Meet the Co-Host

Kierra Jack & Monifah Ponton

Monifah Ponton

I am currently a college student at the University of Northern Iowa. I major in Social Work with minors in Mental Health & Criminology. I earned my Associates Degree at Scott Community College and had the honor of being the student speaker for my graduation class of 2022. I transferred to UNI in the fall of 2022.

I am originally from Chicago, IL and moved to Davenport, Iowa, with my family, at four years old. I often volunteered as President of clubs to help with our schools food bank, organizing donated clothes, charity events, and this helped me understand how I can reach people where they are in life. I then decided I wanted to become a social worker and therapist. Because our mental health must be our number one priority in order to help ourselves and others. 

This podcast is important to me because I feel it is time to discuss these difficult and ignored topics outside the comfort of ourselves, Kierra and I. We noticed we could create a safe space for other young Black women, especially in college, to have a space where they are advocated for, not on the back burner, and can share parts of their own individual trials and triumphs. 

I feel people should listen, especially young Black individuals in college and at a PWI, because Black and minority groups in this generation have heavy struggles that we battle daily. We have had designated areas for us that are often integrated and overpowered by those who choose to not relate or understand our life. This podcast's most important goal is for young Black women in college and at a PWI to be heard first. This is our safe space to share, give advice, uplift, and help each other become better Black women. 

You can contact me through Instagram DM. Follow me at moponton_.

Kierra Jack

I’m currently a college student at Iowa State University and I am majoring in interior design, graduating in Spring of 2025. I spent my first year of college at two different community colleges; Fall semester at Kirkwood Community College and the Spring semester at Scott Community College.

I’m from Davenport, Iowa and I graduated from Central high school class of 2020. From a young age I always knew that I wanted to be in the design field. I went from fashion design to graphic designer to interior design. I spent my first semester of college taking interior design classes at Kirkwood. I loved all of my classes and everything the major has to offer which is why I made a switch to ISU’s 4-year program.

This podcast is important to me because it gives me an outlet to express my current struggles of being a black woman in college at a PWI. College is hard and I've experienced so many things that I wasn't ready for. Most of the college prep I endured in high school did not actually apply to me (a Black woman) once I started college and I think these conversations are important especially for black girls who are currently in college or plan to attend a college in the future. 

I think this podcast provides a good listen because these types of conversations from a black female perspective aren't openly happening anywhere else. My wish for this podcast is to provide comfort or support to those who can relate to me and Monifah (co founder/co host) or even to just provide a new perspective of whatever topic we may be discussing. My overall goal is simply for us black women in predominantly white spaces to feel heard and have an outlet of self-expression. 

You can contact me through Instagram DM. Follow me at Jackkierra.