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

Robin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was a PA in Pathology for over 30 years. I became ill and lost my job. I went through a lot of medical challenges. I had never been in that kind of predicament in my entire life. I faced medical issues, hurricanes and tropical storms hit my home. I came up with the idea because there was a lacking of something in my community. I wanted to be a change maker. I decided to become apart of the epidemic of diseases in my community. I wanted to bring education to the community about preventable diseases and mental illness.

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?

My company Robin’s Haven of Hope, Inc. is a 501c3 organization created for educational and charitable purposes in the Houston (Harris County), Texas area. Our 4 foundational pillars are Resources, Education, Awareness, and Prevention, REAP. Originally our focus was just on health awareness and preventable diseases but then we began to focus on the youth as well. We began to focus on building stronger communities by focusing on the youth and working to break the cycle of poverty, by changing the mindset of poverty. We are teaching our children that they too will “REAP what they sow”, and challenging them to own their future. The events organized by Robin’s Haven of Hope, Inc. provide opportunities through motivational speakers and volunteer projects for the students to hear and see first-hand what can be accomplished when you take charge of your life in spite of your circumstances.

In 2016, Robin Bennett created “Be A Champion”. A program she offered the Klein Forest High School Athletic Department to teach young men the value of volunteering. She partnered with the Harris County Houston Sports Authority so that the athletes could volunteer for sporting events such as the IWF Wrestling Event. They were recognized at the SWAC Championship Game and the Vincent Lombardi Dinner.

Building on the success of “Be A Champion”, Robin created the youth group “Ordinary Students Doing Extraordinary Things”. This program has partnered with Kinsmen Lutheran Church, Harris County Precinct 4, Harris County Sports Authority, Super Bowl 51, Super Kids-Super Sharing, Lone Star College’s Vocational Program, 89.3 KSBJ’s Reyna Reyna, and Former Houston Rocket Robert Reid, to provide the students with the tools that support them in moving forward in life. Mentorships that partner girls with successful women and boys with successful men show them how to become leaders for their peers, demonstrate good judgment and character, build self-esteem and most importantly, how to give back. We also do peer to peer outreach where the students will learn to motivate and help each other; where someone is weak the other is strong.

Robin Bennett and Robin’s Haven of Hope have been recognized by Houston Mayors Bill White, and Annise Parker, along with Texas Governors Rick Perry and Greg Abbott for the work they have done in the community.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

That everybody is not for you on your journey and they will try to deceive you. I learned not to share all my goals with everybody because if they have to funds they will take that idea and put in into motion before you.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Networking, volunteering and supporting others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://robinshaven.org

Image Credits

Former Judge Ed Emmett
Wise Houston