On December 20, Liberty City’s beloved Roots Bookstore & Market served as the home for Kenisha’s Kithmas, a holiday event hosted by Kenisha’s Kith Foundation. The gathering brought families together for an afternoon centered on joy, storytelling and community care, with a focus on generosity, safety and meaningful connection.
From complimentary meals to gift distribution, the event was intentionally designed to uplift children and families who may not always experience the warmth that often defines the holiday season. At the center of it all was Kenisha, founder of Kenisha’s Kith Foundation, whose mission is to create a world where every child and family feels valued, celebrated, and equipped with skills to sustain a fulfilling life.
“The holidays are a time where a lot of families come together,” Kenisha said. “And I just want to bring joy to children that may not have that experience, and curate a safe space for them.”
That sense of safety and care was felt throughout the space, especially during Storytime with Kenisha, where children were not only invited to listen and engage, but were also directly celebrated through the distribution of multiple Visa gift cards, movie tickets, and raffled AirPods, ensuring kids received gifts they genuinely wanted and felt seen in the process.
Families were also treated to complimentary food and drinks provided by local Black owned businesses, reinforcing the event’s commitment to circulating support within the community. The Meltons Soul Food served a variety of chicken wings, tenders, and fried shrimp, while Jayla’s Lemonade offered refreshing lemonade throughout the afternoon. Both vendors are Black owned businesses based in Miami, adding another layer of intentional community investment to the event.
Hosting the event at Roots Bookstore & Market was also intentional. Phil, the founder of Roots, emphasized the importance of community access to books and culturally grounded spaces.
“We’re not the first, right now, we’re sadly the only,” Phil said, referring to the scarcity of Black owned bookstores in the area. “I’m cool with being the only, but I want more.”
Phil’s passion for literacy is deeply personal. “My brothers and I grew up around books. My father sold books and had books, so we were always around books,” he shared. For him, Roots is about far more than retail. It is about creating a foundation for empowerment.
“Community is everything,” Phil added. “Community means safety, love, protection, and power. Community is literally everything.”
That belief was echoed by volunteers like Lisa Jenders, a Clinical Manager who has supported Kith Christmas and known Kenisha for over a decade. For Jenders, giving back is not optional. It is necessary.
“It’s important for me to give back,” Jenders said. “There’s so much out there that kids need. They need to see positive things going on and see positive faces like ours.”
Jenders also spoke about Kenisha’s journey and leadership, noting her continued inspiration.
“I’ve known Kenisha for 10 years,” Jenders added. “She just inspires me, from getting her bachelor’s, her master’s, publishing her own book, having a non profit, and even her cooking show.”
Kenisha’s Kithmas stood as a reminder that holiday joy does not have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Instead, it thrives in intention, access, and community collaboration. By centering children, uplifting families, and partnering with spaces like Roots Bookstore while uplifting Black owned vendors, the event modeled what sustainable community care can look like.
As families left with gifts in hand and smiles on their faces, one thing was clear – Miami Kithmas was not just an event. It was an affirmation that community, when nurtured, has the power to heal, protect, and uplift.
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Amazing young lady with a huge heart! Kenisha is making her community proud.