“These challenges gave me my drive, my hustle, and my determination.”

Meet Niesha

“I started my nonprofit organization based on the needs of my community. Because I grew up in South Dallas, I'm very familiar. There were times when I knew ends should not have been met, but we were protected and shielded from the things happening around us. We struggled, but as a family, we would pray about it.

There are significant childcare issues in South Dallas. In my community, a lot of parents are unemployed because there's no one to take care of the kids after school. This lack of income can lead to poverty, which leads to having a lack of food. These challenges gave me my drive, my hustle, and my determination.

My nonprofit is called For Them. It's an after school program that’s a safe haven for the kids in the community and provides childcare for the parents. In the 75215 zip code, over 25% of students do not get a meal outside of the school hours, so we provide a full course meal at dinnertime.

My personal reason for joining The Business Cohort was because I was eager to learn, and I knew that it was biblically based. I had a lot going on. I’m a mom and a hard worker, and I was all over the place. After my initial interview, I knew I needed to create time in my schedule and participate in The Business Cohort. It was a sacrifice, but well worth it.

When I walked into the room on the first night, I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. I literally was holding back tears because I was so overjoyed. I applied every lesson from each week to my business, and I watched it totally evolve. I knew that I was in the right place and being instructed by the right people. Everybody was so genuine, and you could feel the positive energy in the room. My business coaches and the people that I've encountered are definitely a part of my personal life.”

After completing the ten-week mini MBA of The Business Cohort, Niesha became an official member of the program. As a member, Niesha and 29 other business owners gain access to structure, education, and networking resources. Niesha applied for a small business grant that she used to purchase a van to help transport students for her after school program. We are excited to continue partnering with Niesha.

Niesha

The Business Cohort Member