‘Show Up and Step Up’ Empowering Platform for Gen-Z Founder Raven Keiara Challenges Youth To Rise Up

The multifaceted artist is committed to a social good movement helping to raise awareness for volunteerism, the arts & entertainment and social justice initiatives. 

It’s been a momentous year for 17-year-old multihyphenate Raven Keiara, who in the past few months has been recognized in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate as an activist, and as an artist is reaching a worldwide audience in the newly released “Show Me” music video opposite Disney star Issac Ryan Brown from Raven’s Home fame. 

Raven Keiara is using her platform to empower youth to raise their voices. The creator of “Show Up and Step Up” initiative has had her fair share of showing up to volunteer and stepping up to the plate as a staunch advocate in her community. The teen has more than 500 documented hours of community service work.

She empowers youth and believes that current times call for “Gen-Z to step up” like she has done in the past to help navigate a complicated future.

Raven Keiara is a history maker. The young trailblazer made history in 2015 in the first ever group of secondary students to cover the National Arts, Entertainment and Journalism Awards (NAEJ). 

At just eight years old, she helped found a media entertainment magazine called PopSource TV. By nine she had already interviewed the likes of the late Bob Barker and Diahann Carroll, Joe Mantenga, Skai Jackson, Marsai Martin and others. 

By fifteen years old, Raven Keiara was working at Tavis Smiley’s KBLA radio station in Los Angeles – the number two media market in the United States – as a producer where she actively engaged in content and media. As a journalist Raven Keiara’s writing has been published nationally.

The multifaceted teen is also a singer, dancer, producer, content creator, media personality and humanitarian.

We spoke with Raven about her many successes and wide appeal.

“I am amazed and humbled at how my career has gone so far,” Raven Keiara says.

“I’m here to engage, to educate, to entertain and to empower. Because of the artform I’m fusing together performance techniques with modern pop-culture sensibilities, capturing an audience with drama, intrigue, advocating for arts & entertainment for the culture, bundling the whole thing together in a positive context showing up and stepping up to be the best Raven Keiara that I’ve been called to be,” the17-year-old says.

Raven Keiara is no stranger to entertainment. She has been cast in a wide variety of projects from films to commercials. She has been featured in high-profile videos and has worked alongside Grammy-winning artists such as Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Lalah Hathawy and Take 6. 

At just five years old, Raven Keiara landed her first job in the entertainment industry working for Disney. She would go on to star in many productions for Disney including appearances for Disney Destinations, Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Aulani and the Disney Channel. 

She’s also the sister to performers who started out as child actors. Her oldest brother Eshun Melvin was recurring on Real Husbands of Hollywood, New Girl, and MTV’s Teen Wolf. Her other sibling AyoDen is a comedian and content creator with 3M YouTube subscribers and 1.6M followers on TikTok. 

The renowned artists and personalities have all worked together on sets and she has been featured in commercials with her siblings.

“As an artist, I’m able to unleash elements of myself that I otherwise might not be able to do and because this is my calling I truly indulge and stay true to my craft,” Raven Keiara says.

Speaking to MetroTalks LA, Raven Keiara acknowledged the ambitious scope of having a diverse portfolio, describing it as “creative opportunities” that “truly represent” her brand. The multihyphenate also stated to the outlet that “I want to keep constantly pushing the creative boundaries in artistry expression, acting, and directing. I’m happy to embark on the next chapter and bring creative energy to every project,” she said in the interview.

Indeed Raven Keiara is a youth on the move with helping to shape the world. Community activism has always been at the forefront of Raven Keiara’s heart. She is the first youth in her family to take such an interest in social justice initiatives. 

“I wanted to do work that matters. As a Gen-Z influencer, I also wanted to capture the spirit of our times,” Raven Keiara says.  

More recently, she advocated to her city government to improve diversity and inclusion and cultural awareness which resulted in an inaugural Juneteenth Celebration in Manhattan Beach in June 2024. 

It is a historic win for Raven Keiara. Her advocacy won the praise of Manhattan Beach mayor Joe Franklin, the City Council, Congressman Ben Allen and L.A. Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, the ‘Queen’ of Black politics in L.A., and deemed one of the most powerful Black politicians in California by L.A. Times. Not bad for a 17-year-old who continues to move the needle forward.

“I actually live in Supervisor Mitchell’s district. She’s definitely a Shero. I have great examples to look up. I can’t stop here. You can’t get too comfortable with one thing; you have to be multifaceted in the global landscape,” Raven Keiara says. 

“I just stay busy. My grandmother became the first Black and first woman mayor in her city. My great grandmother excelled in the face of integrating schools and taught for over 40 years. Leadership is in my DNA – it’s about leaving a legacy,” Raven Keiara added. 

Without a doubt, she has a gift for storytelling and imagination that has  influenced her craft. The influential young creator is well on her way to leaving her mark.

Watch the official “Show Me” music video here: