Meet Karis Roberts! A philanthropy coordinator, educator, and model. Half Gabonese and half black, she is an avid ping pong player, roller skater, and runner, and describes herself as “a fun loving, always growing, lifelong educator."
Her passion is “teaching and instilling confidence and compassion in the children I mentor and my friends I surround myself with. Lifting up people around me in my life brings me joy.”
Her motto is: “to make better mistakes tomorrow. They are crucial for our growth as ever evolving creatures.”
In the top photo, Karis is holding the book, “That Men Know So Little of Men: A History of the Negro in Rockford, Illinois, 1834-1973” by Barbara Chapman. The book tells the story of Karis’ grandfather, Dr. Eric G. Roberts, who was one of the first black doctors in Rockford, IL, as well as the accomplishments, struggles, and success of other black men and women in the early 1940s during the time of segregation.