DFW Women Inspire Growth with Non-profit Organizations
Image by: Jessica Davis (Jess Photos)
L-R (Ariawna Talton, Aidee Granados, Cynthia Rogers, Vanna Collins, Tiffany Wilkerson, Teena Rae and Rikki Burke)
There is something incredible to say about wives, mothers and career women making it a priority to pour into their respective communities. Last month, I called together a group of special women who run nonprofit organizations in the Greater Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex.
Together we shared ideas, collaborated on activities, inspired one another to spread our efforts to other ventures and furthered our narrative of ‘giving back.’
Aidee Granados was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. At that time she was a new wife, raising a toddler and very unfamiliar with life in the United States. With few family members in the country to rely on for family history information, Granados quickly learned how proactive she had to be in order to save her life. One of the greatest hurdles for her was locating information and resources about cancer in her native language - Spanish.
She decided to share the wealth of knowledge from her experience with those in the community she serves. In 2016, Granados founded Rosa Es Rojo Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting and disseminating pertinent health and wellness information for Latinas. The organization quickly became a passion for her, as she realized that she could be a moving voice in the high Cancer risk Latina population.
For opportunities to learn more about Granados and her team, and to donate - visit https://www.rosaesrojo.org/en/home/
Cynthia Rogers is a longtime Dallas professional, with a real affinity for nurturing adolescent girls. A few years ago, Rogers created Divas DFW Inc., a nonprofit organization that mentors girls from ages four to 18. For Rogers and her team it is incredibly important to develop the entire girl, from inner strength to outer beauty.
Each month, Divas DFW Inc. meets for workshops intended to cultivate sisterhood, build strong bonds and practice non-judgmental behaviors. This summer, Rogers and her team will engage in college tours, self defense trainings and etiquette courses.
Rikki Burke is a well-known hairstylist in Dallas. She’s also a tough “boy-mom” to two growing young men. In her industry, however, Burke encounters many young girls wanting to do what she does to transform hair and overall self-perception. Insert I Am E.P.I.C. (Entrepreneurs with Purpose to Inspire and Conquer).
“I genuinely wanted to re-create my story about becoming an entrepreneur at the early age of 13, graduating and then immediately starting my business in my early 20s,” reveals Burke. “I just want to be part of the village to help our youth by introducing them to positive avenues of survival and helping them to recognize their purpose.”
Dallas native Teena Rae was once a victim of domestic abuse. “I felt like I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to,” says the mother and businesswoman. “After feeling such helplessness, I wanted to give others the support and a safe place to stay to help them get out of that type of situation.”
Rae, along with her sister D’Amber, who lives on the east coast created the not for profit 501(c)(3) Believe and Faith Transitional Housing in 2012. The objective is to provide women of Dallas / Ft. Worth a safe transitional housing alternative, teach a multitude of skills to empower the women with self-sufficiency, and facilitate the possible reunification of clients with their children.
Tiffany Wilkerson is a doting mother to three girls, a loving wife and a super-educator in the Duncanville area. She indeed wears many hats, but when her dear friend Dr. Catina L. Murphy was a victim of domestic violence (succumbing to her injuries) - Wilkerson decided to take on yet another feat.
The Illustrious Angels of Faith Foundation has an intentional focus on children and youth impacted by family and domestic violence. Wilkerson along with her co-founders are dedicated to providing crisis intervention to children and youth in the form of counseling and other support services.
“I wanted to help children overcome circumstances that they have no control over,” says Wilkerson. “I want to make sure that they don’t become victims of their circumstances.”
For opportunities to learn more about Wilkerson and her team, and to donate - visit https://illustriousangelsoffaith.org/
Vanna Collins is a professional blogger and model from Dallas. She’s also a mom who knows the importance of exposing her children to various cultures. This year Collins launched Model of Culture, a 501(c)(3) organization that infuses cultural diversity amongst six to 14 year old children.
The mission is to introduce lifestyles from across the world to children in hopes of a better understanding of society and individuality. Model of Culture’s goal in giving children knowledge on various cultures is to demote bullying based on ones appearance, race or beliefs.
“Giving children a better understanding of "why" someone is different will help lower bullying statistics,” says Collins. “Doing so will also instill confidence in our children.”
At 34 years old I, Ariawna Talton am rather vocal, but growing up I developed a real affinity for writing my thoughts and ideas on paper. Things that I wasn’t so sure people would receive well were documented in hundreds of journals and diaries that my mom bought for me. Writing was my therapy before I even knew what therapy was.
In 2008 I became a high school teacher. My mission was to help young people view writing as something more than a chore. My teens would often confide in the paper (and me) stories of abuse, confusion and even their hopes and dreams that they didn’t always think would be supported by those closest to them.
Six years ago I registered The Write One Incorporated (T.W.O.) as a 501(c)(3) organization. My goal is to encourage teen aged African American and Hispanic girls to channel their thoughts, their goals, their creations (poetry, novels, film scripts) on paper as a form of both therapy and potential entrepreneurship. We meet weekly to journal and have old fashioned rap-sessions. In addition to healthy girl talk and mindful discussions, we also participate in community service projects.
For opportunities to learn more about The Write One Incorporated or to make contributions, please visit: https://www.thewriteoneinc.org/
Each of us has a strong passion for our respective and collective communities. We appreciate both the traction and the financial contributions, as well as we appreciate our growing support.
