Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Lashaundon Perkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Lashaundon , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Renovating Lives, Inc. (RL) mission: Building Lives One Piece at a Time Reestablishing YOU Consulting Services: “Where Finding You is Power”
Renovating Lives, Inc. (RL), a non-profit organization was initially established in 2008 and relaunched in 2018. RL’s focus is: Educate, Empower, and Inspire individuals so that they may live a life of fulfillment and maximize their full potential. RL believes in supporting, motivating, empowering, strengthening, and inspiring individuals by offering programs, resources, support groups, etc. that focus on social skills training, life skills training, personal development, job readiness, substance abuse, mental health, housing, financial literacy, transportation, and more.
RL does a lot to assist the underserved, underrepresented, and marginalized populations due to the lack of accessibility and availability of community resources.
Reestablishing YOU (RY), LLC is a coaching, consulting, and mentoring organization that was established in 2019. This organization seeks to help individuals identify their purpose, provide training for organizations and/or individuals, and much more. RY also specializes in motivational speaking for various engagements (i.e. faith-based, business, public or private organizations, etc.) RY also specializes in motivational speaking for various engagements (i.e. faith-based, business, public or private organizations, etc.)
We all come from diverse backgrounds, have various obstacles, struggles, and/or barriers we may have experienced in life. However, we all can be “overcomers” and walk to fulfill the purpose we have been created for. Giving up doesn’t have to be an option; and both of my organization’s mission in someway shape or form encompasses this motto. It takes work, commitment, dedication, prayer, and most of all a changed mindset to produce successful outcomes in life. You have to WANT it and you have to WORK for it!
Dr. Lashaundon , 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?
Growing up I always loved helping others. In my earlier years, I grew up around the underserved and underrepresented population. I got to experience many things that these populations currently go through and even recognize now… the lack of resources they had even when I was younger. Being a single parent for most of my life increased my desire to want to help others increased. The struggles and/or obstacles one may face, although different, is a story all within itself. However, I used one of my major obstacles and struggles to motivate me and encourage others. I made no excuses and strived throughout those challenges to walk in purpose and pursue my desired goals.
I sacrificed so much in my young adult years to tear down every societal stigma and negative view when it came to being a single mother. I worked full-time and went to school full-time. Over time, I began to obtain college degrees in order to help me fulfill my purpose. I began with my Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology, then a Master’s degree in Science in General Administration and a Master’s of Arts in School Administration.
While working as an educator and as a mental health professional, I began to really love working with students, adults, families, etc. I began to get more active and involved in my community and become affiliated with many state organizations in order to help individuals in my community. In 2008, God gave me the first vision of my business Renovating Lives, Inc. and it was birth.
I continued pursuing my education and in doing so I obtained getting various licensures, and certifications, as well as obtaining an advanced degree and a doctorate (Doctor of Education). I also obtained coaching, mentoring, and substance abuse counseling certifications. After obtaining these two certifications, I launched Reestablishing You, LLC in 2019. For as long as I can remember, I have always worked with individuals, whether coaching, mentoring, etc. I consider myself a “safe space” and have been known to be so.
I will continue to focus on helping to make an impact in the lives of others. We all are purposed to do something and I want to continue to provide services that help others maximize their full potential. The support from my community, individuals, organizations, etc. makes the work I do soooo rewarding. I am totally honored, humbled, and grateful.
Renovating Lives, Inc. (RL), Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that focuses on helping to build individual lives one piece at a time. RL believes in supporting, strengthening, motivating, impacting, and educating individuals by offering programs, services, events, groups, participating in speaking engagements, etc.
That includes social and life skills training, spiritual growth, personal development, mental health, substance abuse assistance, support groups, mentoring, job readiness, and so much more. Our hope is to educate, empower, impact, and inspire individuals so that they may live a life of fulfillment and maximize their full potential.
Reestablishing YOU (RY), LLC provides consulting, coaching, organizational training, and mentoring services.
I don’t particularly “solve” problems for my clients. The tools I provide assist them with finding the solutions needed to solve their problems. See, the work that I facilitate with my clients is considered a “partnership”. That means we both have a role to play. My role is to provide the resources, training, coaching, etc. and my clients responsibility is to put the tools to use in order for the “change” they want to see to happen as well as the successful outcome they desire to have to occur. In 2022, I published a book entitled, “BE YOUnique: Overcoming THE ODDS! One of my favorite quotes I wrote in this book says: “You have to be ready, open, and prepared for the next stage. In order for this to happen, your mind has to reprioritize. Becoming YOU causes you to have to motivate and position yourself for the shift, nothing less. You either want it or you don’t.”
What sets me apart from others is that these businesses are part of my PURPOSE in life. I don’t have these businesses “just because”. These businesses were created so that I can help others reach their next level in life. I call myself the “Purpose Pusher Coach”, because through my business I get to assist others in birthing their purpose.
It allows me the opportunity to provide services or participate in events that encourage, motivates, or impact one to set out to do the things that they desire to do in life. People don’t know you care until you show them that you do! We can have many excuses as to why we “can’t”, but I have many reasons for why one “can” through these businesses.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
A few years after initially launching Renovating Lives, Inc., (2008) “life” began to happen. Struggles and obstacles presented themselves. Some of the struggles consisted of lack of funding, personal issues, and lack of support.
It was hard to execute many of the things I wanted to do without funding and support. Also, my personal goals and aspirations initially got in the way. I was trying to do too many things at one time and it was becoming overwhelming. In the earlier years of launching the business. I definitely did not have balance.
However, when I relaunched Renovating Lives, Inc. and launched Reestablishing YOU, LLC. the growth and experiences I have learned over time have made a total difference. See oftentimes the vision can be there, but if we set out and do things “prematurely” obstacles, frustrations, barriers, etc. are things we may face. It’s never too late to fulfill purpose, however, just remember its never how quick or swift you do a thing… its completing all the components to the process that causes us to have successful outcomes.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Timing is everything.
Sometimes we have to be patient and wait for all the things to fall in place. Work hard at your goals and give yourself room for error (give yourself grace). It is okay to fall down, however, it is not okay to not get back up. Celebrate your small wins. They lead to big ones.
Also, what is for you is for you! Stay in your own lane… you can only do what you have been purposed to do. Your passion comes from your purpose. YOU GOT THIS! No matter what it looks like! DON’T GIVE UP!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.renovatinglivesinc.com
- Instagram: renovatinglivesinc, reestablish_you
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revnovatinglives, https://www.facebook.com/reestablishyou
- Youtube: renovatinglives2015
- Other: Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Image Credits
Duprez Motif Graphics and Creations- Anthony Grantham