We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Debbie Cwalina a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Debbie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I’ve always had a protective instinct for the kid who doesn’t “fit in” as I grew up with a sibling who struggled socially. The enormity of his exclusion hit me hard when he became a freshman at my high-school (where I was a senior). He was the kid who sat alone at lunch and recess, and was never included in activities involving his peers…and it broke my heart. So, I changed my lunch schedule so I could sit with him and invited my friends to join us. All of the sudden, the kid who was invisible became THE “cool kid” sitting with the cheerleaders, athletes and other seniors. It completely changed his high-school experience as others took the time to get to know him – and embrace him for his big hugs and happy demeanor.
That experience lit a flame in my soul that simmered for years until I had a chance to create something to help kids like my brother. The result is Be THE Voice, a student-led movement for kindness, compassion & inclusion in K-12 schools that has impacted hundreds of thousands of students statewide!
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 was born in Buffalo NY, then at age 12 my family moved to Knoxville TN which is where I spent my formative years. I graduated from college, moved to South Bend IN for my first job, then transferred to Atlanta GA three years later. In 1993 I got married, started a business in marketing & advertising, and raised 2 awesome daughters here in Roswell GA. None of that is extraordinary, but the experience I had growing up with my brother is what defined me as a human-being, resulting in my life’s work today!
It all started in the Fall of 2014, when I was looking for a way to get more involved in my community. A friend invited me to attend a meeting at the Roswell Rotary Club, in which I joined a few months later. Shortly thereafter, I read a disturbing article on the sharp rise in adolescent suicide due to cyberbullying. Having grown up with a sibling who struggled socially, I knew how hard kids could be on someone who was a little “different”. And now, with the advent of social-media, kids as young as 8 (!) were taking their lives to escape this relentless form of bullying – and that angered me to my core. I just knew there had to be a way to empower our young people to support their classmates, and my Rotary Club was willing to support my efforts!
After nine months of research and development, my co-founder Michael Schoppenhorst and I presented our concept to our Rotary Club’s Board, and with their enthusiastic support we launched Be THE Voice (BTV) in a few Roswell schools in the fall of 2015. BTV began as a simple 12-week video series that (literally) showed students a variety of non-confrontational ways to defuse bullying. Our approach was based upon research that showed the efficacy of bystander intervention and we were excited to see how students would respond to our platform.
We tested the 2015 beta launch of BTV by surveying a 2,200-student high school in Roswell with a pre vs. post program questionnaire. The data revealed an astonishing 56% decrease in bullying (!), confirming our belief that with a little guidance, students are the true agents of change within their school.
As the need for kindness, compassion, and inclusion has grown over the years, so has BTV’s depth of message. In addition to learning important communication skills to support their peers, BTV students are experiencing the joy of serving others. Something very important to both Mike and I as we both embrace the Rotary International motto of “Service above Self” in our daily lives.
Today, Be THE Voice has morphed into a 6-month student-driven “movement” for diversity and inclusion in 62 schools throughout Georgia. While the need for the program has grown steadily year after year, school enrollment doubled in the 2021/22 to help counter the damaging effects of the pandemic on our kids. While demand for our program is off the charts (we have over 100 schools on a waitlist for the 2023-24 school year), funding is harder to source than in pre-pandemic years as both state and federal funding has been slashed.
We seek like-minded corporate partners who understand the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the workplace, to showcase that commitment out into the communities in which they serve – and Be THE Voice is the perfect conduit!
After all, the youth of today will be the workforce of tomorrow. Instilling important communication skills now is an investment that will pay dividends in the future as they become industry and community leaders who can work together without bias. Everyone wins!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your non-profit?
I was fortunate in that I was able to find financial support with my Rotary Club, which enabled me to create Be THE Voice. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I had this “little idea”, and am still amazed at how much heart, soul, hard work and persistence is required to be a success in the non-profit world! While creating a concept is easy (it’s born from a personal passion), finding a way to make it sustainable is much more difficult.
My advice is to connect with a local civic organization to help support your mission. Not only will you meet like-minded people who will help bring your idea to fruition, you will also make life-long friendships with folks whose paths you may have never crossed!
I also recommend joining the Georgia Center for Non-Profits and participating in as many learning opportunities as possible. What you learn there will create a strong foundation for your organization, something of utmost importance as you forge ahead.
The last bit of advice I have to share is don’t listen to the nay-sayers. Strap in, put your head down and work hard at your craft. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. ;)
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I have experience in starting two businesses, and the same rules apply for both when it comes to success. On top of being co-Founder and E.D. for Be THE Voice (since 2015), I also own a small marketing company called Creative Corporate Ideas (CCI) which I founded in 1993. CCI was my first “baby” and I worked hard to grow it into a successful business. One of the things that was instrumental in that growth was becoming a certified Woman-Owned business (WBE) through WBENC. As a woman business owner, it opened many doors for me with companies that had supplier-diversity initiatives in place. Secondly, I would recommend joining a civic organization and do some volunteering. You’ll soon discover that the best leads come organically, a direct result of working alongside others on community projects.
As for building a solid reputation, you have one chance to make a first impression. Do your homework and have a concept ready when you meet with a client. Go above and beyond by showing them a few alternatives to what they originally requested – that has always proven highly successful for me. The other tip – always go the extra mile. You won’t regret it, and the client won’t forget it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.be-the-voice.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btv_of_change/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/btvofchange/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-cwalina-8484697/ and Be THE Voice of Kindness, Compassion & Inclusion (in approval process)
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTV_of_Change
- Youtube: @bethevoice3714