We were lucky to catch up with Alonna Tipton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alonna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

The most important lesson I learned was during Sunday School at my home church. Mr. Rhymes, my Sunday School teacher at the time, was teaching a lesson on how a Christian should behave and what type of character they should possess. He taught me, in that moment, that in order to become a leader, I must first learn how to follow. I took this to mean that my job as a follower was to take notes, heed instruction, and be teachable. When that time passes, and it’s me who is in the leadership role, I’d know exactly what to do–and what not to do. This is something I’ve lived by, especially now as the Founder of the ACTion Foundation.

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.

I am a little girl from Flint, Michigan. Flint is known for violence, poverty, the Flint Water Crisis, and many other negatives. But I am proof that good things and people come out of my city. I entered the nonprofit sector because I felt led to become a servant-leader without making a profit. My time as a college student at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) inspired me to birth the ACTion Foundation. I wanted to take what I’d learned about giving back and sew into my community, specifically, its college students. The ACTion Foundation provides scholarships to HBCU students in Flint and the surrounding area.
I am proud that people are becoming more aware of the Foundation, what we do, and what we stand for. I want the students/potential applicants to know they have someone who has been in their shoes and is here for them. I would want potential donors to know that though their monetary donations are appreciated, this cause is bigger than me. It’s all about our future–the students–and we should be supporting them.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Some time ago, I experienced a tragic incident in my personal life. I had to take a step back from everything, including my Foundation. I took a much needed break. When I returned, my faith was much stronger, and so was my Foundation. I don’t think that would’ve happened had that experience not occurred.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn that I always have to be on the go and not take care of myself. The shift in my thinking happened when I became a child therapist for abused and neglected children. My environment taught me that, based on the cases I was dealing with on a day-to-day-basis, it’s okay to take breaks and focus on my self-care/taking care of my mental health.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theactionfoundation810.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionfoundation810/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACTionFoundation810/

Image Credits
My mother and community members