We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Patryce Ford . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Patryce below.
Alright, Patryce thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Free Youth Outreach actually started out in the early 2000 as an informal meeting with a bunch of teenagers voluntarily meeting up in a living room doing bible study, being accountability partners, somewhat of a safe space. I’m from a very small town (Goldsboro, NC) where there aren’t many outlets for young people. You hear more about murders, robberies, and missing youth than positive. I was a troubled teen. I came from a broken home. I NEEDED someone, something, to just tell me that I mattered. Free Youth did that for me. It dwindled off as all the youth became adults. However, many years later I began working in the judicial system (maximum security prisons, state rehabs) and realized after speaking with some of the inmates, and residents that most of the turning points for majority of these young men derived from childhood. I vowed to be what I needed when I was a teen from that point on. I started mentoring, tutoring, community outreach, self-development. courses, free camps etc. After, long days from work I would always come home and just dump on my husband and often make mention of how “if there were more youth groups like free youth” I believe we would see a difference. Needless to say, my husband legalized the “Free Youth Outreach” as a non- profit organization and gifted it to me for my 31st birthday. We been boots on ground ever since creating all types of youth programs, doing all types of outreaches. The unique thing about Free Youth Outreach is Every program, every community event, services WE OFFER FREE of charge.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m just an Ex troubled teen who by the grace of God was able to change my narrative. I made a vow to become what I needed as a child in order to prevent the next kid from making some of the same mistakes I made. Free Youth Outreach offers Tutoring, Career readiness, College prep, Mentoring, Self-development courses, Camps, community events. All Free of charge.
Here at Free Youth Outreach, we believe in the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. We want our children to know that they matter and our parents to know that we support them.
I believe what sets Free Youth Outreach apart from some of the other organizations is the fact that we are literally boots on ground in the community. Majority of children places have merely become babysitting clubs with an annual Fee. The staff at Free Youth are all passionate about what we do. Literally one big family. We do a lot with a little. We aren’t receiving outlandish grants, and huge sponsorships but, because the staff and I love what we do we are somehow able to do huge community events some to name we have an annual kickball tournament and field day that has grown so big we are calling it a community day now, at capacity ticketed events Pretty hurts, My brother’s keeper, annual community spelling bee for the kids. so much FREE of charge.
I’m most proud of the unity and the hope that Free Youth Outreach gives our young people.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for me has literally been to just be authentic and transparent. Those two things have allowed me to foster healthy relationships with the children. Pretty much using my own story as something to believe in. Unruly kid, kicked out of school, pregnant early, substance abuse, heartbreaks, homeless you name it I been there. It’s not Over for you.,
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding my business, whew! lol I’m still working on mastering this. I literally work another job Soley for funding, local churches, parents, schools, and people literally have been keeping us afloat by pouring into the vision. I hope to land some sponsors and Big Grant bucks soon. Until then we just keep doing the work.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photography credits Timothy Pounds Jr, Focused on Eternity Photography Ashley Smith Pretty Hurts Beauty