Memory Lane

As a young girl, I can remember sitting with my grandmother as she taught me how to sew. Her lessons taught me that discipline, patience, and focus can lead to beautiful results. Now, as a youth mentor, who seeks to inspire and empower youth to reach their full potential I want to give that same love back to my community.

Even before this pandemic, many kids struggled to find good outlets for their energy as these days they are often overwhelmed by the drama of social media and faced with poorly maintained or non-existent community centers and playgrounds. And, right now, these struggles are being amplified as they go through one of the most difficult times of their lives. With even fewer places to turn for creative outlets or social release, it is more important than ever that we work to cultivate and harness their energy into productive and meaningful activities to keep them engaged and stimulated, and out of trouble.

It is for these reasons and more that years ago I decided to become a youth mentor, and why I feel today that this work is crucial to restoring and maintaining faith and joy in our neighborhoods.

I was raised in the Ypsilanti community in Michigan, and I know just how important it was for me to have strong and committed role models who understood what I was going through, and who could help teach me the skills I needed to get me to where I wanted to be. The women leaders, including my grandmother, who helped shape me, also instilled in me my passion for caring for the next generation and their belief in me continues to fuel my desire to give my mentees all the opportunities I can to see them grow and learn.

I am always looking for ways to take one of my lifelong joys, that of taking something purely from my imagination and turning it into a beautiful creation, and translate that passion into a new pathway for my young mentees.

Receiving this grant would allow me to continue fulfilling this goal through the creation of a program I have long wanted to start called The Boss Up Entrepreneur Program. Using my talents at sewing, crafting, education, and sales I would be able to hold classes aimed at teaching young community members how to sew, develop their own creations, and market their products for sale. One of the keys to true freedom is being able to not only express one’s creativity but to be able to be financially independent. Through my program I want to show young girls that they too have all the resources they need to be successful, start their own businesses, and begin to break generational “curses.” I want to show them that happiness can start with just your own two hands and a little imagination.

Creativity and unleash your creativity When I was a young kid my grandmother taught me how to sew .Teaching young girls how to sew will change their live because it changed mine.With Corna virus this no where to go Well just imagine feeling like there is nowhere to turn because all of the afterschool programs and activities such as bowling alley,skating rink, mall and fun things kids do are closing around you. All you have is a phone full of drama tweets and horrible posts to look at and when you go outside the playground is old and rusted and there are people out there doing absolutely nothing productive. Where would you turn? Well that is where I stepped in and saw that the Ypsilanti community was in need of a mentoring group and Teen program. I inspire and empower kids to reach their full potential. This grant will allow me to start the Boss Up entrepreneur program , this program will allow kids to sew, create and sell their creations. I will teach them how to start their own businesses and start to break generational curses.