Meet Kaliaya Dews | Coloring Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kaliaya Dews and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaliaya, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
To just do it. During covid, I started coloring but I could never find a coloring book with characters that resembled myself or my community. So I decided to create my own, I wanted to give my community representation and inspiration. I did not think too much about how the business would work, but I wasn’t too sure. I simply started creating content and then the rest came along. When starting a business (unless you have previous experience) there is a lot of unknown, but you cannot let that stop/scare you. You will figure it out when the time comes. I made sure to stay in the now and enjoy the process, rather than trying so hard to plan for the future. Somethings you will not know the answer until that time comes along. When you are feeling stuck it is always best to follow your intuition because there is no one way of doing things.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business was created to represent and serve black and brown youth. My mission is to inspire youth to achieve their wildest dreams.”If you can imagine it then you can become it.” I want all the youth to know, even if we may not see ourselves everywhere, that should never stop you from aiming to be the first in anything. Do not let anyone or anything stop you from your dreams. You can work from 9 am-5 pm and start a company or you can go straight into starting a company if that is what you want. Do not let anyone else’s experience determine the actions you take in your life. We are all unique with unique experiences, therefore no one’s experience is the same. You make your own path in life. So if you are not happy with something in your life, change it right now, do not wait.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love to eat, so I would have restaurants picked out but I would let them pick the activities. Types of food I would suggest are, Korean BBQ, Taco trucks, BBQ, and some nice dessert places. Activities I would suggest would be hiking, parks for a nice walk, and fun bars. I usually like to try different places in Los Angeles. I do not have too many stable restaurants or hang-out areas that I go to frequently.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to thank Niles, Isaac, my Dad and Mom, family, and friends who have all shown support in various ways. They have kept me going and showed me that you can balance your work life and your passion. It was not easy (which I did not expect it to be) but my community has made it memorable.

Website: DreamGirlColoringBook.com

Instagram: @DreamGirlColoringBook.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamGirlcoloringbook