Shahidah Salaam shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Shahidah, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A typical day in my world starts with my morning prayers and writing reflections in my Gratitude journal something gifted to me by my mother. From there, it’s go-time: managing our 4 venues in Grandview. Handling our clients and designing our next event for or decor business Life of the party KC. Amid the hustle, I carve out sacred moments for myself a breath, a stretch, a pause.
Then I step into my favorite roles for my family, who keep the rhythm fast, college student on a mission, an active senior in high school and loving guide to a brilliant 7-year-old who’s the heartbeat of our household (and our unofficial CEO). It’s organized chaos wrapped in purpose, love, and a sprinkle of creative magic.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Shahidah Salaam is the multi-talented, award-winning Creative Director of Life of
the Party K.C., a company that offers stunning decor and delicious custom treats
for any occasion. She, along with her Husband, Khalis Shareef, run four venues
in South Kansas City, where they host memorable events and special occasions.
In 2020 and 2025 she was voted Best Decor by the people of Kansas City for the Kansas
City’s People’s Choice Awards!
Shahidah, not only a decor specialist, but also an author, a graphic designer, a social activist, a world traveler having visited 6 continents and a mother to 3 children ages 20, 17 and 7. Along with running several businesses she co-founded along with her family and friends, the New Africa Community Center, a non-profit organization that serves the community through various social service initiatives and Community events. One of their Service events is the Annual Day of Dignity, which provides essential services and resources to those in need in the Urban Core and socio economically disadvantaged areas of Kansas City.
In 2024, she provided and Chaired the Event Planning & Decor side for the 11th Annual the Ebony Rose Gala at the Convention Center in Kansas City for the National Congress of Black Women -KC Chapter, an annual Gala of the who’s who of the Greater Metropolitan area of Kansas City. She has been a philanthropist since her youth, raising over $200,000 for a non-profit youth program and earning her and along with the youth board she founded, the award of Philanthropists of the year in 1998 (Elementary Institute of Science Youth board) in San Diego, California.
Shahidah has a strong academic background in Urban Studies, Social Service, where she obtained her Bachelors from UMKC and her Associates from San Diego Community College in Computer Business Technology.
She hosts a yearly Conference along with Naomi Lee Events and the Black Event Professionals for Women in Decor called Elevate your Event!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My mother, a powerhouse in the corporate world for over 40 years, balanced the weight of raising three children with a full-time career, all while keeping up with our whirlwind of activities. Through her, I learned to move with grace, lead with integrity, and stand in excellence.
My father was the embodiment of resilience. A self-employed visionary, he poured everything into his businesses and welcomed us his kids into the fold, showing us the grind, the grit, and the joy of creation along with doing for self through business. Working alongside him taught me what determination really looks like.
Their strength shaped me. Their example fuels me. Because of them, I move with momentum, guided by faith.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
It all started with tears, the kind that come from feeling trapped in a life that no longer speaks to your purpose. I told, Khalis, I was done punching clocks and chasing quotas that didn’t reflect my passion. I dreamed of creating something beautiful… something mine. A space where memories could be made and magic brought to life through events.
He looked at me and simply said, “Well quit and open an event space.” I didn’t know the first thing about running one, but together we found a location and he got to work renovating it, and pouring love into my vision. That was the moment Elegant Affairs event space was born.
Now, six years later, with God’s grace, we’ve grown from that first leap into a thriving family of four venues in Grandview, Missouri. Every event is touched by Khalis’s masterful carpentry, bringing our custom props to life with care and creativity with his business Preeminent props. We’ve been blessed not just by our growth, but by the unwavering support of the community and beautiful clients who support and believe in our talent and allow it flourish.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I am a reflection of grace under pressure, born from legacy and layered with purpose.
I carry the strength of my mother’s corporate resilience and the grit of my father’s entrepreneurial fire. Their example runs through every decision I make, every space I create, and every client I serve.
I did not arrive here accidentally. I carved this path out of prayer, reflection, and bold surrender. I chose a life where creativity isn’t a side note, it’s the headline. I traded time clocks and quotas for impact and intimacy. And with my family beside me, we built a business that breathes life into celebrations and speaks joy into spaces.
I am both power and softness. I am a wife, mother, visionary, and truth-teller.
I honor my evolution, not just my achievements. I tell my story in my own voice. And in everything I touch, I strive to lead with excellence, authenticity, and love.
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?
The story that I hope that they share about me and my legacy is that I rose not without adversity, but through it.
That I climbed with purpose, grace, and grit, never too prideful to extend a hand to those who needed it. That I stood as a true girls’ girl, always championing the brilliance in other women and cheering for their success as if it were my own.
That I left more than just venues and memories, I left valuable knowledge. Intellectual property in the form of authored books designed to uplift, guide, and empower women long after I’ve spoken the words.
That I led with vision in business, served with heart in my community, and stood tall as a Phenomenal Woman, because I had extraordinary women paved that way for me to do so.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ElegantAffairseventspace.com
- Instagram: Lifeofthepartykc
- Facebook: Lifeofthepartykc
- Youtube: Lifeu
