We were lucky to catch up with Jasmine “Lady” Crisp recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jasmine “Lady” thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.
Yes ! Happy you asked. We do serve the underserved urban communities, that serve my black and brown people, low-income and elderly. Love for Animals Outreach’s mission is to serve as a resource for vulnerable people and paws in Atlanta, Tri-City, East Point expanding to all of Georgia neighborhoods by: (1) providing a safe place for our youth to learn and be educated on basic life skills, including care for animals, helping them explore careers in the animal welfare industry while creating compassion to themselves, as well the environment; (3 ) providing basic food and essential needs to family pets in our community pairing with the education of animal care, focusing on feeding stray cats rehoming some in the process. Doing this we remain serving as a resource to those often ignored by traditional animal welfare organizations which instills our core values of restoring hearts and minds.
We have programs to support this mission:
Our Animal Education Initiative/ Pet In Class Room Model: We go into the schools, and provide activities i.e. bird house building or animal petting (i.e a bunny or patriot). Involving animals in child development creating that animal and human bond. Sparking more compassion in the younger generation. Exposing different career opportunities in the animal welfare industry.
Animal Care Package Program: We serve over 15 families a month, and each family has over 2 family pets ( so we serve up to 30 – 35 household pets) a month. We have given over 3,000 Lbs. of Pet food for cats, dogs, rabbits, and fish combined. Gave over 1,500 items in pet essentials.
Jasmine “Lady” , 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?
Hey! Thank you so much for having me, I appreciate what you all are doing. Well, I’m from Chicago, and grew up in the Bronzeville area. I went to Kenwood Academy, where I was able to explore my creativity in clothing. I had a childhood boyfriend pass away, moved to Las Vegas, and learned how to model and write poetry. Moved to Atlanta to support my mother while helping my grandfather Eric Monte ( the Godfather of Sitcom: he created GoodTimes, The Jeffersons, Sandford&Son,What’s Happening and Cooley High was his life story). I got into the medical field as a Reimbursement Specialist. Created my lingerie line of embellished bras as a hobby now The Adrenalin Co. I wanted women of any shade or shape to feel sexy and seen. To learn how to cater to herself while being pleasing to the eye of her mate. I then found myself in an abusive relationship while managing being a single mother.
I got my dog at the time Bella (german shepherd pitbull mix), she brought me out of depression and made me and my son feel safe, the community loved her. Kids would ask if Bella could come out and play lol she was a protector for sure. So I grew a connection with her, 5 years later I settled down and rescued 2 more Pitbulls (Dutchess Staffordshire Terrier (girl)/(boy) Zeus -blue nose pitbull) in the home. Not knowing I graced upon a niche. So, fast forward 5 years later I’m in a new relationship and 3 Pitbulls, unexpectedly I found out I was pregnant with my second son. At the moment I decided to spay / neuter all 3 of my furbabies. Preparing for a second son was enough. Funny thing is my oldest furbaby Bella was pregnant, while I’m in my 3rd trimester. One late night around, the wee hours at 12am she started to give birth to her litter until 7 am the next day. I’m pregnant on the floor helping her birth 11 puppies, 10 survived. Later rehoming all the healthy puppies to a loved family; potty trained and with all their shots. Then as a result of feuding with my slum lord I became homeless with an 8 year old, a newborn, and 4 Pitbull. When I couldn’t find a home for all of us, due to their breed being deemed “too aggressive”. I had to choose between my children and my furbabies.
So, I was forced to rehome each one of my furbabies to a loving home, it broke my heart, and I cried but I had no choice. So to be able to sleep at night, we investigated families with the help of an animal non-profit where I can sleep at night. I and my little family found a cozy spot in a kind of borderline rough neighborhood. Doing community work helping people with needs. One day I realized and looked up that I was living w/ anxiety from me coping with my previous past, growing up in the heart of Chicago as well as my current environment. I started to realize depression is at an all-time high in my environment. People losing their life over senselessly, gun violence being the root of every killing, having young black boys. Not being able to play outside, feel the breeze, and be faced with gang or gun violence, I began to get more anxious. I looked in the mirror and saw I lost myself as well. A soul that’s not living to her best and most authentic potential. A soul, a flower, a daisy that wasn’t tapping into all the talents God had given me. Then I wanted out but had no knowledge of how. Why should I care, or why care enough? I realized I was living for the ones that didn’t see my age and I’m learning to give hope to the ones that need out. So I started being around animals, and I found out they were my healer. My freedom. I learned the farm gave me a sense of peace. So I started writing poetry at the farm.
Wrote poetry after being with animals since I felt so loved and calm. Animals funded that, fueled a sense of self and I was able to write with a flow. When I learned that poetry gave hope to a lot of people. I learned people were struggling with their animals. After writing my first poetry novel “The Flower Who Turned Pain Into Peace”. That is how I came up with the LOVE For Animals Outreach. We focus on Changing the EnvironMental (trademarked). After having 13 Pitbull and being pregnant with my second son, I realized I probably meant for animal welfare, countless stories of life-changing interactions with different animals. it was destined lol.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
So with my different ventures. I had passion in everything I pursued, which I believe is to key to business. It has to be something you see a future in, that you actually believe in. I will risk not paying certain bills just to fulfill a order, or get promotional gear. I never got a loan for my retail business or self producing my book ” The Flower Who Turned Pain Into Peace”. I used my own hard working money from my paycheck to invest in myself. I would be short on rent, living paycheck to paycheck, but still managed to keep my business afloat. Provide people with an experience in the Adrenalin Co business, gave hope with the book and with my nonprofit The Love For Animals I do the same. I have to budget my nonprofit expenses with my budget for my life. Just until I get more grants to cover all expenses’, covering my own overhead with my 9-5 job. So I did receive 2 grants for my nonprofit since being open thanks to Maddie Funds, but the grants run out, I create my own capitol. Someone said if money don’t work for you, your not handling it right. So instead of saving I’m currently investing my small funds to see a bigger picture later. I believe in investing in your dreams.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Well, God placed it on my heart to finish my poetry novel during CoVid. Now that book has given me testimonies over (20+ people ) that the book helped them in some way. I left lingerie for a bit to become an author, in that I found my self creative directing for the visual for the book, becoming a screenplay writer. From there being in the community with the book, going to farms to write, I found peace with animals. I seen how my book mission was about peace connected with animals. From then I focused on keeping peace in people households by helping them with their household pet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://loveforanimalsoutreach.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love4paws404/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveforanimalsoutreach
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Loveforanimal-hh8go
- Other: Personal IG : lady_thedawn, theadreanlin_co Personal YOU TUBE : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcbotnheTvrpCop3kG6eL0Q Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Flower-Turned-Pain-Into-Peace/dp/B09B3B3SD9/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/4ahr9x-help-love-for-animals-keep-the-lights-on?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
Image Credits
D Divine Photography