Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jerlesha Calahan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jerlesha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.
It has been a passion of mine to serve the underserved for many years. It is my goal to do my small part in this world to dismantle barriers and create a society where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. Working with youth with barriers, the homeless population, and other underserved entities, can lead to economic growth and stability for some. When individuals have access to resources and opportunities or even exposure, they can contribute meaningfully to the economy, leading to overall prosperity. Also, with my Christian morals, I believe that a society that leaves certain groups behind risks division and unrest. Lastly serving the underserved promotes social cohesion by fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion for all members of society. I am truly blessed to be able to make a difference in others’ lives and our community.
Jerlesha, 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?
My name is Jerlesha Calahan Fleming. I am a wife and mother to 2, plus 3 bonus children, and one on the way. I am also the founder and president of Village of Hope LA (VOHLA), a non-profit dedicated to mentoring and empowering. My purpose and passion is community service. Making a difference in people’s lives by helping them meet basic needs, and find hope, and purpose gives me immense joy. I have spent over a decade as a youth specialist and mentor to at-risk and misguided youth. I committed myself to helping many youths stay in school, out of the system, and unlock their potential for a better tomorrow. Also, whether it is feeding the homeless, or gathering supplies, I continue to use my hands and feet to help. Also, with a BS in Criminal Justice, VOHLA mentors individuals who are reentering society after incarceration. I along with my team enjoy spreading inspiration through the community through outreach and being a beacon of light.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One thing that I have had to unlearn is not delegating. Past experiences of delegation gone wrong, such as tasks being completed poorly or not at all caused my reluctance to delegate. After doing a thorough self-evaluation, I realized that I have to first trust others. While building a trustworthy team, I learned that it not only empowered them but fostered a collaborative environment. I also had to let go of perfectionism and accept the fact that others may not perform tasks exactly as I would, and that is okay. By consciously practicing steps and shifting my mindset towards delegation, I unlearned the habit of trying to do everything myself and instead empowered others to contribute meaningfully to shared goals and objectives
Contact Info:
- Website: villageofhopela.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villageofhopela/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094286162158
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Villageofhopela
Image Credits
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