We recently connected with Ray Nell Jones and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ray Nell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I became a single mother while a freshman in college I experienced emotional and financial hardships. I realized being a single parent in a low income community affected me mentally and I wanted to create a nonprofit that would help single mothers with emergency support and financial literacy. I wanted to become the hero I did not have when I was struggling to maintain bills, college books, and pay for feminine hygiene products. I developed a couponing habit and decided that I would give my stock pile of items to single mothers in need. I knew this was a continuation issue when I young lady jumped from a bridge while her 4 children screamed in horror. I wanted to prevent the mental decline and child neglect in low income communities so I began to offer emergency resources and free financial literacy courses.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

The Allignment Chapter, founded by FORBES Philanthropist, Social Entrepreneur, and Mommy Influencer, Ray Nell Jones, who was recognized and honored as the 2020 ESSENCE Essential Hero for helping thousands of single mothers throughout the pandemic.  Recognized by celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres, Lena Dunham, and more, the organization’s mission is to help provide economical and emotional relief and resources for low-income single mothers and their children.    We are most proud of proving needs to over 10k mothers. We love to share our work and goals through our social media platforms to let our donors see where there dollars are going.
The Allignment Chapter was created to provide same day emergency support to low income mothers in need. The emergency support provided as listed on our webpage consist of personal hygiene products, household cleaning items, daily living essentials, and baby diapers and formula. Our mission is to decrease mental illness and child neglect in low income communities. We provide a free financially fit literacy program that enhances the credit education , home buying, savings, and resume building for all mothers that enter the program. This program helps bridge the gap between low income and middle class mothers. This will help diversify middle class single mothers by providing free financial education that low income mothers lack. The majority of low income mothers have no idea how to save money, build a solid resume, or pay off bad debts. The mission of The Allignment Chapter Mentoring Program is to decrease dramatically the poverty and child neglect rates of all low-income mothers. The Allignment Chapter has a commitment to development, academics, socialization, mentoring, global awareness, and community development is inherent in the program and provides mothers with a comprehensive learning experience designed to facilitate their success. The Allignment Chapter employs strategies designed to improve mothers’ academic efficacy, encourage and facilitate community involvement, strengthen connectedness to mentors, improve mothers’ self-awareness, and programmatically address other specific and unique needs of uneducated mothers.
Financial Literacy Program Details
Past Elevating Experiences have included participation in the couponing training, etiquette appreciation dinners, small business brunch networking, community service, social events, guest lecturers, and retreats. All Chapter low income mothers are required to join the FLBM Mentoring Program. Recruitment includes but is not limited to Pittsburgh News ads, tabling at the community and neighborhood Fairs, presentations to parents during PTA meetings at local public schools, letters to all local welfare recipients, and peer recruitment.

We’d love to hear about you met your business partner.

My co owner is my husband who is number 6 of 12 children raised by a single mother. We both share the same passion in helping women who suffer in silence.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

We built our audience by helping woman in other states who shared their experiences and our social networks. The advice I can give is continue to share what your passionate about without worrying about the likes and the shares just worry about making the impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theallignmentchapter.org
• Instagram: Theallignmentchapter
• Facebook: The Allignment Chapter

Image Credits
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