An Inspired Chat with Isa Lillard of North Hollywood

Isa Lillard shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Isa, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity absolutely. Intelligence is relative, energy shifts but Integrity is constant.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
The name is Isa, I created it myself. knocked off the last 2 initials in my birth name from Isaih to Isa, as did my once upon a time favorite Musician Nasir, Isa rhymes with Giga as was Jay-Z’s nick name. Those two MC’s were my top two in high school, and later I came to realize when a Muslim was mystified by my name and he told me that Isa means Jesus in Hebrew, I love that part of it. Well so, at Black Lives Support we are building an inclusive impact of efforts to help underserved communities in every way shape and form possible. No need for me to give too long of a spill, we are a 501c3 nonprofit charity organization and you can search BLS online and please fell free to down load the app by searching BLS members and join in on the fun and help us out in your community. All nationalities and all people of all walks of life, non discriminatory.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
It was an alcoholic old friend of mines but you know what they say, its said that they are the ones who tell the truth. Their was something of a conviction and absolute when he told me, and what he would say from time to time was ” Ahhhh man Isa, once it clicks in you gone be great” he did his little finger snap and all lol. So I thank the bro who goes by P. Even till this day it is frustrating when I realize that people that I know just don’t know or at least assume that their has to be a lot of work to be done behind the scenes in order to get the results they may see. The point is that the brother that i mentioned saw me putting in a lot of work, moving a little different and at that time I thought that I wasn’t doing enough.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
My wounds would have had to been of abandonment, I wont dive into it exactly because me and my loved ones are in a great place and faced our past, but I would definitely like to share the part on how iv healed because rather then sharing for relatability id love to share for possible solutions. Well so, I healed them by studying human development and psychology and came to understand that we are all products of our upbringing, some worst then others but all of us are imperfect from Parents, Guardians and family members all are just trying to live, and their is no manual to this thing called life as my step pops would say. The extensive reading and passion for these subjects on human behavior and growth gave me a wider perception on people and simply taught me to get out of myself. I know its super hard when over coming or even having the courage to face yourself in the mirror and look into the past but once you forgive or even begin to know who to forgive, believe me and take my word on it, You begin to live.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
All of them, nothing is new under the sun, it’s never what you do but how it’s done. “Nasir Jones ” but even my choice to insert that at this exact moment with elegance and context makes it mine “Isa Lillard”

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I would hope that everyone knows that from nothing something was made without formal education and helped as many along the way. From having nothing being without but still inspired character with grace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blacklivessupport.org/donate
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isalillard
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isa-lillard
• Twitter: https://x.com/isalillard
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@isalillard
• Other: Apple Store https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bls-member/id6754231824
  Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.bls.nonprofit