Abriana McKinney

Abriana McKinney has always loved providing resources and services toher community, especially kids. While studying to go into health as a nursepractitioner, McKinney began mentoring kids through dance at MattDishman, SEI and a number of other community centers around Portland.McKinney was soon offered a position as a youth services coordinator atSEI connecting youth with opportunities, resources and information.Although it wasn’t a part of her plan, McKinney, being the spiritual personthat she is, saw it as an opportunity to go deeper into her purpose andpassion for youth and mentorship.Continuing her purpose for connection and following her passion for dance,McKinney founded a dance group to showcase her talents and those of herfriends. As she and her friends danced around Portland, they noticed thelack of opportunities and events geared toward black young people. Fromthere, her dance group morphed intoDamn Events,an initiative to createspace and good times for black millennials to come together. AsMcKinney’s purpose for movement, youth, advocacy and connectioncontinues on, find out more about where it will lead her next.