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

Tangela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

While navigating through my college years I was able to land a position at the local boys and girls club. During this time, I was able to assist, empower, provide a safe place, mentor, and advocate for our youth. It was amazing to see how many adolescent teen girls were so comfortable with having open, vulnerable conversations with me. Those young ladies I am often still in contact with today.

I look back on the day Lipstick After Dark, Girls Mentoring was born. In 2019, I sat at my desk thinking I need an outlet. I am exhausted, burnt out, and experiencing compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. At some point during that day, I received a text with a video of adolescent girls engaged in a physical altercation.

It was so heartbreaking to watch teen girls physically hurt each other. What are you upset about? Who has hurt you? Where are their parents? What other ways can we try to prevent this type of incident from happening again?

L.A.D girls mentoring acknowledges that these teens will grow up to be women and not have had the opportunity to discuss childhood traumas. Women who will wear makeup as a disguise, but at the same time will be in need of l professional help from a social worker, counselor, psychiatrist etc. LAD gives teen girls the safe space to have these issues and trauma conversations amongst their peers before adulthood.

Because as a teen we want validation from our friends. We want to fit in. At LAD, we want to normalize behaviors and feelings to help future success. We are a group facilitated mental health prevention program.

I have recently launched a virtual journaling program for adult women (which is the sister program to LAD) We have our first pilot group of 8 women. I have not officially come up with a name for the program as of yet as there is still some planning and formatting of the program.

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 grew up in Hopkinsville, KY. My mother who was a hard worker and took pride in taking care of others raised 3 girls on her own, one of which is my mom’s sister’s daughter. My aunt passed away due to a breast cancer diagnosis. My father unfortunately passed away before I was born.

With not much success at the time in the area, my plan was always to go to college and make something of myself, find my purpose. After high school, my goal was to become a lawyer or a cosmetologist. Well, that never happened. Somehow I applied to Western KY University, where I obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work and became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Eta Zeta Chapter.

My career as a licensed clinical social worker led me to professional settings with Child and Adult Protective Services, Adults with Disabilities, Family Service Worker, and my current positions as a Primary Care Social worker with Veterans Affairs and a cancer group facilitator with Gilda’s Club.

I am most proud to be a community organizer and want potential supporters to know that I am very passionate about serving the community, teen mental health and and building a nonprofit to last a lifetime.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

In 2021 I enrolled in a nonprofit leadership program with Murray State University. The program provided me with the tools and education for funding. Classes were scheduled to focus on donations, fundraising and grants, to name a few. From those classes I was able to advertise, apply for grants, come up with 3 to 4 solid fundraisers a year and receive donations to help my program receive the recognition that it deserves. My non profit has went from serving 5 mentees to almost 30 youth. Our nonprofit includes multiple volunteers and now a team of board members. We are asked to collaborate on multiple events and to speak at different key clubs and schools. We are grateful for the success.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Social Media. I try to schedule post about my nonprofit at least weekly communicating what our group session are about upcoming events and any guest speakers. We also are huge on inviting other community partners to our events. Our parents.. We have some amazing parents who trust me with their daughter who show up for us. Building relationships is most important. I am a social worker so relationship building and understanding the importance of human relationships is top tier.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lipstickafterdarkgirlsmentoring.org
• Instagram: @l.a.d_girlsmentoringky
• Facebook: Lipstick After Dark, LLC
• Linkedin: Tangela Babb, LCSW