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OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya
Welcome to the OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW where you'll learn how to own and grow your brand and market your business. Every week I interview entrepreneurs and/or share branding, marketing and business tips to grow your influence, build a profitable business and make an impact.
Victoria Odekomaya is an award winning photographer, brand & marketing strategist with over a decade of experience. She is passionate about helping women fulfill their dreams and purpose effortlessly.
Click to be featured, advertise on the show or connect with Victoria: hello@thelimstudios.com
OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya
Saving Our Girls: How SheRose Is Teaching Confidence, Car Repair, and Life Skills to Black Girls in Indianapolis | Epi 58
Nothing transforms a young girl's worldview quite like experiencing something she never thought possible. This transformative power of first experiences lies at the heart of SheRose Inc., the Indianapolis-based nonprofit founded by Ieshia Webster-Harris after a pivotal classroom moment when a student declared she didn't need job skills because she planned to "marry a rich NBA player."
For over a decade, SheRose has been quietly revolutionizing how girls K-12 see themselves and their potential through unconventional programming that deliberately challenges gender stereotypes. Their flagship "SheRocanics" program puts girls under the hood with a female instructor, teaching automotive skills that build both practical knowledge and the confidence to navigate traditionally male-dominated spaces. The swimming program tackles cultural barriers head-on, bringing in hair stylists to address concerns many Black girls have about water activities, resulting in newfound confidence both in and out of the pool.
What makes SheRose extraordinary isn't just what they teach but how these skills transfer into broader life capabilities. Girls who master changing tires, cooking nutritious meals, defending themselves, or running small businesses develop an unshakable belief that they can handle whatever challenges come their way. The program's ultimate success can be measured in its graduates who return as volunteers and mentors, creating a beautiful cycle of empowerment that spans generations.
Beyond her nonprofit work, Ieshia has authored children's books featuring characters who look like the girls she serves, addressing issues from bullying to cultural experiences in Black churches. Her upcoming zoo-themed book promises to continue her mission of creating literature where all children can see themselves represented.
Whether you're looking for opportunities for the girls in your life, seeking to volunteer with an impactful organization, or hoping to support their crucial work through donations, SheRose offers countless ways to help ensure the next generation of young women knows their worth isn't determined by who they might marry, but by what they can accomplish through their own capabilities and determination. Visit www.wearesheroes.com to discover how you can be part of this transformative community.
//ABOUT
Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American and former drug research scientist turned brand and marketing expert. Through her Creative Agency, LiMStudios, she specializes in brand photography, video creation, and strategic marketing. Victoria's mission is to empower female entrepreneurs to be SEEN, KNOWN, and HEARD, enhancing their visual presence and attracting their ideal customers to build a BANKABLE PERSONAL BRAND. Victoria's scientific background has honed her analytical thinking, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills, which she integrates into her branding strategies. Her 23-year journey to U.S. citizenship reflects the perseverance female entrepreneurs need to overcome challenges in branding and marketing. This fuels her dedication to empower women to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams.
In 2022, Victoria launched the BOSS LADIES CAMPAIGN, giving participants a celebrity photoshoot experience to enhance their confidence and brand visibility. The campaign promotes these women through features in BOSS LADIES magazine, appearances on Victoria's 'OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW', and recognition at the BOSS LADIES GALA. The gala not only celebrates women but also raises funds for local non-profits, so far raising $19,000+ for Dove Recovery House for Women and PINK RIBBON CONNECTION.
For sponsorship/business inquiries, visit https://mtr.bio/limstudios or email hello@thelimstudios.com.
I started SheRose because when I first graduated from Gremlin State University, I was working in the corrections field, basically as a probation officer and a parole officer, and I was just seeing so much with girls and boys. But you know, working with girls, that was what I really wanted to do. Oh my gosh, I can't imagine, you know, just to try to survive. I was like we need more outlets in the community for these young girls. Finally, I was teaching at a high school. We were working on resumes. I was teaching at a high school, we were working on resumes and I was like, okay, we're doing resumes today and the girl was like I'm not doing a resume, I'm marrying a rich NBA player. What do I need a resume for? I really want them to experience things Like when they get older. I just picture them saying yeah, I was in this program, we did this, this, this.
Victoria:And they're going to be like, wow, you did all that time. But my mom would say what a man can do, a woman can do.
Ieshia:Society might not count you as worthy, but you are a human. The main challenge is probably always going to be funding you know always trying to do that.
Ieshia:I've always wanted to that be my job, you know, and there's been times when things have happened in my life and I'm like, okay, guys, you're telling me to push so I can do it full time, but just with timing and things it's like no, go on, find you another job. You know, sometimes the devil will make you doubt yourself. You know life is lifing and then you're still trying to pour into others, but make sure that your cup isn't always empty. So if you go to our website, wwwweareheros, she rose like he rose. I know some people are like she rose, which I like that is a different meaning.
Victoria:Can you share with us some of the things that they've shared with you as life-changing for them? Hello and welcome to another episode of the Own your Brand show. Today, I'm very excited to introduce you to Ieshia Webster-Harris. She is a mom, a mentor, she is a proud owner. She's actually an author of a children's book and also the founder and executive director of Shiro's Inc. We're going to be talking about her today and I'm very excited about this episode because, if you know anything about me, I am about amplifying the voices of women. I feel like we have so much in alignment because she does so much for girls, because we know girls become women so and you have to kind of catch them young, right. So I really am passionate about what she does and I cannot wait to just shine a spotlight on the incredible work she's doing here in Indianapolis, but also let you guys know how you can tap into the services that she offers, whether for your daughters, your sisters or your neighbors. So, without much ado, let's get into it.
Ieshia:How are you doing today? I'm fine, thank you. Thank you so much for having me and you look fine, Thank you.
Victoria:You too, Thank you. So I have to say this you are so well put together when it comes to fashion. Oh, thank you, I'm trying. I remember your photo shoots and I was like dang it. So today I was prepared, I was like I gotta put something nice here.
Victoria:And you came correct. You know you didn't disappoint, so thank you so much. But that's important, right you know, for some of the conversation we're going to have today, because girls they do look up to you, know adults like you and I and all the thing. But before we get into that, just tell us a little bit about yourself okay, so, um again, I'm Ieshia and currently I have a non-profit um.
Ieshia:It's called SheRose and we work with girls K through 12 and we have several programs that we run throughout the year. So our main one is our SheRocanics program, where the girls learn about cars and they learn about how to change a tire, how to check the oil thank you okay, sorry, okay, sorry, I'll let you finish, cause I'm getting.
Ieshia:I'm really excited about this one, thank you. But just how to handle themselves when they go into a place? Um, they need to get their car fixed. Like my goal, my dream is that they would be able to kind of know what the problem already is before they get there, so they don't have to deal with any type of situations where maybe they're getting taken advantage of. We have an awesome instructor. Her name is Emily. Hi, emily, she is a woman in that field, wow.
Ieshia:So, it brings it to light for them, because at first I had a man coming and they were like he's strong, he can do it. And then she came in and she just showed up, you know, and just showed out, as we say, because she's taking the stuff and she knows everything and she's so knowledgeable so that just gave them, you know, encouragement, like okay, I can learn about cars, so this is for me and I can get the tire off even though it's on tight yeah, and you know I like that.
Victoria:You say that because when I first came to this country I was 17 years old and so I wasn't really driving, you know like well, at least internationally. But when I started driving, anytime I had issues with my car. I would call my dad 5,000 miles away. I'm like dad, I hear a sound. What do I do? Yeah, because I have no idea. So I think it's something that we overlook and that's why I really appreciate you at least know, have an idea. When you hear a sound or when there's a you know something going on with the car or there's an engine light comes on like, have an idea what it is you know. So, yeah, amazing work there, thank you. You're also a children's book author, so tell us about the books that you've written.
Ieshia:So I have two children's books. The first one is about a little girl who was getting bullied at school and I had a lot of experience with that because my daughter is dyslexic and so she has issues with. You know, when you're dyslexic you see things differently and when you read and things, you know people tend to try to make fun of you and things. So she was just getting really burnt out on school. So I wrote a book about a little girl who gets bullied at school but then when she comes home her mom just hypes her up as all parents do.
Victoria:whether it's a girl or a boy, they're like they're talking about this.
Ieshia:She's like well, you got. You know, we always try to, you know, encourage our kids. So the book the mom just tells the girl from head to toe how beautiful and smart she is, and then the girl just filling herself out the words. So that's kind of so, it's got my mom. My mom says I'm beautiful. That was my first one and I really didn't know what I was doing, but I just was like okay, I want to write a children's book, I want to encourage girls. I know bullying is a lot. There's a lot of bullying going on.
Ieshia:A lot, so just something that kids can read and be like. Okay, yeah, from my head to toe all that.
Victoria:Okay, and you know that's so important. And you said something I want to touch back on later, where you said you didn't know what you were doing when you wrote the book. I applaud you because you still did yeah, you know because we're not sure but you still do it scared, and I'm so thankful for you for still doing it scared, doing it without knowing what you're doing, and I know that it's impacting the lives of people. Thank you.
Ieshia:Yes, thank you so much. Yeah, I just was like with Google and God, everything's possible. Hey look, we got to use what we got. All the resources right, Yep and resources. I just started taking classes and joining groups on Facebook and then I wrote my second book. It's about church, because I grew up with my mom.
Victoria:Jacqueline Webster. I'm a shero.
Ieshia:She really instilled that in me. She had me there every day, like some people grew up. So it's a book that's kind of highlighting the black experience in church and people wearing hats and things like that and a little girl just experiencing it. So I have fun with that one when I read it to kids because it's just fun and it's just basically saying you know, thank you to my mom and I dedicate it to my father, who had passed away. But it's just really talking about that experience.
Victoria:That's nice when you said hat. So I grew up in Nigeria and hat was a thing we had to cover our head in church, you know.
Victoria:So it was either a scarf or hat and we got, we went all out you know all kinds of different hats you gotta make sure you're sitting in the right spot, because you might not sit up front, you know, but these are some things I feel like the new generation don't even they're missing out on. You know, because, yeah, that was part of fashion, it's a statement. But also, you know, you still got to like, wear your Sunday's best to go to spend time with God you know, yeah, so there's not as many hats anymore, so that book is fun, but people still wear them and wear them nicely, but I remember like back in the day everybody was walking down that aisle with that.
Ieshia:You're just looking like, oh wow, that's nice. So that's that book.
Victoria:That's amazing. So let's go into your nonprofit a little bit. So why did you start the nonprofit organization?
Ieshia:I started SheRose because when I first graduated from Grambling State University, I was working in the corrections field. Basically, I was a probation officer and a parole officer.
Victoria:And.
Ieshia:I was just seeing so much with girls and boys, but you know, working with girls, that was what I really wanted to do. Just some of the stories and just how they were in so much trouble and just doing things that, oh my gosh, I can't imagine. You know, just to try to survive. I was like we need more outlets in the community for these young girls. And then I kept saying, and you know, when you keep saying I'm going to do something, I'm going to do something, I'm going to do something and you don't do it. And then finally, I was teaching at a school, a high school, and we were working on resumes and I was like, okay, we're doing resumes today. And the girl was like I'm not doing a resume, I'm marrying a rich NBA player. What do I need a resume for?
Ieshia:All right, and the girls was like, yeah, go to Miami, you know surgery here, like they knew every surgeon. They told her what kind of hair weaved by Wow, what all she needed to do with her body, where she needed to hang out. They had a whole plan for that, but I couldn't get them to fill out an application or do a resume here in the city.
Victoria:Wow Right.
Ieshia:Wow, that's crazy. I was like that's it, and I said something to her. It was kind of like you got to save yourself, you got to do something. But that's how the word SheRose, that's how the name SheRose came, because of that situation. Like no girl, you know, of course, you know you want to find somebody, you want to get married and things like that. That's fine. But just to say I'm not going to do anything and this man going to come save me off of here, off of you know, and you, you cannot.
Victoria:Well, look, I am just so glad you're teaching them young, because, thank you, if they're thinking like it's gonna be, it's a whole different ball game. It is so, yeah, so, shira. So that's so. How long have you guys been in?
Ieshia:you know existence now we celebrated 10 years last year.
Victoria:Congratulations, thank you that's amazing, thank you. So tell us a little bit. I know you talked about the mechanics program, but I know you do so many other things right, so tell us a little bit about that. But maybe start with, like, the age range of the kids too.
Ieshia:Okay, when I first started, it was six through 12. Okay, younger ones were coming with their siblings and people were like, what about the younger ones? And I'm like you know what? You do need to get them young too. So it's K through 12. We take everybody, as long as they can come in their potty trained they can go to the bathroom.
Ieshia:They're welcome to come. But then, more than anything in the programs is giving them experiences like they never thought they may be able to do. We went skiing several years back and it was fun. We went fishing.
Victoria:That was something they never experienced.
Ieshia:I walked away for a minute and they were in the water with some of the board members and people like up to their knees. I'm like get out of there. Like they was really trying to get in and at first they was like worms, ew, ew. Because that's what I was saying.
Victoria:I didn't want to touch it, but they loved it.
Ieshia:And then we've gone horseback riding Nice.
Ieshia:We went to a cave. Ooh, wow, yeah, I was scared. Once I got them in there I was scared. But then when they came out and they started doing TikToks, I was like, ooh, they're healed. I was like, oh my God, I thought I traumatized them. So sometimes I'm like, okay, don't push it too far. But I really want them saying, yeah, I was in this program, we did this, this, this, and they're going to be like, wow, you did all that, that's what I want. And then to try things where they say girls can't do that, I always say we're going to do it five times.
Victoria:Yes, oh, that's so good, so I'll tell you this when I was so I'm again, like from Nigeria my mom had five girls and boy from his mom. So the pressure is real to have a male child right, and for my mom, and so it was it was a thing, and back then when I was growing up, like if you didn't have a male child you were not really counted as much, you know, and all your goals don't even matter. But my mom would say what a man can do, a woman can do what a man can do. And so she fought and did a lot of things for us to be like okay, you know, like, yes, the society might not count you as worthy, but you are a human, you know. So I love that you implement a lot of those things and just giving them that self-confidence Like you matter too.
Ieshia:Yeah, yeah, and it builds a lot of confidence. When you try things you never thought, you're kind of like, okay, I got to try this. So we've been successful with just coming up with ideas and stuff for the girls to do that. But one of our main things is swimming the swim lessons we do every summer. Yeah, because we went on a field trip one time and everybody was standing around the water like I'm not getting in, and I remember in high school I didn't get in either. Me and my friends were on the side. We didn't pass any tests and we did not learn how to swim. And then I know they were like my hair and this and I was like this is the same thing we were doing. And I'm like, okay, we got to try to stop this. So now, when we do it in our camp, I have a stylist come in. She talks about hair, talks about how, yes, it's chlorine, but this is what we're going to do.
Ieshia:We make sure we talk a lot about hair and how to take care of you if you have braids. So that eases their mind a little bit, because kind of the main thing is hair Like I don't want to mess my hair up. Some people think it sounds silly, but culturally we don't mess our hair up.
Victoria:It takes a while, yeah.
Ieshia:So we do that every year and then we swim and the girls they do so well Like they're jumping off the diving board. Like I always say when I do the post in the summer, we have some future US Olympic gold medalists in there Amen, because some of them are swimming so good.
Ieshia:I'm on the sideline like oh my gosh, because some of them start off. They're so scared. Most people are when you get in the water, but we've been blessed to have some good instructors over the years. That's really helping the girls become confident and become really great swimmers. I can't wait for one of them to be on a swim team Like I'm going to be there Like.
Victoria:I knew how when she first started. Yeah, I can't wait. That is amazing. So I cannot swim, but so I, and it's something that I want to learn, you know and, but I see the value because, you know, a few years ago we had COVID like anything can happen. You have to be prepared.
Victoria:You know, and I feel like those are basic skills, you know just learning to swim, survival skills you know what I you know, so that's really cool and then also teaching them how to handle you know some of the like the hair, because when things happen, you're not thinking about your hair, but at least you can figure out how to Right.
Ieshia:You can say you see how that. Mm-hmm exactly that's good, oh wow so have you do you?
Victoria:I know you've probably had a lot of testimonials from working with these kids for over 10 years, right, and can you share with us some of the things that they've shared with you as life-changing for them?
Ieshia:I know the swimming is a big one, um being able to do that. I think we do a lot of things where the girls have to get in front of each other and, like, speak and talk, like, do their public speaking.
Ieshia:I know that helped because they were already used to being in front of people and doing that, so I'm happy about that. I think even with one of the moms telling me she had a flat tire and one of the girls attempted to go out there and try to do it, she said like she was calling AAA, but you know the fact that she was even trying. And like she was calling AAA, but you know the fact that she was even trying and like, oh no, mom, save that, we're not waiting here all day. I'm about to do this, wow.
Victoria:Okay, that's nice, that's good.
Ieshia:Yeah, that made me very, very happy. So, and then we do cooking. Oh, that's good, that's one of our programs. I think we did Thanksgiving meals one year, because I know that's being able to host people. A lot of people take a lot of pride in that and I know that that was something that I was like, oh my gosh, that's trying to do all that If you don't know how to do it, if you grew up in a small family.
Ieshia:So we did that one year and then all the families came together and they ate, so they're able to know, like, okay, this is what we're doing. And then we talked about vegan food before a lot of them were saying yuck, but a lot of them said yes, so introducing them to it and then, um, brunch and like just all that. We try to do all the different themes. So when they get older and they're like, okay, I need to be able to cook or do different things, I'll be able to do it and then even be healthy with it too. Yeah, and then we do desserts and stuff too, but cooking is definitely one that we we do because we want them to be able to take care of themselves.
Victoria:Yes, yes, I'm finding that a lot of times when you want to be healthy, you have to take control of your cooking, of the things that go in your mind. Easy to just do that when you have some skin in the game. When it comes to, you know actually the cooking. You know maybe not all things, but at least you know.
Ieshia:So I think that's really important to have those conversations, yeah, so that's a good one. And then we do self-defense also.
Victoria:Oh, yes, yeah, that is important, yeah, yeah.
Ieshia:So just being able especially like when you go off to college, because I have some girls that have gone to college being able to be aware of your surroundings yes, you know when you're at a party, and things like that what to look out for and we do self-defense in different ways. We've had karate, we've done boxing and just you know, just self-defense, like all the different things we have to do if someone's trying to attack you, and things like that. So we're trying to incorporate all those different things, that's incredible, thank you.
Victoria:So this is a nonprofit organization. How do you fund all this?
Ieshia:God bless you. Oh my gosh, it's hard. Oh my gosh it's hard. Grants we try to do as many as we can.
Victoria:It's so competitive.
Ieshia:It's hard, but we just keep trying, and we've had a lot of support. A lot of people have really, you know, helped us. I'm grateful for that. When there was a lot of no's, there's always some yes's too. That's kept us going.
Victoria:So, fundraising.
Ieshia:we try our best to do fundraising. We're going to do some more. Yes, yes, and then just people donating when they can has kept us afloat.
Victoria:That's good. Now I know it takes a village to get all this done, and you mentioned a couple of people that helped too, so tell us a little bit about some other people that are involved in making all of this happen.
Ieshia:Oh my gosh. Yes, my board is awesome. And a lot of people say is it a working board? Yes, we have several that are, you know, are really into it. I've had some on the board since I started. I don't know if there's a lot of 10-year board members around, but I do have a few who have stuck with me the whole time which is I'm just blessed for that. And then we also have volunteers, and then a lot of my girls who have graduated. They come back.
Victoria:Oh nice.
Ieshia:Yeah, I had to work late because I work another job and I had to have someone look after the program for me and my girls, who have left the program they're in college and working jobs come back and they took over the whole thing. That's a blessing.
Victoria:It is.
Ieshia:They have really been a blessing. I'm just, you know, so happy to have them, to have them in a program that their mothers entrusted them with me, and the fact that they still want to be around and help when they have someone.
Victoria:The next generation?
Ieshia:Yeah, they have a lot going on there in their early twenties. That's when a lot of stuff happens and they still if I say I need help or they will check in with me, and I'm proud of all of them. I've been to their graduations and one of them pledged my sorority and I got to pin her and I was crying the whole time I was going to say, like, you have your beauty legacies, you know.
Victoria:Thank you, that's incredible.
Ieshia:Thank you. Yeah, it was a great. It was a ceremony. She invited me and I got to pin her and my hands were. I was crying and she she always used to laugh because she was like Miss A, she's so silly. And then, when I was crying, she was like she was trying not to laugh. She's like Miss.
Victoria:A it's okay, I'm like is it Such an honor that's so great? Thank you, oh my goodness. So I know that there's. You know nothing that is great without challenges, so can you tell us some of?
Ieshia:the main challenges that you have. The main challenges is probably always going to be funding you know always trying to do that.
Ieshia:I've always wanted to that to be my job, you know, and there's been times that things have happened in my life and I'm like, okay, guys, you're telling me to push so I can do it full time, but just with timing and things it's like, no, I'm going to find you another job. So, but I still, you know, hold it as a high priority. I really love the group, I love the moms, the kids. It's just like a family. So that's a challenge I feel like sometimes and a lot of nonprofit leaders probably feel this way they're like am I making an impact? Like, why am I? It's so much work, because, like, if you work a nine to five and then when you get off you're not off, well, yeah, Right.
Ieshia:And then the weekends aren't weekends. You've got to get the grant and you've got to get stuff done Right. So you put in a lot of work. So sometimes you'll question yourself like, okay, am I doing? Is this right? Am I doing things right? Is it an impact or the girl's learning? You know, yeah, Because I had a mentor one time. That's like don't, what can you measure with a book bag? What is the book bag going to do? Like it's going to be on the floor in a couple months? How?
Victoria:are you?
Ieshia:measuring your impact. What are you really doing? So that's always a question and it's like are the programs you know? Because those are our main ones. But then I always bring in other things. So the girls have learned how to sew, wow, okay, yeah, we brought in. Some're going to be learning sign language, so yeah, whatever. I can think of that. I'm like I just really want them, when they graduate, and sit down and be like okay, some are going to go to college, some aren't.
Ieshia:But I want them to have so many skills when they're like oh, man, I learned all this from SheRose. This was good. I already have you know and I have several of them who started businesses, and when we had our 10th anniversary.
Victoria:they were vendors at the business. Oh my God, they made so much money. When you said that you're like, impact is one of the things that you like. You have it you have it. I hope so.
Ieshia:Yeah, yeah, you know, sometimes the devil will make you doubt yourself, true true. But, yeah, when I see stuff like that, they had their logo go, they were ready, they had all their products and they all had different businesses and we've been trying to, you know, keep those going. Probably, in a month or so, on the page I'm going to have, highlight each business and say how you can help each girl or, you know, support each girl. But they loved having that money in their pocket.
Ieshia:Like the little ones was like counting. I'm like look, Miss Ieshia, oh, that's so cool. It was like, oh, this is so much money. When are we going to do it again? Oh so, but next time I'm going to have them do a vendor fee though.
Victoria:Oh yeah, Give Shiro some money back. Yeah, because it's like giving back to the next generation. Yeah, so yeah.
Ieshia:Yeah, and I want them to know when they do vendors, it's usually not free, you got to pay.
Victoria:True, Expensive too Very.
Ieshia:Yeah, so that's the challenge is just making sure I'm making an impact and not just having programs and fun and book bags, as the mentor said. And just nothing against book bags. People give me book bags.
Victoria:I don't want anybody to think I'm shading them.
Ieshia:But book bags are important when you need to carry your supplies. She was just saying, as far as measuring impact, what are you actually doing? That's going to you know help them in the long run.
Victoria:So that funding and just trying to stay motivated because you know life is lifing and then you're still trying to pour into others, but make sure that your cup isn't always empty. Yes, which I have to ask you that question to how you keep your cup full. But before I go into that, like I know some people might be wondering like is there like a qualification process you get into this program? Or like, when you have the programs you know, like you know, just give us a schedule, that type of information okay, yeah, it's from August to December.
Ieshia:Okay, we have programming, then we break, then we come back um January, through May, january, february. The weather is always bad, um, so sometimes you know was hit and miss on those. And then summer we have a summer camp every summer in June.
Victoria:So is it every month you have, or every week, or every other?
Ieshia:week. Yeah, we meet every other Wednesday, right now.
Victoria:Oh, wow, okay, and how?
Ieshia:can someone be a part of it? If you go to our website, wwwweareheroes W-E-A-R-E-S-H-E-R-O-E-S SheRosesLikeHeroes I know some people are like SheRolls, which I like. That is a different meaning. Hey, whatever works Dotcom, but like SheRollsLikeHeroes. So yeah, that's how you log on. You'll see Join Now and then the form will come to us and it will reach out to you.
Victoria:That's amazing. Okay, so how do you pour back into yourself? Because you are doing a lot for these young girls and you've been doing it for several years and you're still, even though you have your full-time job. This is a full-time job still, you know and you're juggling it and doing so much and you have programming every week.
Ieshia:I don't know if I do a good job of it, honestly, because there are some weeks when I'm like, oh my gosh, Like I don't, I just pray. I came over to pray and mom.
Ieshia:And when I tell her I'm weary people who know me they'll be like how you doing. I'll say I'm tired, weary and worn, oh yeah, but I'm still thriving, I'm still moving. But I said this year I was self-care, things like that, so just therapy, church. Trying to get back into that Because I'm not going to lie, I was one that would watch it online.
Victoria:I think I started watching online too. Look over this energy. It's like, oh, we could watch online. Oh my gosh.
Ieshia:But yes, just getting back in that sanctuary feels good, to be around other saints and just finding something each week that's fun to do do. But I really like when I'm doing my book, writing my children's books that's. That is therapy for me. I really like it and it's fun, and right now I'm working on one that just has me laughing every time I pick it up really.
Victoria:Are you able to share some information about that, or you want to keep it a secret until it's out?
Ieshia:well, it'll be out this summer, okay, um, and it's not one of my usual ones with the black characters and things like that. I'm always going to because I think I know representation is important and. I know how, when I've gone to read those books, when the girls, when I turn it around and they see the braids and they see the afro puffs, and they're like, oh my gosh, it looks like me.
Victoria:Yeah, I love that and it should be more.
Ieshia:You know representation in books, so I'll definitely get back to that. But this one's about the zoo. There's somebody at the zoo just hanging out. Okay, it's from their perspective. Hey, this sounds interesting. It's so funny. I took a class with this author. I guess she's a best-selling author and she was doing classes. You know that's the best way to get in those classes to learn things.
Ieshia:And she gave us, she taught us some techniques and she put us in a room and said oh okay, y'all got one minute to write about this and whatever you come up with, it has to be something about the zoo. So when I did it and I came back and I read it, everybody was just laughing so hard.
Victoria:Like I was out of breath. It was just so funny.
Ieshia:Well, now I got to get a copy of that, to publish that, and I'm like I didn't even think of this as like something from a class, wow, but it's something different than what I usually do. But it's so funny and it has a meaning too. You know, all children's books have like some type of truth, or their kids learn from it. So, it'll be a trip to the zoo and it's going to be fun.
Victoria:This is cool, thank you. Do some conversation with the Indianapolis Zoo.
Ieshia:Maybe some kind of collaboration?
Victoria:Okay, hey why not right? I know. Get people to come to the zoo even more because you know hey look, let's put it out there because you know. Thank you, yes, sir.
Ieshia:Okay, speaking into existence.
Victoria:Yes, absolutely Thank you, Because it's not, you know, I'm sure it's going to help people. I know my husband and I try very hard to take my kids to different zoos whenever we're in different towns, because, like even it applies to farming too. But there's some animals that you've never seen, that they're not everyday, you know, and so you have to make an effort to actually go learn about them, you know. So I think it's really important to, but I also feel like, beyond learning about them, it's just amazing and cool to see what God created.
Ieshia:Okay.
Victoria:You know it's like there's several versions and differences. So you know it's like wow, he just sat and just created all this variety. Like that is amazing, it really is. Yeah, so I'm looking forward to that book, thank you. Yeah, so you have such a long career doing nonprofit work that you are passionate about and you have real impact. You know, because we've talked about how some of the people that I have graduated are coming back to help in other things. But I know there's somebody out there listening and maybe at the very beginning stage of putting together their business, whether that be nonprofit or for-profit and they're looking at you like how does she do it? Like what are some of the things you can speak into their lives to encourage them at this time of their life?
Ieshia:Okay, yeah, that one's hard, I think, especially with a nonprofit. People will tell you not to do it when I first. It's okay, I'll look into the camera.
Victoria:Oh, absolutely Okay, I know we're having a conversation, but with this one. I kept asking I, I know we're having a conversation, but with?
Ieshia:this one. I kept asking. I'm like I want to start, I want to start one, and people were like, don't do it. They said it's going to take all your time. Starting is going to take all your money. You're going to be paying for it. Everybody's not going to give you money right at the beginning. And they were telling the truth because it is time away from your family. It is if you already have to work a job, you are going to have to. It's another 40 hours. You're going to be adding for something else. And you know and I almost took it like okay, don't do it. But if it's really something that you want to do and you have the means to go ahead and fund it on your own for a while, or if you might have people who would just donate to you to get you started, if that's something that's on your list and you want to help people there's so much going on in the world, especially for these next couple of years. A lot of people are going to be hurting, a lot of people are going to need help. So if there is a ministry or something in your heart that you really want to do, go for it.
Ieshia:It's not easy, I know one person said oh, you start a nonprofit. It's not rocket science or something. They said it's smart, but I'm like, but it is very hard, it's very. You have to get the paperwork from. You know the IRS like all that different stuff. So just spend time. Make sure you have time to do it, because if you're already, don't have time, the kids will have to be everywhere. It's going to add a stress and then once you start and those people start coming in the door, you're going to. You know, I want to make sure you're there to be, to give the services you said you want to provide. So getting in there and be like, oh, this is too much, sometimes it's like it's too late.
Ieshia:I don't want to say you can't, but there is a need there's. I know people say there's enough nonprofits, but is it? There's still people that need help. There's still people who are home. There's still people that you know there's food, there's whatever like, whatever your ministry is or whatever you wanted to help. I say most definitely, if you have the time, the money to start it up, because I think that's one of the main things A location, someone who will work with you to do that. It's not easy, it's challenging. Even this, many years in, I'm still. You know, there's hard times and there's so many other people who have done it longer than me and are doing a great job and there's so many of us but I don't think there's too many that if you have a dream and you want to help people, that all hands on deck it takes a village, so go for it.
Victoria:That's great. Go for it and also trust God too, because if God is putting it in your heart. He's going to provide. He is.
Victoria:One thing that I am learning is that when God says he's going to provide, we know he's going to provide, but sometimes the way he provides is different from the way I'm thinking you know so. So I think maybe the only thing that I can add to that is just like, if you put your trust in God, be open for how he's going to provide you know, so you need the, you know the resources, the people like, maybe it's going to come in a whole different way than you thought you know. So just be open to it. But either, put that desire in your heart will definitely supply the need it will it definitely will.
Victoria:That's amazing. Thank you. So I know you got a couple of books already, another one about the zoo coming up. We've kind of talked a little bit about how people can be a part of Shiro's, but tell us a little bit about how we can get our hands on these books.
Ieshia:Okay, well, I have a website. It's wwwauthorieshacom, so there's links on there.
Ieshia:And of course you can go on there. If there's a school or some type of visit or anything, there's a, there's a place you can select on there and I can get back with you on that. I really do miss reading books to kids. That was fun, yeah. And I know like one time I went and they were like you didn't write this book and I'm like why they was like you don't look like an author. What does author look like? What do an author look like?
Ieshia:They didn't think anybody like them could write a book, and I guess every time they looked at that back panel it's someone, it's not, it's not. Yeah, but I was like there's so many of us now that's out here doing it, so being able to tell young people like, yes, there are people that look like you and me that can write books.
Victoria:Really good books too.
Ieshia:Right, thank you and have an impact. So I think there's more representation now, just getting out in front of some of the kids in different areas who are not used to seeing an author, and they come to the thing and look like them.
Victoria:Right Right. Used to seeing an author and like to come to the thing and look like them. Right right, okay, so we're gonna put the links which I have to say this lady is multi-talented because she has a full-time job, which I know we didn't talk a lot, but she does like incredible job. Even when I did job too, I was like, oh my god thank you, and then she has a shero. She also has the uh children's book. So what exact? What time do you actually have for your family?
Ieshia:I know right, the good thing about my daughter. She goes to SheRose and she thinks she's the director.
Victoria:Oh, hey, hey, and she likes to help.
Ieshia:That's good. So even if we're sitting at home doing stuff with me and her, she's like you know what? If we go to activity, I think SheRose needs to come here. I'm like pottery. I think this would be good. We should bring everybody. I'm like okay, but yeah, she really loves it.
Victoria:That's good. That's good that she's involved.
Ieshia:Yeah, so that helps because she wants to be. She's beating me out the door to that, so we still have fun. She still has her activities. It's a balance. But yeah, it's hard, but I'm making with me, that's good she loves it, so that helps.
Ieshia:And then with the book stuff, that's really not her thing. You know she's dyslexic, she don't like it. She finds her own way in doing other things. But if I say I'm going to a book event, she's there, she wants to help, she wants to make money. Really she's like if I come help, can I get money? You know she's an age rock and a corporator and a lot of stuff, so I don't have a whole lot of mommy guilt because she's trying to beat me to the car to go too.
Victoria:That's good, that's good.
Victoria:So, like I said, she's super talented. I'm going to leave links to everything that we talked about today. She wrote in the children's book. But I want to appeal to you, you know, first of all, if you have young girls that can benefit from this program, please reach out. Or, you know, just getting a copy of the book. You know we're going to leave links to the book and pictures of the book here. You can find it here. Make sure that you, you know, help a sister out. We are here to help each other and you know that every dollar that she makes from this book it's really going back to, you know, the programming that she has.
Victoria:We've talked a little bit about funding. It's a challenge for everyone. So if you have the desire or the capability to help, please reach out and make some donations. And I'm also going to make an appeal to bigger organizations out there. We know you, some of you, we know there are grants out there and we know that right now it's a little bit challenging, for you know people that are in the DEI space, but there are a lot of people, including Ieshia, that are doing incredible work, you know, in this space.
Victoria:For you know, kids and even parents are even benefiting from this indirectly, right. So I am just appealing to you to you know, help, support, you know, do not just discount everyone or the programs that we've spent so much hours and time, years building up to have diversity, Right, and then now it seems to be cr, know. So I'm hoping that you would see the merits and the purpose and the bigger picture of the impact that she's having and then you would support. So, thank you so much for that. And also, if you have a passion for helping kids, hey, I'm sure you need help right.
Ieshia:All hands on deck. All right when the mama's here.
Victoria:Yes, or even if you're a young, you need help, right, all right, want to volunteer, yes. Or even if you're a young adult, too right, you have an idea. The passion too, that's definitely well, so much needed, so, but thank you so much for coming.
Ieshia:This has been so much fun getting to know you more and some of the things that you do, it's incredible, thank you. You're incredible too. Thank you for this platform. I appreciate you so much.
Victoria:Yeah, you're welcome, all right, so until next time, be sure to continue to own your brand. Lift up, show up and speak up, because you got this All right. Take care, bye, bye.
