Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Olivia Coffey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Olivia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I am a childhood survivor of domestic abuse. I have been successful in life because I had a “village” that supported me when I was a child. My grandparents, Godparents, relatives and close friends of the family were my role models and helped raise me.

Families in our communities lack the necessary tools to help their youth be successful. Youth EmpowerMe Foundation, Inc. was created to be “the village” for families. The African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” remains my mantra and the purpose of the foundation.

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?

I have been creating mentorship programs and pouring into the lives of children and families for over 30 years as a Professional School Counselor.  I am a product of Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland.  I obtained a Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) from Howard University and a Master’s degree in Education and Human Development (M.A. Ed & HD) from the George Washington University in Washington, DC.

I am Founder and Executive Director of Youth EmpowerMe Foundation and Creator of the  EmpowerHer EmpowerMe Mother Daughter Summit (EHEM) which is a premiere one-day conference for mothers (and mother-figures) and their daughters ages 8 – 18.  At the summit, mothers and their daughters engage in hands-on activities and transparent conversations around strength, self-worth, and purpose…TOGETHER! These summits were offered during Women’s History Month virtually during the pandemic and was held in person at The Hotel at Maryland University on March 25, 2023.  (For more info, please visit our website EmpowerHerEmpowerMe.com)

On Sunday, October 8th (National Father-Daughter Day) we held our first Daddy Daughter Sneaker Dance for fathers and father figures and their daughters between the ages of 5 – 18 years old. The purpose of the event was to restore, strengthen and enhance the father and daughter relationship. This event was held at Graces Event Center in Waldorf, Maryland. During the event, we had contests, interactive activities and vendors, and a keynote speaker that addressed the importance of the father and daughter relationship. During the event, the men openly made a commitment to their daughters and recited “A Father’s Pledge”.

The EmpowerHIM EmpowerME Mother and Son Summit is scheduled for March 2, 2024.  This summit will help moms and mother figures get the tools, support and resources necessary to empower our future leaders of the world. This summit was created to enhance, restore and strengthen the mother and son relationship. The theme for the summit is “Cultivating His Purpose”. The women, alongside their sons, will participate in workshops and panel discussions focusing on financial literacy, health and wellness, social and emotional development, character building, leadership, and decision- making skills. This summit is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, 2024. Moms need support and EHEM is “the village” for families!

Have you ever had to pivot?

The inaugural EmpowerHer EmpowerMe Mother Daughter Summit was scheduled for March 2019 in Fairmont Heights, Maryland. Because of the Covid19 shutdown we had to cancel the summit. We pivoted and held the summits virtually for two years. The purpose of the virtual summits were to support families during the pandemic. Our workshops and seminars focused on stress management and gave the parents the tools to help their children navigate the virtual world and our “new normal”.

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

We survived the pandemic! We had to cancel our first summit because of Covid19 shutdown but we persevered. We continued to support women, families and children by hosting virtual events. We safely hosted fundraiser events and conducted pop ups to expose our brand to the community. Because of our diligence and reputation, we were able to obtain sponsorships and grants. The EmpowerHer EmpowerMe Mother and Daughter Summit on March 25, 2023 at The Hotel at the University of Maryland was very impactful and we achieved our goal. We will continue to fundraise, apply for grants and solicit sponsorship for our EmpowerHim EmpowerMe Mother and Son Summit next March.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youthempowerme.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youthempowerme/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youthempowermefoundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/youth-empowerme-foundation-inc/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYr8ZF7DDqgty2hsxsKu7KQ
• Other: EmpowerHer EmpowerMe events website: https://www.empowerherempowerme.com/

Image Credits
Professional photographer photos: My photo @najhacreates Other photos @trisography_flix