Kiaya Simone – Pushing the Conversation

Hi! I am Kiaya Robertson. However, per my byline, I go by Kiaya Simone. I am 19 years old and was born in the beautiful city of Atlanta, Georgia. I, along with my younger brother, was raised in a home of two loving parents.

My mother originally grew up as a Seventh-day Adventist and is now non-denominational, while my father grew up Baptist and now identifies as non-denominational as well.

I am a broadcast journalism major and a political science minor. My ultimate goal is to become a news anchor, international correspondent, or political correspondent for a broadcast company.

Some things that I enjoy doing in my free time are reading memoirs and any kind of fiction, singing, writing, listening to and discovering new music. I also enjoy swimming competitively.

As a communication major and practicing Adventist, I recognize how paramount it is to bring forth a balanced perspective when focusing on community and church. I believe that the Lord wants us to join in harmony, reason with one another, and shed light on how differently we think while making an effort to understand each other. There are so many different people around the globe that identify themselves as Adventist and really want to be a part of the church community.

I believe many members want to see a reflection of themselves in culture. They want to understand why diversity in age, gender, and ethnic background is crucial to our religious practice. I feel that with this platform, I have an opportunity to help bridge that gap, or at least start pushing the conversation.