Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Sprinkles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
The GIFTED Living Institute Incorporation is a movement of the heart. The goal of creating a charitable nonprofit that serves marginalized communities of color began with a deep passion for social justice and a desire to introduce the concept of radical, collective community self-care.
GIFTED means “Growing Independently Free Through Education and Devotion.” In 1992, our journey started with a vision to address the pervasive challenges experienced by residents residing in the Nickerson Gardens Housing Projects in Watts, California amid the poverty, violence, and crime, along with the range of structural inequalities in the region. At the time, the disparities in education, wealth, mentorship, and resources, along with other risks, motivated GIFTED to take action and establish supportive partnerships that could address these inequities and promote a sense of empowerment and community self-sufficiency. Additionally, with the supportive sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a commitment to making a difference, I began as a grant writer alongside Nora King, the President of the Nickerson Gardens Resident Management Corporation, and mentoring youth. While witnessing the transformative power of mentorship and receiving certification from The Grantsmanship Center, I was inspired to expand our efforts.
With the help of local service providers, local leaders, stakeholders, and community advocates, GIFTED established a youth mentoring program titled, “BOSS” which means “Building Optimal Success and Sustainability.” GIFTED started by offering summer programs in partnerships with the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) unit and thereafter with Tenth Street Entertainment, and focused our efforts on integrating therapeutic art and poetry, career training in the entertainment field, academic support, life management skills, mediation and leadership development. While navigating the fund development field then and now, GIFTED has cultivated strong partnerships with school districts, CHASE Bank, UCLA Morning Sign Out, and other nonprofit entities to grow our impact.
GIFTED curates programs designed to be culturally relevant and responsive to the competencies and needs of the communities we serve. We continue to develop comprehensive curriculum that includes tutorial instruction, financial literacy, career technical education, nature exploration, and mental wellness support through nutrition, to name a few. Additionally, GIFTED excels in recruiting and training community-based mentors who are dedicated to helping youth empower themselves.
Today, The GIFTED Living Institute Incorporation has grown significantly, spanning multiple cities from Watts, CA to the Inland Empire, centering services within the cities of San Bernardino and Riverside, along with areas in San Diego County. GIFTED’s multifaceted team of staff and volunteers which are referred to as “Spinsters”, have a track record of success stories. Many of our mentees excel in youth civic engagement, digital entrepreneurship, achieve academic success, secure scholarships, and become community leaders themselves.
GIFTED’s journey is driven by the belief that when we see youth in impoverished environments, it’s not “them” and “us,” but simply “US!” To this end, GIFTED excels at providing essential tools and resources that help young minds thrive. Although funding can be a challenge, our commitment to our mission remains strong. The progress GIFTED has made continues to motivate us to pursue radical, collective community self-care and empowerment.
Advice to a young professional who might be considering starting their own practice/organization? Active listening is perhaps the most important “soft skill” that an individual will ever acquire in their life time. However, one’s аbility tо understаnd is based on their level of consciousness. This mаy sоund simрle but it’s not, the more you know, the more you grow—–so pause, and really listen. Also, just as important, pause—– and listen to what is NOT being said. The impact of a pause can not be overly emphasized. A pause helps an individual to better understand, reflect, connect, listen to understand, emotionally mediate their feelings, and resolve energy as it pertains to inner tension and conflict. If possible, read a lot and consider being open to new perspectives, opinions, and concepts. Even if you disagree with what being said, just listen—it is free, and does not cost you anything—this cost applies to your dignity and freedom (just Liiiiissssttteeeen!)
Lisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Becoming a fund developer to help young people in communities of color began with my passion for social justice and radical collective community self-care. I started by volunteering in local neighborhoods, gaining firsthand experience in environments where crime and violence are prevalent. Witnessing the impact of structural inequities affecting the lives of innocent children continues to motivate me.
I acquired certification in grant writing and fundraising strategies through workshops, courses, and mentorship. Building a strong network with individuals dedicated to positively impacting their communities was crucial. Leveraging and cultivating key relationships enabled me to launch social justice initiatives and campaigns.
Over the last 17 years, I have honed my skills in grant writing and learned to share compelling stories that have resulted in significant grant awards. My ability to engage donors has secured $20 million in grant contract revenue.
I have also embraced digital platforms to reach a broader audience through crowdfunding campaigns, social media outreach, and individual donor campaigns. Transparency among staff and fiscal accountability are key strategies for achieving positive, measurable outcomes.
Focus, dedication, lifelong learning, and authenticity have guided my success.
The thing I am most proud about is working in marginalized communities and witnessing the transformative impact of our collective efforts on the lives of young people. By providing essential resources, stimulant use prevention, workforce training, educational opportunities, and mentorship, I have seen youth from disadvantaged backgrounds thrive and become civic-minded. Their resilience fuels my dedication, and knowing that our work empowers them to overcome systemic barriers is incredibly fulfilling. Seeing individuals realize their potential and being part of their GIFTED journey towards long-term change is deeply rewarding.
Any advice for managing a team?
To manage a team and maintain high morale in a charitable nonprofit, prioritize clear communication and recognize achievements on an ongoing basis. First and foremost, always say thank you! Foster a supportive and inclusive environment where team members feel valued and especially heard. Provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to enhance their skills and grow their individual and unique skills sets. Encourage communication, collaboration, and celebrate successes, both small and large. Lead by example, demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to your core values. Request ongoing feedback. Finally, foster an environment that includes work-life balance to help manage life stress.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A valuable lesson I learned centered around not listening to my intuition and ignoring a gut feeling about a potential partnership. Despite initial reservations, I proceeded due to external pressure and the perceived overall benefit of sustaining the organization for the communities we serve. Unfortunately, the collaboration quickly revealed a mismatch in alignment as it relates to intentions which led to discovering deception and pitfalls that could have been avoided. This experience taught me the importance of trusting my instincts and thoroughly vetting partnerships, creating short-term and long-term MOUs, and just honoring potential partnerships an intentional space to breathe. By not listening to my intuition, I faced preventable hurdles. Presently, I prioritize my intuition and let that guide me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegiftedlivinginstitute.org/
- Instagram: Giftedliving
- Facebook: GIFTED Life Opportunities
- Linkedin: Lisa Sprinkles
Image Credits
Lisa Sprinkles, The GIFTED Living Institute Incorporation, CEO