Chicago student transforms pride into fashion to elevate black community | State and Regional

With the epidemic locks, the study, and rallies around the 2020 race, Clotti returned to what she knew, picked up her weapon and stepped up her game.

“I had so much in my mind, so much was written in my mind, it was really a project to let go of my creative ideas,” says Clotti, who was born in London. “I was doing something that inspired me from everything at the time.”

People noticed and Clotti came up with what they called a “beautiful little thing” within a year. Focus has about 11,000 Instagram followers, and Clotti focuses on custom work for Chicago singer-songwriter Jamila Woods. T’Kor Couture has also been selected to participate in the 2021 Polski Entrepreneurship and Innovation Accelerator Program. Her success is not due to her creativity. At 21, Clottey’s resume will include being one of the many college students selected in Iowa for Camilla Harris’ presidential campaign as a coordinator and communications partner and to present a special television special request for former First Lady Michelle Obama for 2021. .

“One thing I noticed about myself was how many different dreams and aspirations I had – a lot in the creative world,” said Clotti, a student at Dawit de Eisenhower High School on Blue Island. I grew up without having too many obstacles in my mind.

Looking back, Clotti recalls a conversation she had with a high school student who dreamed of going to the film industry. She says she never followed his wishes, and he never chose something more practical. In her mind, she could not understand why he did not go. The young man finally shares his reasons for quitting his dream There is no way to take care of a dying family and go to film school or invest in film equipment.

“Until I came to the University of Chicago and sat down at the time of the outbreak, I didn’t know how much that conversation would affect me,” she said. He graduated from law school and entered sociology. Now, in the fall, she is looking forward to working as a program administrator at the Graham University School of Liberal and Professional Studies at the University of Chicago Graham, which will help develop a new leadership development curriculum.

“One thing I have in common is my desire to promote and highlight unrepresented voices and creators,” she says. “I’m still wondering how I really want to do it.”

As a first-year graduate, Clotti combined her advocacy interests as a board member and president of the Black Students Association. Under her leadership, she began organizing the annual Black Convention, a celebration of black students. Policies affecting black and brown communities.