We were lucky to catch up with Tiera Bratton recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiera, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

Opportunities for Deserving Children, Inc. (OFDC) is committed to fostering a culture of prevention and healing among children from communities affected by mass incarceration and gun violence in the Greater Metro Washington D.C. area. OFDC programs and services are dedicated to addressing and mitigating the long-term risks associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences resulting from maternal and paternal incarceration and gun violence. OFDC is committed to creating a society where each child can thrive in all areas of life, despite their exposure to circumstances that statistically should hold them back from reaching their full potential.

In our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., youth gun violence and its relationship with parental
incarceration is overwhelming. The Annie E. Casey Foundation conducted a study in 2012 that concluded that the national number of kids who had a parent in jail or prison was around 5.1 million. Washington D.C. makes up 7% of that 5.1 million. Almost 10 years later, that number is presumed to be doubled in the nation’s capital.

OFDC understands that exposure to gun violence and having an incarcerated parent can lead to adverse childhood experiences and a cycle of poverty in underserved communities.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello,

I’m Tiera Bratton, Founder and executive director of Opportunities for Deserving children nonprofit organization. I’ve always had a passion for service. Growing up in poverty myself, I made it a point of helping other kids in Prince George’s County Maryland. I witnessed the daily life struggles in my apartment complex as my grandmother was the community candy lady. We were not rich or poor, but we had enough to survive and give to others. At the early age of 12, I would gift new or gently worn clothes to young girls in my neighborhood who didn’t have much. That was the beginning of it all. From the very moment I finished high school, I increased my efforts and started a mentoring group in my community called ” Teacups on Marcy” in 2012. In October 2021, I took things a step further and founded Opportunities for Deserving Children (OFDC) 501(c)(3). Opportunities for Deserving Children, Inc. is committed to fostering a culture of prevention and healing among children from communities affected by mass incarceration and gun violence in the Greater Metro Washington D.C. area. OFDC programs and services are dedicated to addressing and mitigating the long-term risks associated with exposure to adverse childhood experiences resulting from maternal and paternal incarceration and gun violence. We provide youth with mindset shifting opportunities and motivation to rise out of poverty. I too was a deserving child growing up who was afforded many Oppurtunites and refused to become a product of my environment. I know how important it is to position yourself to become more and the right connections can make that happen. Over the course of three years, I’m extremely proud of the growth of the organization that has led to some amazing partnerships. I have become an advisor to The Shared Humanity Project’s National Plan to End Poverty, adding valuable insight and Wisdom. I’ve initiated innovative programming to the Ward 8 community and became a beacon of hope to families and children across Washington D.C. Most importantly, OFDC has become a trusted community partner in DC teaching youth life skills, tech education, violence intervention and pre-work force development. I’m most proud of OFDC’s Rolling away from Violence Skate initiative. Rolling away from Violence meets the unique need of the community by incorporating educational components, teaching children Art therapy, conflict resolution, and decision-making, which are essential in reducing their involvement in gun violence. Over the past two years, Rolling away from Violence Spring/ Summer programming provided resources to underserved neighborhoods, fed hundreds of constituents through our feeding program, and provided paid opportunities to several organizations within the District. Our violence prevention initiative creates a safe haven for both children and adults, while bringing foot traffic to the neglected and underserved Anacostia Park. In October 2023, Opportunities for Deserving Children (OFDC) was nominated and selected as the winner of the 2023 Spirit of Service designation, receiving The Commission’s Award for National Service! The Spirit of Service Awards is an annual celebration designed to commemorate Serve DC’s rich legacy of connecting people to purpose through service. By celebrating those who seek to do good within our communities, the awards honor District residents, community-based organizations, and businesses that have displayed an outstanding commitment to service in the areas of volunteerism, national service, philanthropy, and community resilience. What I know for sure is that it takes a group of dedicated leaders that have a passion for community and children to run a trusted non profit. I am so thankful for the OFDC team and volunteers who are aligned with the mission.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Bianca Hodge serves as OFDC’s program director. We met in Oxon High School. Not new to this but true to this, Bianca and I both ran Teacups on Marcy mentorship program back in 2012. As I started my journey back up with OFDC, she immediately came to mind and would be the perfect addition to the organization. I asked her to join the organization in 2021 and it’s been history ever since. Driven to serve and propelled by her imagination, Bianca pushes big dreams into action, spurring massive cultural and community change. With an audacious vision, she knows no limits. Her work breaks through barriers; her magnetic personality inspires the impossible. Bianca’s efforts to execute tangible community/global programs are far reaching. Her compassionate engagement within the community has shaped her ability to positively connect with others. She is vested in public service and solid in character. Her willingness to share her expertise, network, coordinate and lead prove to be of great value to OFDC.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

We’ve built or social media audience by simply storytelling lived experiences. I once was a brand consultant for DMV businesses so content creation is what I love to do. My best advice when building your socials is to always show up as your authentic self. Once you determine your target audience, posting high quality photos and videos will work like magic. I often ask our audience for feedback and suggestions. OFDC differentiates ourselves by providing innovative programming and producing amazing content that others can relate to. Our team has genuine leaders, and you can honestly feel our presence through your phone screen. Our passion for community and youth speaks volume and we connect with individuals all over the US one post at a time!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.deservingchildren.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deservingchildren/
• Twitter: @ofdc501c3