We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Darrin Lee Jr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Darrin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

When I was 25 years old, I separated from the best job I had being a Food Service Coordinator for a multi-county multi-million dollar non-profit. I was young when I began as an assistant teacher for their Early Head Start program. Together with another African American male teacher we nurtured the development for disenfranchised children from families with low income. We did such a great job that the show “Good Morning America” came to interview us. I excelled in that position that I was promoted to the Food Service Coordinator serving more than 900 children in five counties. After a few years in this position and reenrolling in college, I began wanting to pursue my dreams of owning my own childcare center. One day I took the risk after separating form my job to open my own childcare center. I took my savings of $20k and stepped out on faith and now in my tenth year of operations. I then took profits from this venture as risks and now operated three other businesses. This year my new risk is a Vegan restaurant.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Darrin Lee Jr. and I am the oldest of seven children from Louisville, Kentucky. I am an entrepreneur with four businesses: Therapeutic Childcare Center, Financial Services Company, Marketing Company, Music Company. I am currently a few weeks from launching my Vegan restaurant. This all began with the success of my risk of not working a regular job and becoming my own boss with my childcare center.

In partnership with Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative Early Head Start Program (OVEC EHS) and Reflection in Action Counseling and Consultation (RACC), Developing Young Minds (DYM) offers a holistic approach connecting support services to children and families with adverse childhood experiences. Our classes are led by dedicated and experienced educators. Using proven child development strategies, they make sure that every child begins their path to success. We embrace a development and learning environment that will prepare your family for the path ahead. We serve families with children ages infant to preschool (6weeks – 5yrs). Children enter our Early Head Start/State Childcare center from various backgrounds most with serious socioeconomic disadvantages that can negatively impact their lives, many times their entire life. We support families having difficult circumstances and seek to mitigate obstacles to learning in the early years. Our intent is to help families who are struggling with poverty and other socio-economic challenges achieve goals for education, employment, and housing.

What sets us apart is our support system, quality, and attention to the mental health of child and family. They know us as an extension to their immediate family. We are challenging traditions by introducing and supporting minorities with being comfortable with therapy. We are empowering children that aren’t progressing at age-appropriate norms to excelling in their classrooms.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Complete respect for yourself, your team, and your company consistently modeling it and encouraging everyone. To maintain morale challenge and reward your staff. Training them and holding them accountable to job expectations. Most importantly convince your staff to know that you value you them and want them to progress in their personal lives.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Before COVID I had two childcare centers and a tax office to close. Since reopening the one I have left is thriving and since then opened a tax office, music company, and marketing company.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.developing-youngminds.com, www.darrinleejr.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/darrinleejr
• Facebook: www.faceboook.com/darrinleejr
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/darrinleejr
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@darrinleejr