We were lucky to catch up with Dawn Richards recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, appreciate you joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

Our mission is to develop underserved high school students into productive citizens through family, school, and community partnerships by way of monitoring self-progress, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community service. We primarily serve students in N. County area from districts that have a high rate of families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. This community has experienced much turmoil as a result of the aftermath of the death of Mike Brown in 2014. Although we have overcome quite a bit, the students in our comunit

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 have over 20+ years of experience in the field of education.

Titus 2 Foundation was inspired by my experiences as a longtime high school business education teacher. I witnessed many students slip through the cracks for various reasons. I realized that with additional support and resources beyond the classroom, these students could thrive and reach their full potential. This understanding led to the guiding principle of the Titus 2 Foundation: “Connecting Family, School, and Community.” I recognized that when students engage in extracurricular activities, give back through community service, and collaborate with their families to track progress, they are more likely to succeed in developing and pursuing a post-secondary plan. I specifically target students from non-traditional families, i.e. single-parent homes, students in foster-care or being raised by other family members, and students with incarcerated parents. These areas hit home with me as I experienced this with my own children. I was forced into single-motherhood as my husband was murdered when my children were just 8 and 10 years old. I did everything I could to ensure they would not become a statistic. As an educator I knew how to navigate schooling and advocate for myself and my children, but I also recognized that some do not possess the knowledge to do the same for their children. So I wanted to help others like myself and my children to be well-informed about how to recognize and pursue their God-given purpose so they can graduate high school and be productive citizens.

I am most proud of awarding over $23,000 in scholarships to students in N. St. Louis County. It is my goal to help students to and through their post-secondary endeavors whether it be college, trade-school, employment, military, or career development.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I started the Titus 2 Foundation with $1500 of my personal funds. The first year I awarded two $500 scholarships. With more fundraising efforts I was able to double the number of scholarships awarded. Each year we have increased the dollar amounts. This past year we had fewer recipients but we awarded larger amounts. We are continuously seeking funding opportunities through grants and donations.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I have a strong connection in the school systems as a former educator. I have had success with helping students secure scholarships and map out their post-secondary journeys. I have also stayed consistent with the mission and vision of the organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.titus2foundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/titus2foundation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/titus2foundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-richards-edd-68214340/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Titus2Foudation