There’s a Jamaican proverb that says, “One, one coco full basket.” It’s a simple phrase, yet it embodies a profound truth about building something meaningful, one small step at a time. For me, this proverb encapsulates the spirit of Our Cultural Legacy’s (OCL) Build pillar. It’s about laying the foundation brick by brick, step by step, until the dream we envision becomes our reality.
I remember when I first began my journey of understanding culture more deeply. For years, I was consumed by the question of how cultural beliefs shape us every single day. I even wrote my dissertation on the topic, pouring my passion into every page. Yet, fear had a way of silencing my ambitions. “Would anyone else care about this?” I asked myself. “Can I even pull this off?” I let self-doubt hold me back for years.
It wasn’t until December 2019 that I decided to change my narrative. I penned a plan to relinquish the fear that had been my constant companion. Month by month, I watched as the pieces of the puzzle began falling into place. Even amidst the uncertainty of the global pandemic, dreams that once felt distant started to become my reality. Still, it wasn’t until May 2020, after the passing of my beloved grandmother Tutseleta Francis, that I fully embraced my calling.
Standing in her kitchen, surrounded by the memories of her love, strength, and determination, I felt a deep clarity. Her legacy was evident in the laughter of my family, the bonds we shared, and the generational wealth she had nurtured. A single mother who built her home and her life with resilience and grit, she had passed down a legacy of family, entrepreneurship, wealth-building, and community service. And it was in that moment, inspired by her life, that Our Cultural Legacy was born.
Through the Build pillar, OCL carries forward her teachings. We believe that meaningful legacies are built one step at a time, just like my grandmother did. This pillar focuses on providing capacity-building support for nonprofits and organizations striving to make an impact. Whether it’s through education, advocacy, or direct investment in cultural wealth, we work with partners to ensure every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly into the larger vision of a thriving community.
As I reflect on my grandmother’s legacy, I’m reminded that building isn’t always about grand gestures. It’s about the small, consistent actions that create something extraordinary over time. Like the coco that fills the basket one by one, every step we take toward building cultural wealth matters.
My name is Dr. Keisha Grey, founder and CEO of Our Cultural Legacy, and I am here to help you take that first step toward building your family’s legacy. Follow our journey to learn how you can transform small actions into a lasting impact. Together, we can ensure that the legacies we build today become the foundations for generations to come.
🌟 Follow us on social media at #OurCulturalLegacy to learn more about building your family’s wealth and preserving cultural legacies.
🌟 Join the conversation: How are you building your legacy? Share your story with us in the comments or tag us online!
🌟 Explore how OCL can help your nonprofit with capacity-building tools and strategies. Visit us at OurCulturalLegacy.com.
One, one coco full basket. Let’s build together.
Our Cultural Legacy 