The Heart of Nilaja Jendayi
Hi! My name is Nilaja, but friends call me NiNi.
Hi! My name is Nilaja, but friends call me NiNi. I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but I spent most of my life in Indiana where I graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington. While at IU, I co-founded the Upsilon Chapter of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. with six other women. After college, I met the Love of my life. He was an Active-Duty Soldier who has since retired. I joined the
military as an Officer in 2009. I deployed a couple of times and eventually went into the Reserves and gave birth to an amazing child named Justice. My husband and I are two veterans living with PTSD and our little family is in therapy every week. This is important because therapy has allowed us to be where we are today.
The military has taken us all over the U.S. however, we have settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado where we are extremely involved in the community. I am one of the newest members of the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce. I recently attended the Solid Rock Housing Development Fundraiser. I am a 2021 Recipient of the Women Of Influence Award through the Colorado Springs Business Journal for work done with companies I have worked for such as Oracle and LiveRamp. I was heavily involved in the Alliance of Black Leaders for Excellence and the Veterans at LiveRamp Affinity Groups.
In preparation for my partner leaving the Military, he started a company and asked me to become
the CEO since I graduated with my MBA in 2019. We now co-run daily operations at Veterans' Digital Ally, where we help veterans and their families gain digital equity and accessibility through partnerships with Comcast & Mt. Carmel Veterans Resource Center. We are an interracial couple, navigating life together.
I am passionate about unity and community.
Thank you for coming on this journey with me!
Present Day
Currently, I am graduate student (again). This time, I am following my passion to help Veterans and their families in the realm of Mental Health. I am a Counselor in Training at Adler University, where I bring my diverse experiences and perspectives to learn and foster connections. Our life together, as an interracial couple, is a testament to our commitment to navigating life's challenges together, celebrating our differences, and building a legacy of unity and understanding.
I am passionate about unity and community.
My life's journey—from the streets of New Orleans to the diverse experiences across the U.S., and the challenges and triumphs along the way—fuels my dedication to making a difference. Thank you for joining me on this journey, as we strive to empower, uplift, and inspire one another toward a more inclusive and just world.
I am in the editing phase of my first solo book called, "Breathing Under Water" where I give first hand stories of my journey to the diagnosis of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). I detail how I have handled it and where I am going as I heal with it.
