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

Hi Serena , thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope to be remembered for my dedication and passion to make a difference in this world. Spreading a bit of encouragement and love to others daily. The mission of my nonprofit organization, C.A.R.E, is to spread positivity and encouragement worldwide. C.A.R.E stands for Continuous Acts to Restore Encouragement, which entails many components. Our focus can range from assisting a single parent with the resources and necessities to provide for their family, volunteering at an orphanage home in Africa, holding workshops in a school in an underserved community, or a women’s empowerment event. Our actions, including mine, the board’s, and our volunteers, all revolve around encouraging and uplifting- helping someone understand that there is a light ahead; we do not stay in challenging situations forever. I pray that my legacy is continued by C.A.R.E’s growing board or my daughter, in whom I believe I am instilling these attributes. My daughter is only three, but she has one of the most compassionate and caring hearts.

As our team of volunteers travels to Africa annually to work in orphanage homes and schools, I plan on being able to distribute scholarships to college students to experience Africa with us. It is a life-changing experience, and I want individuals who have a heart of philanthropy to be able to join in at no cost. I envision a C.A.R.E scholarship fund as my legacy, individuals who will carry on the mission and do great work in these communities.

Serena , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a children’s author of three books: Faith Over Sight, Mixed Girl, and Dear Daddy. They are listed on C.A.R.E’s website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and a few Los Angeles stores such as Simply Wholesome and Malik Books. I am also a mother, a woman of God, an educator, and a graduate student at the University of Southern California.

I have always had a love for writing since I was little. Some people enjoy talking a lot, whereas I prefer writing a lot. It lets me release all my emotions freely and helps me feel lighter. I encourage everyone to write; it should not be professional or structured. I wrote my first book on an airplane coming home from Nairobi, Kenya, before I founded the nonprofit. I volunteered for about a month and a half at a children’s home. I left fulfilled and inspired; I needed to share what I experienced somehow, and it came out through writing. Faith Over Sight is about a young boy named Alex, whom I met at home; he was thrown into a forest after birth and is blind. However, he was one of the happiest individuals I met in life; he always kept a smile. From there, I wanted to keep writing and sharing (again) encouragement with the world. All I dedicate my time to or am passionate about revolves around helping others. I want everyone to win and reach their full potential, which explains my children’s books, nonprofits, daycare, and studies in school counseling.

The most important thing to know about me is that I give all glory to God. None of the work I have completed, and will continue to do can be accomplished without God on my side. As I continue to grow and be a student of this world, I am only doing and interested in what God has called me to do. I pray that the work, projects, and commitments I invest my time in can show that and bring others God’s love and light. It’s amazing.

Can you talk to us about your experience with selling businesses?

In January 2020, my business partner and I opened a daycare center in Philadelphia, PA. It was an exciting time, and we were ready for all that was to come. At this time, we were six years in with the first childcare center and felt that we were experts in the field. Two months in, COVID-19 came about. March 12, 2020, a mandated closure was in action, and we had to close the doors to our new center. It was devastating; however, we reopened the doors to essential workers once permitted. The doors were open, but the revenue and enrollment decreased drastically. After about a year, my partner and I decided to sell the business. COVID-19 heavily impacted childcare, still to this day.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

As I shared, I always loved writing but never aspired to be an author. However, I knew I would write a book one day if that makes sense. April 16th, 2018, I tweeted, “I am going to write a book one day,” and on March 13th, 2020, I published my first children’s book. I did not publish my book to make it my side hustle, doing book signings, the whole nine. (Also, I was young and did not know much about the business.) Now, here I am with three published children’s books. I’m in Barnes and Noble. I have done many book signing events, read to over 30 elementary school classrooms and eight billboards in LA, and correlated a children’s author tour with authors from many cities and states. I say this to say follow your passions and dreams. God will handle the rest for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://continuousacts.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/__serena1?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serena-haeuser-5a90a2143