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My name is Kellivan T. Bowles, and I am the Founder and CEO of the African American Cultural Organization. My journey has been far from easy, but every challenge, every setback, and every lesson has prepared me for the work I do today — empowering others to rise above their circumstances and create better opportunities for themselves and their families.

I was born and raised in the Bronx, where growing up without a father and facing the realities of the streets led me down a path filled with hardship. Over the course of my life, I spent over 26 years in prison, but instead of letting that time break me, I used it to rebuild myself from the inside out. While incarcerated, I dedicated myself to education, personal growth, and skill-building — refusing to let my environment define my future.

I earned my GED and went on to receive a two-year degree in Psychology. I completed 177 months of training in tailoring and obtained a Certificate in Carpentry, Plumbing, and Masonry from the Harriman Building Program in Albany, New York. I also completed programs in Alternatives to Violence (AVP), Art Therapy, KSAT-AA, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Stay-N-Out — all of which strengthened my understanding of people, community, and personal transformation.

These experiences shaped my vision and gave me a purpose bigger than myself. I’ve walked the hard road, and now I’m determined to help others find a better way. That’s why I started the African American Cultural Organization — an occupational training school designed to empower People of Color by providing life skills, job training, and financial incentives to help them succeed.

My mission is to build leaders, create opportunities, and inspire change in communities like the one I came from. I believe everyone deserves a chance to rise above their circumstances — to learn a trade, to find stability, and to build a future for themselves and their families.

I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve also made progress. And today, I stand as proof that with dedication, support, and opportunity, transformation is possible.

This is my story — and it’s only the beginning.