Born into a system meant to break her.
Raised to do whatever it takes to survive.
Shattered by the bullet that takes her son, and forced to face what violence leaves behind.
This is TaKisha’s story: a survivor, a fighter, a Black woman in America.
A mother who turns pain into purpose and dares to imagine something more radical than survival—a life where hope grows in the cracks.
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I'm TaKisha Jacobs.
I’m the co-founder of Connect 2 Be The Change—a movement born from heartbreak and built on hope.
When my 15-year-old son, Abdul, was shot and killed, I thought my story was over. But grief has a way of planting seeds in broken ground. Little by little, I learned how to keep going, how to help others do the same, and how to believe that something beautiful can still grow from what’s been destroyed.
Now I help youth, families, and communities caught in cycles of violence find the tools and the courage to break them. My story is about hard-earned hope, and the change that can happen when we stop believing violence is the only option.
Speaking Engagements
I engage with diverse communities on the topics of gun violence and its ripple effects; healing, forgiveness, and community trauma; single motherhood and survival; and what real change looks like—up close, messy, and human. Get in touch here if you’re interested in having me speak at your event.