We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Charles, PhD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.
At Building Block Resolutions, we don’t just serve a community; we advocate for a cause that is often overshadowed by numerous societal challenges – supporting autistic children and their families, especially those who are economically disadvantaged.
Let me share a story (with names changed) that underscores the essence of our mission and the impact we strive to create every day. Meet Dory, a single mother of two, with her youngest, Alex, being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Living in a low-income neighborhood, Dory worked tirelessly to provide for her children, but specialized therapeutic services for Alex were financially out of reach. The available public services were stretched thin, and private therapies were financially burdensome.
This is where Building Block Resolutions stepped in. Leveraging Medi-Cal insurance benefits, we ensured that Alex received the necessary therapy with minimal financial strain on Dory. When co-pays loomed, our collaboration with community organizations, like the Regional Centers, ensured that Dory didn’t have to bear additional costs.
But our support didn’t stop there. We recognized that beyond therapy, children like Alex need environments where they can socialize, play, and learn in a manner that’s conducive to their unique needs. This realization birthed The Social Piece, our non-profit arm, which facilitates enriching activities and play dates for children on the spectrum, entirely free of charge.
One sunny day, through The Social Piece, Alex joined a group of children on a fun-filled day at the local pool, an experience that was previously inaccessible due to transportation and admission costs. Dory watched, teary-eyed, as Alex interacted, laughed, and explored with sheer joy, alongside peers who embraced his uniqueness.
Our dual approach, through Building Block Resolutions and The Social Piece, isn’t just about providing services. It’s about leveling the playing field, ensuring that children like Alex, regardless of their socio-economic status, have access to therapies, social interactions, and experiences that enrich their lives and facilitate their development.
In a world where the cause and cure of autism remain elusive, and treatments are often a financial burden, we stand firm in bridging the gap, ensuring that no child is left behind due to financial constraints. We are more than a company; we are a movement, ensuring that every child on the autism spectrum, irrespective of their family’s economic standing, is accorded the support, care, and opportunities they rightfully deserve.
Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello, I’m Dr. Jennifer Charles, and my journey into the realm of behavioral analysis and subsequently, entrepreneurship, is deeply rooted in a fervent passion for making tangible, positive changes in people’s lives. As a Behavior Analyst first, and a business owner second, my commitment has always been towards utilizing the profound science of human behavior to forge impactful transformations in the lives of individuals and communities.
My venture, Building Block Resolutions, is not merely a service provider but a beacon of support and development for children requiring behavioral therapy and organizations necessitating staff training in the healthcare and educational sectors. Our services are meticulously crafted to not only address immediate behavioral challenges but to also instill sustainable positive change, ensuring long-term benefits for our clients.
What perhaps sets me and Building Block Resolutions apart in this industry is an intrinsic, hands-on experience and a holistic understanding of every facet of this profession. From being on the ground, working directly with children and organizations, to managing and strategizing business operations, I’ve navigated through every aspect of this job. This journey has been instrumental in shaping a company that I, as a professional and individual, would aspire to be a part of.
Our approach is not just about providing therapy and training; it’s about weaving a network of continuous support, education, and empowerment for both, the individuals and organizations we serve. We delve deep, understanding the unique needs and challenges faced by our clients, and tailor our interventions to be as impactful as possible.
One of the aspects I am immensely proud of is our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. We staunchly believe that every child and organization, regardless of their socio-economic status, should have access to top-tier behavioral therapy and training. This principle is not just a philosophy but a practice that is intricately woven into our service model, ensuring that our interventions are accessible to those who need them the most.
To our potential clients, followers, and supporters, I want you to know that Building Block Resolutions is more than a service – it’s a community where science, empathy, and innovative strategies converge to create environments that nurture positive behavioral development and sustainable growth. We are here to be your partners in navigating the intricate paths of behavioral challenges, ensuring that every step taken is one towards positive change and development.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Embarking on the journey of establishing a business is invariably intertwined with risks, challenges, and an unwavering commitment to a vision. My story of funding and building Building Block Resolutions is a testament to the belief that passion, relentless effort, and a steadfast dedication can indeed lay the foundation for something remarkable.
I have always harbored a belief that forming a business should not be predominantly hinged on capital, but rather on an unyielding resolve to make a difference. My journey commenced not in a plush office, but in the modest confines of my tiny one-bedroom apartment, juggling between roles, working at other companies during the day, and ardently building my own business during the nocturnal hours.
Every meeting with my first employee was convened at a cozy corner in Starbucks, where we sipped on coffees and stitched together plans and strategies that would eventually shape our future. Every dime earned was not a profit, but an investment, meticulously funneled back into nurturing and expanding the business.
The initial capital was not just monetary but was heavily laced with sweat, late nights, and an unwavering belief in a vision that was larger than myself. It was sourced from my own pockets, not as a financial strategy, but as a commitment – a commitment that left no room for excuses, only a path that led towards success.
This self-funding strategy was not merely a financial decision but a conscious choice to be utterly accountable to the mission and vision of Building Block Resolutions. It was a pledge that every step taken, every decision made, was in absolute alignment with the ethos we were building.
From those humble beginnings, through every hurdle and every triumph, we gradually expanded, hiring one employee after another, until today, where we stand strong with a team of over 60 dedicated individuals. Each member of our team is not just an employee but a vital piece of a puzzle that has been meticulously put together over the years.
In sharing this, I want aspiring entrepreneurs to know that while the journey of building a business, especially with limited capital, is fraught with challenges, it is your unwavering belief, relentless effort, and the incremental steps you take every day that gradually build towards something monumental. At Building Block Resolutions, every step, every challenge, and every triumph is a chapter of a story that was written not with abundant capital, but with an abundant belief in a vision and the relentless pursuit of it.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One profound lesson that I’ve had to consciously unlearn over the years is the deeply ingrained belief that life and work are destined to be a perpetual struggle, invariably devoid of joy and fulfillment. This lesson was not taught, but rather silently imbibed through the tireless eyes of my parents, immigrants who relentlessly worked in jobs that scarcely brushed against the realm of their passions, all to weave a tapestry of stability and opportunities for their family.
Growing up, I witnessed the silent sacrifices, the muted dreams, and the stoic perseverance that painted the everyday life of my parents. Work was a means to an end, a necessary conduit to navigate through the necessities and obligations of life. It was a concept that was starkly separated from joy, fulfillment, and passion – if it wasn’t tough, it was deemed as play, an indulgence that was scarcely affordable.
This belief quietly seeped into my own perspectives, crafting a dichotomy where work and joy were mutually exclusive. However, as I navigated through my own journey, carving out a path in the realm of behavioral analysis and eventually, entrepreneurship, a gentle realization dawned upon me – work, when intertwined with passion, can indeed feel like play, and life, even amidst challenges, can be joyous and fulfilling.
It was a gradual unlearning, a subtle dismantling of a belief that was sculpted through years of observation and experiences. I realized that my work, my passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals through behavioral analysis, did not have to be a stoic endeavor. It could be joyous, it could be fulfilling, and yes, it could even feel like play.
This unlearning was not just a personal transformation but became an intrinsic part of the ethos at Building Block Resolutions. We strive to create an environment where work is not a mere obligation but a joyous journey, where making a difference does not feel like a burden but a fulfilling adventure.
In sharing this, I hope to gently touch upon the strings of every individual who, like me, has silently believed that work and joy are parallel paths, never destined to meet. It’s a gentle reminder that when we unlearn this, we unlock a world where our passions and our work beautifully converge, crafting a journey that is as joyous and fulfilling as it is impactful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.buildingblockresolutions.com
- Instagram: @Buildingblockresolutions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildingblockresolutions/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/15460681/admin/feed/posts/
- Twitter: @BuildngBlockRes
Image Credits
It’s just me in this pic