Investor Spotlight: Kalpana Devi of Lion Paws Painting
Meet Kalpana Devi, co-owner of Lion Paws Painting! Celebrating 17 years in business, Lion Paws Painting is a family owned company committed to economic and leadership opportunities and sustainability projects in Africa and America. We caught up with Kalpana to learn more about the company’s history, values, and plans for the future.
Tell us a bit about what you do — what services you provide, or what a typical day in your business might look like. As co-owner of Lion Paws Painting, I spend much of my time building relationships, connecting with homeowners and business owners, and helping clients bring their vision for a space to life. While our team is known for delivering high-quality interior and exterior painting services, what I love most is the opportunity to meet people, learn about their projects, and help create environments that feel beautiful, welcoming, and aligned with their goals.
Manou and Kalpana of Lion Paws Painting
What made you decide to start (or join) your business? Partnering with my husband, Manou Africa in Lion Paws Painting felt like a natural extension of what I care about most; building meaningful relationships, supporting our local community, and helping people create spaces they truly love. I've always been drawn to work that combines practical service with genuine human connection, and Lion Paws offered an opportunity to do both.
One of the things that inspired me most was Manou's commitment to integrity, quality, and treating people well. A fresh coat of paint can transform much more than a room or a building...it can restore pride, create new possibilities, and help people feel more at home in the spaces where they live and work. I was excited to be part of a business that not only delivers excellent craftsmanship but also values community, collaboration, and making a positive impact.
What is one of your great success stories, or a recent project you're proud of? One of the things we're most proud of at our company is the way we bring together artistry, craftsmanship, and community.
From the beginning, we've intentionally sought to hire artists who are also trained in the services we provide. We believe artists are part of the lifeblood of a healthy society, and that an artist's sensitivity to beauty, detail, harmony, and human experience brings something invaluable to
aesthetic work. When that artistic perspective is combined with skilled craftsmanship, the result is a level of care and excellence that clients can feel in their homes and business spaces.
One project that particularly reflects our values was painting all of the exterior homes in the Cherry Hill Cohousing community. What began as a painting project grew into meaningful relationships with community members. We attended communal dinners and events, shared music through concerts, and our youth drum and dance company rehearsed regularly in the community's common house for a couple of years.
Through those experiences, we became more than contractors working on homes—we became part of a broader web of connection. We got to know residents, formed friendships, and experienced firsthand how business can help strengthen community when relationships are valued as much as results.
For us, success is measured not only by the quality of the finished work, but also by the connections formed along the way. Our goal is always to create beautiful spaces while helping weave the relationships that make a community thrive.
Any exciting plans for the future? One of the projects I'm most excited about is the development of Acoustic Earth, a creative and cultural sanctuary being established in Leverett, Massachusetts.
Through Acoustic Earth, we envision creating a space where artists, musicians, families, and community members can gather for creative retreats, music, cultural exchange, education, and healing. It's a project that's very close to my heart because it reflects my belief that thriving communities need places where creativity, connection, and artists flourish.
Through Lion Paws Painting, we're exploring ways to support that vision while continuing to grow our business and serve our clients throughout the region. It's exciting to see how entrepreneurship can become a vehicle not only for providing excellent service, but also for investing in projects that strengthen the cultural and creative fabric of our community.
What else should we know about you or your business? Are there any fun facts about your business, or something that would surprise people about what you do? One thing that surprises people is that while I spend much of my time supporting Lion Paws Painting, my husband and I have also spent decades as professional musicians and community leaders.
I'm the co-founder of ReBelle, an internationally acclaimed intercultural reggae band that my husband, Manou Africa, and I have led together for more than 30 years. Through music, cultural exchange, and community engagement, we've performed throughout the United States and Africa and have dedicated much of our lives to promoting a Love for Humanity and Gaia mission.
Family is at the center of everything we do. Together, we're parents to six children, with family roots that stretch across continents. Many people are inspired to learn that our daughter, Naia Kete (who was on The Voice!), and son, Imani Elijah, went on to found the urban-reggae band SayReal, carrying forward a multi-generational family tradition of music, creativity, and social impact.
Whether through music, entrepreneurship, or community-building, the thread that connects all of our work is the same: creating spaces where people feel inspired, connected, and empowered to contribute their unique gifts. That's true of ReBelle, it's true of Acoustic Earth, and it's true of Lion Paws Painting.
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