We were lucky to catch up with Mikeal Barnes II recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mikeal, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

As a non-profit, my first client was a random person that I saw on the streets of Downtown Raleigh, no money exchanging involved. It was after the Winter storm of 2018 and snow covered pretty much every inch of Downtown Raleigh. As a Freshman at Shaw University I often took late night walks and on this walk I saw a homeless man sleeping on the ground with nothing on him. I had on two jackets at the time and so I took one off and placed it over this man as he slept. Later on that night I saw the man up walking with the hoodie that God allowed me to bless him with. At that moment a sense of excitement washed over me as I saw that I was able to help someone out.

Mikeal, 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?

Founded in December of 2021, People Helping People LLC was born. As God changed Saul to Paul, he changed People Helping People to People Who Inspire Change Inc. Founded on Jesus’ lessons and God’s plan for us to love others, People Who Inspire Change was created due to Founder Mikeal Barnes II seeing a need that needed to be met in the streets of Downtown Raleigh.

While working in Downtown Raleigh, specifically the Moore Square district I engaged daily with a very large homeless population. This turned into a ministry. Whilst being in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic people where people were not doing much community outreach and aiding the community I would go sit and talk with the homeless and one day as I took a train ride to Raleigh, the Holy Spirit urged upon me to go and purchase twenty sandwiches and fries to take to them and thus the first community event was held.

After the event I, with the power of the Holy Spirit went and made it official and thus People Who Inspire Change Inc was born. Since being incorporated People Who Inspire Change has held a coat drive for the homeless in Raleigh, gone to New Orleans Louisiana after hurricane Ian hit on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina partnering with the community, Pinnacle Ministries, and the No Woman No Girl Initiative to take care packages and gently used clothes to take to Covenant House and the New Orleans Women and Children Shelter. A toy drive was held for Christmas for the Shaw University early learning and Development center, which is the onsite childhood education building and daycare at Shaw University. But that is not where it stops. People Who Inspire Change helped raise funds and aid for a family who was displaced from their home by a fire that happened two days before Christmas.

Proverbs 19:17 states “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” and this is what pleases us, pleasing God. The latter of that scripture says “and he will reward them for what they have done” and for every reward that God has for us it is our prayer that the reward can continue to bless others. We stand by or mission statement, “People Who Inspire Change Inc is dedicated to the highest quality of aid for the community delivered with trust, thoughtfulness and care”

It is the vision of People Who Inspire Change Inc. to bring necessary changes to not only our communities but those around us whether affected by spiritual or natural situations. It is our dream to help those by housing or finding housing for those in need, to be of financial help to those who need it most, to administer aid and utilize resources to help our fellow brother/sister in need. It is our hope that one day we will expand beyond the borders of the US, to venture out to foreign countries and bring aid to underdeveloped and impoverished communities.

We do not want to leave out those who are overlooked such as those in nursing homes, home healthcare, hospice, and in prison. Where are we headed? We are headed where we are needed the most, going in faith, doing the Lord’s work. We here at People Who Inspire Change Inc. stand firmly by our mission statement which states “People Who Inspire Change Inc is dedicated to the highest quality of aid for the community delivered with trust, thoughtfulness and care”.

It is our goal that one day we will have our own housing to offer families in need of all races, creeds, and backgrounds. Not only do we plan to provide adequate housing but we also plan to open a homeless shelter and/or partner with homeless shelters in communities.

We also hope to one day host community day events where vendors come out as well as the communities to have a day full of fun, food, laughter, and fellowship. Here we want to provide haircuts to those who are in need be it homeless, kids, men or women alike as well as having a beautician to do hair and other vendors in the beauty industry to help people and their families look and feel their best.

It is our goal to one day be able to provide a ride share service similar to Uber and Lyft but will be catered to senior citizens and those who need to get back and forth to doctors appointments, go to the grocery store, go pick up medicine, get to church, and help single parents to pick up/drop off their kids.

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

Thank you for this question! It’s ironic that this question has come up. I am actually in a moment of pivot. For the last year I have had to put my business on the back burner in order to focus on some things in my life. As it is defined, “Pivot” means “completely change the way in which one does something” from Oxford languages. While I am in my moment of pivoting I am researching new ways to bring aid to communities in need, including finding more resources, planning for the future of the business and finding the needs of those we aim to help.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been simply going out and engaging with the community around me. It’s pertinent that in my line of work that you engage with the community and gain community relations. Creating a space for those in need to be my best form of advertisement. When we do something for someone in the community it allows for people to be able to to refer our nonprofit for help with out judgement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://extraorpro.wixsite.com/peoplewhoinspirechng?fbclid=IwAR0GLedBefBWIyDDdhYBSTgYrhuyr6RdcApR_P4Zs3vY3rcihfDTROglbC4
• Instagram: @peoplewhoinspirechange
• Facebook: People Who Inspire Change