Meet David Tillman and Jabria Howington | CEO &. CFO (Co-Founders)

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Tillman and Jabria Howington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David and Jabria, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
ProPhound Kids is deeply personal to us. Growing up, we faced some dark times that felt insurmountable. It was the arts that provided an escape for us, and in many ways, saved our lives. Whether it was theater, producing music or dancing, these creative outlets offered a sanctuary where we could express ourselves and heal from the traumas of our childhoods. The transformative power of the arts got us thinking about how many other children might be going through similar struggles and could really benefit from a safe, creative space free of judgment and full of empathy.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets us apart from many of the programs that exist is that ProPhound Kids seeks to ignite the creative spark in every child where they can explore their artistic potential, build confidence, and develop essential life skills no matter their socioeconomic background. We envision a world where every child has the opportunity to express themselves creatively regardless of their background or circumstances. We offer our programs for free and we do not impose a grading scale on the end product of their artistic expression nor do we expect them to meet the expectations of others. Like any entrepreneurial venture, starting ProPhound Kids came with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was securing funding and resources due to the competitive nature of grant seeking and the reduction of funds for arts events and programs in the city’s fiscal year budget. Despite these challenges, finding a community of individuals with a shared sense of values and vision was extremely important. We reached out to local businesses, community leaders, and potential donors who believed in our mission and securing securing these partnership has led to the success of our organization.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego has so many fun and beautiful experiences. A week long trip would include a visit to Mission Beach and The Cliffs in La Jolla, our favorite restaurants in the best neighborhoods (Little Italy, Hillcrest, North Park and Gaslamp) and any hike to leave them feeling light and grounded before their flight home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely! First, we would like to give thanks to God for the strength and resilience blessed upon us and for His wisdom and guidance in showing us a way to give back to our community. ProPhound Kids would not be where it is today without the incredible support from so many people, such as California Exposure, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program (SDVLP), Small Business Development Center (SBDC), KyotoGo Market, Wicked West and our many collaborators, friends and sponsors. We are deeply grateful for our Board of Directors and Advisory Board for their commitment to our vision, mission and values. This journey truly has been a collaborative effort and we are ProPhound-ly grateful to everyone who has been a part of it.

Website: https://www.prophoundkids.org

Instagram: @prophoundkids

Linkedin: ProPhound Kids Inc.

Facebook: ProPhound Kids Inc.

Image Credits
@b_towner_photography
@shotby_benz