Njuguna Muiruri
Kamaria J. Ventura, 41, Advocate for Youth Empowerment and Cultural Connection
Kamaria Joe Ventura, known as Kay, who helped connect Black and Brown youth from the San Francisco Bay Area to their African roots through annual educational pilgrimages, died on October 31 in San Francisco. She was 41.
Ms. Ventura served as Vice President for Partnerships and Engagement at the MLIFE Foundation, a nonprofit she co-founded in 2015 that advances literacy, leadership, and cultural identity among underserved youth. Under her leadership, the organization launched the Heritage Journey to Kenya, which has enabled more than 40 young people and professionals to travel to Africa for study and service.
Born in San Francisco on February 28, 1984, to Carol McCrary and Larry Evo Ventura, Ms. Ventura earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from San Francisco State University and an associate degree in Behavioral Science from City College of San Francisco.
She is survived by her children, Cheyanne Lampkins and Jonathan Mwangi Mukami Jr.; her stepchildren, Sherlynn and Lincoln; her partners in life, Nickson Muiruri and Mwangi Mukami; and a large extended family spanning the United States and Kenya.
Kamaria Joe Ventura, known as Kay, who helped connect Black and Brown youth from the San Francisco Bay Area to their African roots through annual educational pilgrimages, died on October 31 in San Francisco. She was 41.
Ms. Ventura served as Vice President for Partnerships and Engagement at the MLIFE Foundation, a nonprofit she co-founded in 2015 that advances literacy, leadership, and cultural identity among underserved youth. Under her leadership, the organization launched the Heritage Journey to Kenya, which has enabled more than 40 young people and professionals to travel to Africa for study and service.
Born in San Francisco on February 28, 1984, to Carol McCrary and Larry Evo Ventura, Ms. Ventura earned a bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies from San Francisco State University and an associate degree in Behavioral Science from City College of San Francisco.
She is survived by her children, Cheyanne Lampkins and Jonathan Mwangi Mukami Jr.; her stepchildren, Sherlynn and Lincoln; her partners in life, Nickson Muiruri and Mwangi Mukami; and a large extended family spanning the United States and Kenya.
