We had the good fortune of connecting with Shalonda Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Shalonda, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind me starting my own business is simple. I wanted more for our black community. As an educator which was once in a classroom and now educating in my own way felt, seen, and heard the need for our youth and young adults in educating to become successful in more than one way. We all have been taught and embedded that the only way to success is by going to college. If you can’t afford to send your child to college the pressure of scholarships, student loans, and unnecessary debt just to realize college is not made for everyone. We are not taught to go into business for ourselves but to work for other businesses, build other businesses, and retire from other businesses. There is nothing wrong with going to college, I’ve done it a couple of times but if it is not made for you that doesn’t mean you can’t live a comfortable lifestyle.
I created Ladies Of Tomorrow and Designed with a Purpose Youth Mentorship because I wanted to give our upcoming generations of our black community a chance and options. One is for young ladies and the other is for young men. I separated the two because in business it is definitely different for each. But we also created DBA Tailored Made Youth Mentorship which consist of both genders so they can see the aspect of business from each side. We provide Character Development, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship. I wanted to give the a ‘One Stop Shop’ instead of focusing on one category because all three of these components makes them a well-rounded person. Make them whole so to speak.
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?
Here is what sets us apart from others is that we don’t just give back during back-to-school times, and other aspects of a nonprofit organization but we also believe in showing the adults that is a part of our community that we can have fun and raise funding to help them. Our organization is like Wal-Mart Super Center. You don’t have to go anywhere else to get all the tools you need. We deal with self-esteem, social skills, discuss real life problems, coping mechanisms, problem solving skills, accepting yourself, changing your environment within your environment, and that is just in the character development section. We tackle the mindset first before we teach anything else. If we can’t change your mid-set, then teaching money and business is just a waste. This section is usually the longest section within our program because these kids deal with a lot, and they don’t feel like they are being heard. Character development is definitely my most favorite because the other sections are as important, but we can’t teach if they are not teachable.
I am proud and excited about the real-life changing testimonies that has come back to me of the impact I left, and my organization gave them the eye opener of endless possibilities and businesses that was developed because of it. I was in the classroom for 10 years and the children I was blessed to teach some of them I still keep in contact with. They are not grown with kids of their own, graduated with master’s degrees, and even married. Some even started their own businesses just because someone took the time to show them love, understanding, and know their worth even if they didn’t pursue the college life. This is the type of things that keeps me going in spite of the hurdles I have to jump through with the states we operate in (California and Arkansas). It is so much red tape just to help our future leaders of this country its discouraging at times.
Our youth organization has gotten this far by never giving up. I have funded most of my organizations due to the countless grant competition over funding, the community not giving the support we need, and the lack of sources sometimes. I was very naive when I went into the nonprofit sector. I learned a lot by self-taught because I literally couldn’t get anyone to teach me how it works, a sense of direction, or just even how to even start one. I read a lot of books, used the knowledge I gained from my work history, and just flat-out determination. This is the most competitive sector in business and is not made for the weak-hearted. We are still building and when you are not popular, or you become a threat to another organization the road gets even harder. My moto is “it’s enough for everyone to eat”, so we shouldn’t be in competition with one another and the popular shouldn’t be the only ones being supported. There are so many great organizations out here, but you would not know because the same organizations are getting the grants, the support, and the spotlight.
This journey has yet to be come easy, definitely a lot of challenges, and plethora of lessons. Anything worth having is not going to come easy. It’s all about being honest with yourself, how bad do you want it, and is it going to be worth it. Honesty is the first step into the entrepreneurship life. You have to admit to yourself if you have the strength to do this, are you made to work for anyone, and is the reward greater than the sacrifice? I asked myself those same questions. My answers were, “I am strong enough to do this with the support of my better half and kids, I am not made to work for anyone, and the reward is so much greater than my scarifies”. This is why we came as far as we did and is going. We have built so many great relationships in Arkansas with our Annual Back to School giveaways, mentoring within the Little Rock School district and Estem charter HS, and our Annual Dating Auction fundraiser we did for 5 years in a row. We hope we build those same relationships and more here in the state of California. We have network with others, and we know it is going to take time to build the same relationships we have back in Arkansas, but we are here to put in the work.
I have learned that it is so much work and improvement that needs to be done. One person cannot do it all by themselves. Our children need us, and we are so crucial piece of their success that we cannot afford to neglect or mishandle them. It is our responsibility to equip them with all of the tools and not pieces or just enough to get by. I want the world to know that all opportunities are a blessing. Our brand and companies operate with our youth in mind and not for self-gain. We make it our mission to make sure they are well-equipped for the endless possibilities that this country advertises about. We give them resources and tools to become successful with or without a college degree. They are still an important factor to society, and they too can become great and live a lifestyle they desire to do. We help them to understand they are already operating in a business aspect, and we take what they love to do and show them how to become a business owner with it. We take the skills they already have and show them how to operate in it the right way. We do this by creating, implementing, and educating them with projects since we are a project-based organizations. I also have not just these two-youth mentorship organizations but also two clothing lines: Sashe’ Baby Boutique and the other one doesn’t launch until April 20, 2024. We don’t just show them endless possibilities, but we create endless possibilities.
We are always looking for sponsorships, donations, and volunteers. If you would like to become apart just go to www.ladiesoftomorrowmentorship.org or contact via email lotoi2010@gmail.com, via phone 626.708.0266. You can also see all past activities on our website or Facebook and Instagram.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would first take them to the best southern food I’ve ever tasted that was close to home cooking is Bowlegged BBQ, then of course got to go to Mission beach for some fun in the sun, the mall for a little shopping at Westfield Plaza Bonita, then for dinner Soul and Surf, and the rest of the day at Round One for some arcade and bowling.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The success of me as an individual as well as all of my endeavors would not be if it wasn’t for my children Gavien Waits, Ricky Calhoun III, Zacheriah Vanley, Demetrius Torrence Jr., Pa’Bearius Torrence, and Preston Torrence. I came from a blended family and I now have one of my own. These children have given up their time, their advice, their encouragement, their support, and most of all their love for me wanting to leave a legacy that they could not only be proud of but also carry on proudly. I dare not to forget my better half Demetrius Torrence Sr. Although he travels a lot due to him being a stand up comedian (DeSofunny) who travels endlessly while building his own legacy with Sofunny Entertainment LLC for his boys as well, always stops to encourage, volunteer his time, his shoulder when I’m frustrated and ready to give up, and always helping me to become a better person for our future leaders of this country. He shows and reminds of the work I am doing within our black community that it is not only well needed but past needed for them to be educated on the endless opportunities outside of college education that they are important too if they decide not to go. They have taught me there is always some black boy or black girl that needs just a lil love to become more than what their environment is. If they wasn’t in my corner through all of the hardships, the ‘no’s’, the ‘I can’t do this no more’ then I would not have made it this far and for that I am FOREVER Grateful.
Website: ladiesoftomorrowmentorship.org
Instagram: Ladies of Tomorrow
Facebook: Ladies of Tomorrow Mentor Program
Image Credits
Tyrell Richard Sr, (California mentorship volunteer) Lincoln High School (Hornets Alumni Food Drive) Goodfellas Barbershop (Arkansas sponsors) DJ MoneyMall (Arnkansas sponsors 96.5 FM The Box, )