Kaneke Brave is an Afro-Latina born and raised in the Bronx NY to her Puerto Rican parents, Carlos and Anna. Her father is a US Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran, and after going to college for 2 years, she decided to follow in his footsteps and joined the Marine Corps herself. She was enlisted and served during Desert Storm from 1991 -1997. Kaneke was honorably discharged in 1997 as a Sergeant and returned to civilian life with her two children, Darren and Devon.
Kaneke went back to school, earned her Technical Diploma in Network Engineering and Data Communications, her AS in Digital Arts and Animation, and her BA in Multimedia Arts and Design. She completed all of this all while working on her trauma and mental health, treatment and recovery.
Kaneke volunteered at the VA hospital in the Bronx and decided that she could do more by working directly in the system. Kaneke moved across the US from NYC to AZ and in 2010 started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs with the Vet Center – Readjustment Counseling Center. There, she was able to utilize her multimedia art and administrative skills to help reach and assist her peers. As the Office Manager and outreach assistant in numerous veterans’ conferences and events, she presented on benefits and provided resources for mental health and trauma as well as providing guidance to them with finding assistance with filing for disability and compensation entitlements through the Veterans Administration.
Kaneke has always been a person striving to do more. In 2012, she accepted a job with the Veterans Administration as an Executive Administrative Assistant to the Chief Nurse of the Southern Clinics in Cape Coral FL. In 2014, she was promoted and accepted a job as the Secretary to the Deputy Network Director of VISN 7 and the Executive Assistant to the Chief Nursing Officer in Georgia. In 2016, she moved to Las Vegas to work with the Department of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Office as their Administrative Officer. Finally, in 2021, she retired early due to medical issues.
Kaneke currently lives in Las Vegas with her soulmate and daughter. Her oldest son also lives in Las Vegas. Kaneke and her husband share two other daughters and a son.
Kaneke occasionally does freelance work as a multimedia artist, designing websites and logos for small businesses creating corporate identity packages. She continues to find ways to help her veteran peers become successful and connect with their resources whenever she can. She currently is the Secretary for, and member of her local chapter NV-3 Sagebush Marines, Women Marines Association. Kaneke is the Media and Marketing representative for, and member of, Colors of Lupus Nevada and Gamma Pi Rho Lupus Sorority, Incorporated.
