real moms.
RÉSUMÉ CURRENT POSITION
CEO and founder of Meet Akina AGE 43 LIVES IN Frisco HAILS FROM Fort Worth, where she grew up with sister Codie Oliver— co-creator and director of Black Love, a docuseries on the Oprah Winfrey Network ALMA MATER
Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia; earned a bachelor’s degree in English Arts SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Husband Chris, chief operating officer of Meet Akina CHILDREN Sons Caleb, 13, Gavin, 12, Dylan, 3 WHERE TO CONNECT
meetakina.com, @meetakina on Instagram
mom next door /
LEIGH BUTLER Helping Black moms find their tribe I N T E R V I E W K E L LY W O O L E Y PHOTOGRAPHY NATHAN HUNSINGER
ABOVE // Leigh Butler's own feelings and experiences as a mom inspired Meet Akina.
Y
OU COULD SAY LEIGH BUTLER’S LIFE WAS CHARMED. She earned a degree
from an esteemed university and was thriving as a wife, mom and business owner. But a few years ago, Butler and her husband found themselves in a financial crisis. They ultimately had to seek assistance just to keep food on the table. Health concerns that accompanied a surprise third pregnancy added to the stress.
That’s about the time that the Butlers moved to Texas from Alabama. Things started to get better— and then the pandemic hit, and the nation plunged deeper into divisive debates about politics and race. Butler used those factors to her advantage and moved forward with an idea she’d been considering for a while. Last November, she launched Meet Akina, an online platform and app aimed at creating community and addressing challenges faced by Black mothers. DFWCHILD | april/may 2022
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