“I want to live in Paris,” said Sha’Miyae Hinton-Knight. 
Sha’Miyae, 11, has been learning and speaking French since enrolling at the Baltimore International Academy, an internationally oriented learning environment that provides culturally and linguistically diverse education.
In addition to being bilingual, Sha’Miyae is smart and bubbly, and has a smile as bright as the pageant crown she’s wearing for winning Miss International United Maryland Preteen.
“Pageants are a great way for Sha’Miyae to practice her interviewing and public speaking skills,” said Sha’Miyae’s mother SherWanda Knight.
Interviewing and public speaking are probably not top of mind for most 11-year olds, but Sha’Miyae puts them good use as the owner and founder of a budding nonprofit—Faithfully Gifted Hearts Charity.
Her mother tells the story. When Sha’Miyae was four years old, she saw a person who was homeless on the sidewalk. Most people would walk by without a second look, but Sha’Miyae saw that person and asked her mom if she could give him her snack. Sherwanda said she was a little nervous to let her young daughter near the stranger but said ok. In that moment, young Sha’Miyae found her purpose.
Wise beyond her years, Sha’Miyae is driven by an innate desire to help others. “This is what my heart is telling me to do,” she said.
Sha’Miyae started by organizing food drives, then clothing drives and school supply drives. She puts up flyers in the Enterprise Residential community she lives in or at church. She raises funds by asking family, friends and neighbors for support, and by doing liturgical dance for local faith communities. “I feel joyful when I dance,” Sha’Miyae said.
In fact, joy radiates from Sha’Miyae. With support from her family, church and community, Sha’Miyae’s nonprofit, Faithfully Gifted Hearts Charity, focuses on serving those who are struggling with homelessness, and supporting young people who have lost a parent to violence.
“Helping people even only to share a meal or offer words of encouragement makes me feel happy and fulfilled.” Despite the immense challenges associated with these very complicated issues, Sha’Miyae is pure inspiration. “She’s teaching me,” said her mother SherWanda. “When Sha’Miyae sees somebody in need, you can see that desire to help inside her.”
Others are starting to take notice of that desire, too. Sha’Miyae has become a bit of a local celebrity. She’s been featured on a few local news stations for her efforts, where this smart young lady never misses the opportunity to ask others to join with her in support of the community.
Today, Sha’Miyae still loves dance as a way of expressing herself and now pageants have become an extension of her creative endeavors as well as place to continue sharing her purpose and passion. They have given her a platform to talk about the causes she works so hard to uplift in her community.
“I want to help other people. I want to encourage and inspire others,” she said. “When I talk to youth who’ve lost a parent to violence and I can see they’re sad, I tell them ‘you can be strong’ and I feel like that kind of encouragement helps them.”
That kind of encouragement takes a lot of courage, and Sha’Miyae admits sometimes she’s scared. Despite that feeling, Sha’Miyae’s empathy for others is genuine. This remarkable young lady puts herself out there and she is making incredible strides for her nonprofit and for her community.
“It’s my purpose,” said Sha’Miyae.
You can learn more about Sha’Miyae’s nonprofit, Faithfully Gifted Hearts Charity, by contacting the organization at 667-207-4722.
Sha’Miyae lives with her mother, grandmother, younger sister and brother in an Enterprise Residential community located in Baltimore. At Enterprise Residential, our philosophy is simple—Residents First. We serve more than 20,000 residents living in over 100 affordable and market rate communities designed for seniors, families and individuals including those living with disabilities. To learn more, find us at EnterpriseResidential.org or follow us on Facebook @EnterpriseResidential.