October 10, 2024
Phalesha Kyes faced many challenges along the way to establishing her event planning business. Now she works to bring attention to organizations and entrepreneurs from underrepresented populations.
Kyes and her sisters were removed from their home and grew up in the foster care system. After many placements, she graduated from Lowell High School in 2009. “I was the first one in my family to attend college,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about student aid or scholarships, but because I was a ward of the state, I was able to attend GRCC for free. And so, I did.
“It was one of the best choices I ever made.”
After graduating with her associate degree, Kyes worked in insurance and foster care before starting By Phalesha Events in 2021.
“I pulled my favorite things from all of my prior jobs, including customer service, event planning and public relations, and formed my own,” she said.
She does nonprofit, corporate, community engagement and even personal party planning. She enjoys working on all kinds of events but takes special joy in supporting entrepreneurs who, like herself, are Black, Indigenous and people of color.
“My mission is to empower and collaborate with as many BIPOC and female vendors as possible for every event,” she said. “And it’s important for me to represent organizations that don’t have the resources to host events or grow their brand due to barriers.”
For more information about By Phalesha Events, contact events@byphalesha.events or (616) 292-1208.
This story was republished from GRCC’s 2022-23 Foundation Annual Report.