Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tanya Dorsey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tanya , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?
Making a real long story short as to the kind of thing that someone ever did for me and why and what does it mean to me and why does it mean so much to me the short answer is Lauren Hensley introduced me to her friend Flea who wanted to join in on given our hot foods as we gave our food every week with Watts Community Core and I invited him to join as he asked. In short he came we collaborated together. He went with me one day to go get some food out of my truck, and in the mist of us putting food in the truck my jeep my window broke so I was like oh no big deal I’ll fix it and we’ll go on it because these people have to get the food long story short because of that, I think a month later he told me to stop what I was doing so he can surprise me with something important. He walked me to a Black Volvo with peanut butter seats! It was just such a blessing I will never forget it. If it wasn’t for Loren meeting us together, it would never happened but I’m so glad that I did. Flea went out of his way to surprise me with a new Volvo after my window broke while we were doing charity work together. It meant so much to me because it showed his kindness and willingness to help, and I will never forget his generosity. It was all thanks to Lauren introducing us and I am grateful for that connection.
Tanya , 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?
My name is Tanya Dorsey and I am deeply passionate about serving my community through various initiatives such as no-contact boxing, after-school programs, summer camps, and food security efforts. What sets us apart is our commitment to providing food assistance every week and creating job opportunities for our community members through partnerships with local agencies.
I am most proud of our dedicated efforts to not only feed the community but also our special program that caters to seniors. In addition to food assistance, we also offer giveaways of clothes, books, furniture, and most importantly, love and support to those in need.
Potential clients should know that our organization is focused on holistic community development, addressing not only immediate food needs but also providing educational and recreational opportunities for children, job opportunities for adults, and specialized assistance for seniors. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and cared for.
How’d you meet your business partner?
I met my co-founder while working at the Summer Night Lights (SNL) program for the mayor of Los Angeles. We both shared a passion for implementing no-contact boxing as a means to redirect anger in situations that could be diffused through breathing exercises and physical activity. Together, we brought this concept to his community where he was raised, and from that shared vision, we established the nonprofit organization called Watts Community Core.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
To raise capital for Watts Community Core, my co-founder Kevin Hunt and I decided to rely solely on donations. With the help of Michelle Costa from Go Campaign, we secured our initial grants which have continued to support our work. Through ongoing fundraising efforts, we are able to sustain our local initiatives and carry out the impactful work that has earned us the reputation of being local heroes.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: Watts Community Core
- Facebook: Watts Community Core
Image Credits
Market America/Tanya Dorsey