We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Latoya Frazier. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Latoya below.

Latoya, appreciate you joining us today. What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?

One of the most significant lessons I learned in undergrad school was the true meaning of “communication is key”. The course focused on learning skills for effective communication in business and management. However, the content provided gave me insight on communication techniques in which I applied to my personal life. The lessons taught me approach each dialog with the intent to understand and use expression correctly. I set out to use these newly acquired skills in my everyday life, and in turn it made me a better commutator.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Wilcome Human Services, a non-profit organization, which serves at-risk youth in Baltimore City, Maryland and York City, Pennsylvania; was founded in 2017 by Latoya Frazier. The Baltimore native’s experience with mentors as a teen mom, inspired her to start the organization to provide counseling, housing, career and education resources for young men and women in need. Frazier grew up in East Baltimore where she says that poverty, drug addiction and crime were prevalent in her community, and the mindset of many was that success was not possible.

The Board of Directors that operates Wilcome Human Services with Frazier, often emphasizes this philosophy with the youth they serve. In 2021, Wilcome Human Services partnered with The White House to promote COVID-19 vaccine information, for which they received a thank you letter from President Biden in appreciation for their participation. Wilcome Human Services currently has three transitional homes for youth and will open two next year in York, PA. Workshops are available again to mentees and their families, and the public on many topics, including: DIY Credit Building/Repair, Resiliency and Stabilization, Suicide Prevention for Students, Trauma and Relationship Building, Therapeutic Arts & Crafts, Education Resources, Workforce Development and more.

WHS programs takes the perception of, and commiserate with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize families, and community resources and supports the need.
The organization’s process and plans contribute to the ability and willingness to assist young persons who are in need with shelter, financial support, obtaining employment or efficient funds to secure and maintain housing.

Frazier revealed, that the name of the organization was based on her “belief that God’s will, will come.” A declaration and belief that Frazier knows for certain is “that no matter the circumstance, if one will tap into his/her determination, great things will come.”

Any advice for managing a team?

To maintain employee morale and effectively manage your team to stay motivated starts with the workplace environment. The way employees perceive the workplace often decides their productivity and outlook towards work.

To improve employee morale, perceive the organizational culture, use team-building, and help to grow the employee’s mindset. Set the tone by involving employees in organizational goals.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I had the pleasure to read and study, in a group setting, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, written by Stephen R. Covey. The book shows how those who achieves a high degree of success still have struggles with developing personal efforts, such as growing healthy relationships with others.

The book focuses on the concept of success and how it is viewed as a function of personality, image, behavior and attitude. I found the book to be very helpful in the area of building character and personality ethics. I believe that we should not see our achievements as desired results, but to see them to change ourselves fundamentally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wilhumanservices.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilcomehumanservices/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilcomeHumanServices/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/wilcomey
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt7dTqQAsExTV4lc-u2z5_A
• Other: I am a recipient of the Johns Hopkins’ Martin Luther King Jr. Award, 2023 for the work I do in the community! A message from Johns Hopkins Medicine To the Johns Hopkins Medicine community Dear Colleagues, You are invited to celebrate a legacy of civil rights and social justice at Johns Hopkins’ 41st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, which will take place Friday, Jan. 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium on the East Baltimore campus. The theme is A Purpose Greater than Ourselves. Theodore L. DeWeese, interim dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine; Kevin W. Sowers, president of Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine; and Sunil Kumar, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at The Johns Hopkins University, will deliver remarks. The keynote speaker will be Collette V. Smith, motivational speaker, founder and president of Believe N You, Inc. mentoring program, and the National Football League’s first African American female coach. The former defensive backs coach for the New York Jets will share how sports and a focus on people and causes greater than herself inspired her to be an exemplar of courage and resilience for others. The commemoration will feature recognition of five deserving recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award for their volunteerism: Nicole Dawson-Matthews, medical assistant, JHCP Heart Care at Sibley Latoya Frazier, Intrastaff agency compliance coordinator Elena MacFarlane, assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Alicia Wilson, vice president for economic development, Johns Hopkins University and Health System Lisa Young, medical student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine We will also honor Inez Stewart, senior vice president and chief human resources officer, Johns Hopkins Medicine, with the Dr. Levi Watkins Jr. Ideals Award. Stewart is an excellent example of the kind of servant leader Dr. Watkins encouraged all of us to be. Her advocacy work on behalf of women and vulnerable communities is both admirable and noteworthy. Members of the talented Unified Voices choir of Johns Hopkins employees and East Baltimore community will entertain the audience, employee resource groups will have information display tables, and light refreshments will be available.

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