Member Spotlight: King David Walker

Meet King David Walker: Universal Medicine Man & Healer, and beloved leader in our Embrace Community.

King David is many things and his heart for community pours out in many ways:

• BlackFULLness, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer

• OAXXANDA Land and Space Cooperative, Investor and Lead Strategist

• Alameda County Oakland Action Partnership Board (AC-OCAP)

• Board Member and Advocacy Chair Embrace Community

• Heart and Soul Center of Light Spiritual Center, Imagining Justice Advisory Council Member

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., General Member

Beyond all this, King David is a prayer warrior, a master connector, and an amplifier of BIPOC creatives & spiritual innovators. It’s impossible not to smile and be filled with radiant joy when you are in his presence - and we’d love for you to get to know a piece of his journey through life and with Embrace.

Tell us about your journey & how you got on your path.

I have not always been so clear and confident about who I am and who I endeavor to be. This journey of releasing myself from limitations and the narratives of others has been REAL. I was born and raised in the Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina--the Bible belt buckle of the South that is still plagued with the history of racism.

I literally spent 6 out of 7 days in church as a kid—my faith has always been a strong part of my life experience. I am on an expanded and intentional spiritual and self-actualization journey that has led me to an adventure in faith, trust, and courage to release the boxes and limitations that have never felt natural to me.A journey where I lean into my freedom, liberation, and sovereignty by breaking down systems that do not support me and others--systems that create boxes that I empower myself to remove. I give thanks!

As a same-gender loving man born in the South, raised by separated parents--one with a manic depression and bipolar diagnosis and the other impacted and recovering from the crack-epidemic– I am a first generation college student, who has an educational background in STEM and Supply Chain, who’s career journey has included cross functional leadership in Strategic

Planning, Sales Strategy/Management, Marketing, Internal Communications, Bus Dev, and more in the Tech, Consumer Tech, Medical Device, and Corporate Retail Spaces, and who enjoys all types of out the box experiences. With these life experiences, I found myself in many spaces where I was the only one in the classroom, the boardroom, in the meeting, at the proverbial table who looked like me or had my unique lived experiences. And in those spaces I was told directly or shown indirectly that I was not welcomed with attempts to box me. I give thanks!

I had become the quintessential “yes” man. The song says, “I’ll say yes, Lord, yes to your will and to your way. I’ll say yes, Lord yes. I will trust you and obey. When your Spirit speaks to me, with my whole heart, I’ll agree. And my answer will be yes. Lord yes.” The irony is, while I had this beautiful song in my heart and in my consciousness with pure intent, I was answering to the lowercase lords that were not the same LORD the song refers to. I was saying yes to the lowercase lords of homophobia, lack and limitation, racism and inauthenticity---I was subconsciously saying yes to all the things that kept me bound to narratives and agreements that did not serve me. I give thanks!

Awakening is a real thing! I am aware that all I need is within me. I have no need to look beyond myself for anything. Self-care, self-love, and service are all I need. I am more confident in my gifts and my willingness to share them. I stand boldly, firmly, calmly, and confidently when faced with fear and uncertainty. I am more confident in being an advocate for others who are not as confident in their own power and sovereignty as I am. I see people for who and how they are and accept them. I give thanks!

My spiritual practices ground me in the Reality and Truth of who I am. I know that I am more than enough. My relationships are safe, healthy, and have appropriate boundaries. I offer my best in everything. Compassion, love, joy, peace, harmony, vibrant health, honor, and respect--these are the life agreements I will say Yes Lord Yes to. I give thanks!

What is a spiritual lesson you are living into right now?

Surrender is the spiritual lesson I am living right now. My life purpose is to be a global leader who circulates love, light, access, and resources to awaken humanity to their own divinity for the experience of world peace and radical respect and reverence for Mother Earth in our lifetime. There are infinite possibilities of how this purpose is manifesting and will manifest as my life including as an–entrepreneur, social impact/land stewardship invest, healer, author, speaker, facilitator, environmentalist, vocalist, philanthropist, politician, consultant, spiritual activist, life coach, and in ways unrevealed to me at this instance. What I know is that in order to reach the magnificent potential that is emerging in, through, and as me, I cannot lean into my own understanding. The beauty is we live in an infinitely intelligent and giving Universe that does. This Universal Intelligence alone rules me. The Spirituality of Nature, my spiritual philosophy, demonstrates that:

(1) There is oneness, and I am one with this oneness

(2) I am here to be more

(3) I can change instantly

(4) I’ll know what I need to know when I need to know it

(5) Life goes ahead of me providing what I need before I knew I needed it. I give thanks!

I am currently enrolled in the New Ventures West Integral Life coaching certification program. Through this program my personal and customized invitation is to consider what it would be to live a life animated by True Will. I’ve also been encouraged to live from the still point as noted by T.S Eliot. At the core of this invitation is Surrender rooted in Trust and Faith. I give thanks!

Excerpt from BURNT NORTON (No. 1 of 'Four Quartets') by T.S. Eliot

At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;

Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,

But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,

Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,

Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,

There would be no dance, and there is only the dance.

I can only say, there we have been: but I cannot say where.

And I cannot say, how long, for that is to place it in time.

What value are you getting out of being part of the Emrbace Community?

The Embrace community is a dream manifested.

I have prayed for a space like Embrace since I was about 25 years old. That was 15 years ago and it has been totally worth the wait. Engaging in this community has felt like a rebirth for me. When I think about this Beloved community and how it is blessing my life, I am moved to tears of joy and gratitude! I get excited about the infinite possibilities and overjoyed to watch it expand. Embrace is a MOVEMENT. I give thanks!

I feel so honored and blessed to be a part of an open minded community that is diverse and inclusive with individuals who are passionate about spirituality and innovation, coming from various backgrounds, traditions, and belief systems. The acceptance is overwhelming beautiful to witness and experience. I love that I get to be my spiritually ratchet self with others who identify as the same with no judgement from others who may not subscribe to being spiritually ratchet! This community provides support, feedback, connection, and collaboration opportunities for innovators. The special brand of excellence, creativity and beauty is unmatched. Every space and container created by Embrace stimulates creativity, innovation, and love. I give thanks!

I appreciate that Embrace operates from an ethical framework that guides the development and implementation of spiritual innovations, ensuring that they promote well-being, respect individual autonomy, and uphold ethical principles such as non-harm and inclusivity. It is refreshing that Embrace has a great deal of respect for traditional spiritual teachings and practices, while also being open to exploring new approaches and methodologies that can complement or enhance existing traditions. I give thanks!

Bottom Line: I am in it to win with Embrace because the W is guaranteed! Life has already ordained it to be so! I give thanks and so it is!

Any gifts or offerings you’d love to share?

I design, build and cultivate successful and productive collaboration and strategic partnerships to increase awareness, affinity, buy-in, and revenue with experience within the governmental, tech, consumer technology, medical device, pharma, publishing and corporate retail industries - all with mindfulness at the core. With over 17 years of experience, I put the FUNK in facilitation, cross-functional training, and leadership to achieve goals. I give thanks!

Beyond all of this, I am a prayer warrior and great accountability or prayer partner. I have a compassionate heart, sharp and focused mind, and a gut that moves through fear. I can find/see the good in anything and offer great reframes that are honest, authentic, nourishing and supportive. I am great at encouragement, and I am a vessel for Truth. I give thanks!

I am excited to share about the opportunities for BIPOC artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, spiritual innovators etc to share in the OAXXANDA Land and Space Collective. I am also excited to invite readers to download the BlackFULLness app in the Apple and Android stores. Last but not least, I invite you all to pre-order a copy of our culturally relevant 90 day guided gratitude journal, GrateFULLness: A BlackFULLness Gratitude Journal. I give thanks!