Deon Mitchell of Central Phoenix on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Deon Mitchell. Check out our conversation below.

Deon , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Who are you learning from right now?
I am learning so much from my toddler. She is so curious about the world. I feel like I’m relearning everything I thought I already knew.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Deon and I am the creator of K’aalogii Kisses. K’aalogii is how you say butterfly in Navajo. I chose butterfly for my business name because of its beautiful symbolic meaning. Like my art, I am always changing, growing, learning, and I’m made up of layers and layers of colorful stories. My art is a representation of both my Black and Dine (Navajo) heritage. I am a mother, artist/illustrator, and educator.

I am passionate when it comes to collaborating with creative people- or with people who doubt their creativity. I’ve taught in public schools for 12 years (prek-8th grade). When I officially resigned, after the pandemic, I decided to pour my energy into my small business, which I had established in 2012. A few months after I left teaching, I found out that I was expecting my first baby.

And just like a butterfly, I was experiencing the most magical transformation ever- becoming a mother. Having a baby, a daughter, took me back to my childhood. It also made me revisit my goals and future plans for my business. I was meeting a new version of myself; which was scary at first.

Lately, I’ve been facilitating large scale art focused workshops. These workshops are interactive and inspire others to create their own unique stories. My presentations are cultural based and focus on mindfulness and storytelling.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I was 9 years old and it was my kinaaldah (coming of age) ceremony. It’s a four day ceremony that celebrates a young girl entering womanhood. She is surrounded by family/friends, songs by a traditional medicine man/woman are sung throughout the night, food is prepared by the family everyday, and to promote strength and resiliency, the young girl runs every morning before the sunrise.

I am forever grateful that I got to experience this ceremony. Being the center of such an ancient tradition and surrounded by my family is a memory I will always cherish. I felt powerful because I was told that during this time, I carried with me, special blessings. I even got to share it with my family members. The prayers and medicine shared with me were gifts from ancestors I come from. Nothing is more powerful than knowing you come from strong people.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
As a storyteller, I know that being authentic is the foundation of connecting with others. I’ve always been true to my emotions and I don’t hold back tears nor apologize for them. For me, the ability to express how I feel in a given moment is a strength I have. It is a type of power. To be real- vulnerable- relatable.

Some of my most colorful paintings actually come from some of my most painful memories. I’ve done, and continue to do, a lot of healing. I’m healing from events from my childhood, healing from the trauma of having a premature baby, healing from lost friendships/family relationships, to name a few. But no matter how painful these experiences are, I see the beauty in them. Beauty is always present- always.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I wear many hats- a mother, a daughter, big/little sister, granddaughter, cousin, friend, teacher, artist, and the list goes on. I am proud to be all of these people in public and behind close doors. I am who I represent myself to be online and in person. Those who know me, know that if I’m not posting anything lately, that I’m taking a break or dealing with something heavy. I am a private person when it comes to my family, my health, and especially my daughter.

I love being out with people and socializing- it comes natural to me because it is who I am.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m near water. There is something so calming about water. I have literally traveled the world to experience different types of water. I traveled to Zambia and enjoyed the grandest shower of Victoria Falls. I sat in a boat on the Zambezi River, I floated on a bamboo raft down wild rivers in Phuket, I’ve sat in a swan-carved boat in Japan, I went snorkeling in the warm waters of Jamaica, and as a child, I played in the brown flowing streams in Canyon De Chelly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kaalogiikisses.com
• Instagram: kaalogii_kisses
• Linkedin: kaalogiikisses
• Facebook: Kaalogii kisses