We were lucky to catch up with Jaylah Whittaker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaylah, thanks for joining us today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My mother and father are both successful people. They both are entrepreneurs, graduates with a doctorial degree and pillars in their community. They have taught me well and provided me with the tools I need to be a person with work ethic, integrity, drive and ambition.

My parents are not perfect, but they try to model appropriate behaviors and provide me with many opportunities. Before I started working my own non-profit, I got my start in entrepreneurship while working with my father and grandmother. They are business owners and I learned how to be an assistant. It was tough working for them, but they treated me like an employee and not like their child. Working for a non-profit under my mom’s leadership is not always easy…lol… I’m only 17 years old and there are times that I would like to do what 16-year old’s do. I understand the work and my role with Changing the Mindset, and I have committed to do what needs to be done. Some challenges I had was trying to understand the importance of running a business and program management. I had to learn how to budget, write reports, develop scheduling, and become comfortable with public speaking. My mom did not take it easy on me. She had high expectations and she pushed me to my fullest potential. One thing I appreciate is that my mom enrolled me into a business mentorship program and signed me up for professional development to enhance my skills.

As I continue to mature, I learn that everything my parents have taught me is going to make me a better person. I’ve also been exposed to a bonus mom and dad that also support my parents with raising me. I have a village of people that loves me and wants what’s best for me. Everything that I have learned from my parents and bonus parents, will be great resources for when I am an adult.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jaylah Whitaker and I’m a Program Implementer and Author for Changing the Mindset Inc. I’m currently an Arlington HS Student Class of 2023 in Memphis, TN. I’m in the Thespian
Honor Society (theater), I’m a Web designer, best buddy board member, Girl Scout, and mentor I wrote a book/journal about bullying to help others that may be experiencing some of the similar things that I have been through.

As the Program Implementer, I oversee the Bullying Can’t Stop Me program. This program offers workshops, mentorship and advocacy for youth and young adults.

o Participants learn about the 6 different types of bullying: how to identify
them, how to avoid the behaviors with others and how to address or report the
behaviors (cyber, physical, psychological, verbal, sexual and emotional).
o  Participants learn how to establish positive relationships with others and how
to encourage others to engage in positive behaviors.
o Participants learn about esteem, self-love, and self-respect and how to display
appropriate love and respect for others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

In middle school, I was a victim of bullying that made me question suicide. I was larger than many of the girls in my friend group that went to school with me and was often teased about my size. I was also the only African American girl on the cheer squad, so sometimes I did not feel included. I often heard negative things that were said about me and at one point I began to talk bad about myself so I could fit in with the group. My self-esteem and confidence was low and I did not love myself as I should. I though suicide would be the best option for me.

While processing my experiences with my mom and other love ones, I learn to channel that negative energy into something positive. I changed my friend group and began to look to others that looked like me to help build my confidence. As a victim of bullying and depression I feel that it’s important to share my testimony with others, that have been through bullying or that’s experiencing bullying right now. My goal is to help others get through what they are experiencing and to increase their confidence.

I wrote a self-help book titled, “Bullying Can’t Stop Me”. It is a workbook/journal to help young adults and
children that are going through bullying and a way to cope with bullying, depression, and self-esteem issues. As a victim of bullying, I did not know of any resources to use while I was dealing with the effects of bullying. I wanted to create something that young people can use to help give them hope, guidance and resources to cope and build confidence.

This is also the name of the program I oversee with my non-profit Changing the Mindset. My goal as the program implementer with CTMS is to mentor and educate as many children as possible and young adults on self-love, building confidence, advocating for others, and educating the community.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My mom started Changing the Mindset in 2018. The organization was developed as a professional development, career preparedness and entrepreneurial non-profit. The goal was to
help people advance in their career, enhance leadership skills and business practices. My mom
created a proof-of-concept model to use in her business while helping her clients. She decided in
2020 that she would dissolve the business because she was doing the same thing in her for-profit
business, so it did not make much sense having 2 businesses with the same model. In 2021, I
participated in a bullying initiative at my church, where I shared my story of bullying, suicide,
and depression. When my mom saw the video, she asked what I would like to do moving
forward. We discussed the non-profit and its current state and she suggested that we rebrand the
non-profit and create a model that focuses on bullying and technology. She also suggested that I
lead the programming and I agreed. I felt that there was not a resource available for me, so I
thought that this would be a great resource for others like me. So, we rebranded the business,
changed the program model to focus on youth bullying and technology. We held our first focus
group in 2021 to gather more data and information before we finalized the model.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.changingthemindset.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changingthemindset2019/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Changing-the-Mindset-Inc-108245000557489
• Other: Email: [email protected] Linktree: https://flow.page/changingthemindset