FIRST GENERATION NFP

Co-Founders

Paris Grimmett (B.S., M.B.A., M.A.T) & Kianna Grimmett (B.S., M.A.)

About the Founders:

Paris and Kianna Grimmett founded FIRST GENERATION NFP in March of 2021 after they discussed the need for resources and opportunities in the community of East Saint Louis, Illinois (ESTL). Paris is a native of ESTL. In 2016 Paris became a first-generation college graduate, earning a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Greenville University (GU). He went on to earn his master’s in business administration from GU in 2018 and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mckendree University in 2022. Paris and Kianna both believe that business education and financial literacy are the best ways to “level the playing field” in urban communities like ESTL.

Kianna earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from the University of Missouri in 2018. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in professional studies with a certification in urban chaplaincy from Eden Theological Seminary in 2023. Kianna grew up in the St. Louis Area, spending most of her childhood in Wellston, Missouri. She is committed to empowering youth through business education in ESTL and communities like it.

First Generation in the community

Community Clean-up in East Saint Louis.

BE THE FIRST!

“Oftentimes, people are not able to fix a problem because they do not know the source of the problem. The real challenge is finding a way to provide quality education and positive experiences to people regardless of race or socioeconomic status”.
-Paris Grimmett

Experiential Learning at GRIT Business Academy (Summer of 2023)