democrats of the East Bay, California Young Democrats, Emerge California, and New Leaders Council Oakland, I was able to deepen my understanding of the political landscape in the region. While also preparing myself to run for political office.

What steps did you take to transition from politics?

Politics is the lifeblood of democracy. Nothing happens in our life without policies created by our elected officials. For most of my life, I wanted to become an elected leader. To sharpen my skills in policy and public safety, I worked for California State Assembly District 15 and sat on several boards and commissions, such as the Alameda County Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission and the City of Oakland Community Police Advisory Board.

When I termed out of these boards in 2020, I knew that advocacy would always be a part of my life. However, to grow as a leader, I’d have to transition from partisan politics and learn to advocate for the entire citizenry. By attending Georgetown University Masters of Professional Studies in Applied Intelligence Program, I was able to merge my interest in public safety, politics, and advocacy. While also upskilling my analytical prowess to ensure our nation's national security. While being an elected leader isn’t entirely off the table, the Intelligence Community allows me to work alongside decision-makers.

How did you get into candle and soap making?

I began candle and soap making to give myself a much-needed break from studying and to also bide time during the pandemic. I’ve always enjoyed the creative arts and found both processes relaxing, fun and healing. After graduating in the Spring of 2022, I took a leap of faith toward entrepreneurship and turned my hobby into a business.

All in all, Lightheart Candles has helped me to redefine my career. My light is needed in the world, and becoming an entrepreneur is just another opportunity to enlighten the paths of others. 

Check out my previous blog post to learn more about how I prepared myself to become an entrepreneur. Also, don’t forget to visit the Lightheart Candles shop to purchase your candle and soap bundles. Until next time.