We recently connected with Tatianna Marie-burks and have shared our conversation below.
Tatianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
The Oxford dictionary has two definition for the word legacy, the first being “an amount of money or property left to someone in a will” the second definition is the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.” I identify most with the latter. Showing others the way is not just my slogan it has become my moral code. No one is perfect and I don’t proclaim to be, however I work hard to model the behavior that I would like to see in my neighborhood and community. After struggling to have children of my own, I came to the realization that there are a ton of children and adults out there that desperately need the love, compassion and nurturing discipline that I have longed to give.
Since then I have dedicated my time to finding ways to support youth and senior programs in my community and throughout Cleveland, Ohio. Many people think that you have to be a millionaire or billionaire to become a philanthropist and I disagree. God gives us all an abundance of talents and skills that we should use in service to others. Rather it’s through volunteership, in-kind services or just offering a helping hand everyone has the ability to make a difference in someone else’s life. That’s why long after I’m gone I want to be remembered for my acts of kindness and humility and leading individuals to holistic health through yoga, nutritional coaching and mental and behavioral health services.
Tatianna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Peace Love N Light started showing others the way to living healthier and happier lives in 2021. After working as an allied health care professional for nearly a decade, Tatianna Marie-Burks became tired of all of the red tape that prevented her from providing the comprehensive wrap-around that patients needed. Time after time she watched families and individuals with social economic barriers of health struggle to navigate community resources and was motivated to take action instead of continuing to be a by-stander.
There was also an overwhelming rising in the diagnosis of preventable chronic conditions in Cuyahoga County, some that could easily be reversed with proper diet and exercise like hypertension. In an effort to increase awareness and advocacy the “Eat Better, Play Better, Live Better Initiative” was developed. Poverty, lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and lack of safe spaces for play and recreation, can overwhelm even the most motivated individuals overall health can become compromised when they have to choose between by high cost prescription drugs or food. Through our initiative we have developed community based programs and services that address these disparities in a way that is accessible to the whole family. That’s because studies have shown that individuals are more likely to sustain lifestyle changes when they are made as a family when compared to the same individuals making those changes alone.
What sets Peace Love N Light apart from other businesses is that even though we are a for-profit LLC, we strive to provide free and affordable services. This is done through gainful partnerships that we have established and with the support of community leaders, stakeholders and with help from sponsors that believe in our mission. So far we have worked with larger organizations like University Settlement, the Cleveland Public Library Fleet Branch and the Cleveland Playhouse, and we have also partnered with smaller organizations like R Place Drop N Resource Center, Pregnant with Possibilities, Tiny Foot Prints Daycare and Momentum Behavioral Health Services. If you would like to learn more about our programs and services or would like to learn more about opportunities for partnership visit www.peacelovenlightcle.com
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
What has helped build our brand and reputation within our market is our willingness to provide comprehensive free and affordable services. Some people focus too much on making a profit when they first start a business. Now every business is different and you have to start with the end goal in mind, however, free and affordable is our brand. Providing free consultations has given us the opportunity to screen clients to ensure that we are a good fit for each other. Offering free yoga classes at rec centers and community events has helped to build private and corporate clientele.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
If there is any advice that I would give to someone that is just starting to build a social media presence it would be to pave your own lane. There are so many trends on social media and it can be tempting to copy cut and paste what seems to be working for everyone else. Find a style that you like or that best represents you or your brand and stay consistent. Don’t get too caught up in views and like because that doesn’t always translate into paying customers. Use social media as an opportunity to let customers get to know you and your brand from the comfort of their phone or computer. The truth is, there are some people that will never buy your product or service no matter how many times you go “viral”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.peacelovenlightcle.com
- Instagram: @peacelovenlightcle
- Facebook: Tatianna Marie
- Youtube: @Peace-Love-N-Light
