We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tyra Moore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tyra below.

Tyra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When I was 14 years old I gave birth to my first child. No one knew I was pregnant. My mom found out on a Tuesday and in that same week I gave birth. This was a scary hard time in my life and due to all our family, friends and our community coming together to provide for my daughter, I knew one day I wanted to pay it forward. Years and years went by and I knew what I wanted to do just didn’t know how. I remember talking to my then boyfriend now husband in what I wanted to do, he managed to help me save up 10,000 dollars to help families in need. I didn’t have a name or anything and one day while we were taking a drive it came to me, A Girl Like Me, I was so excited about the name that I had him take me to the building where you can register names and that day I registered A Girl Like Me Inc November 4th 2019. From there I decided I wanted to come up with a plan to help the community, we would do like behind the scenes things and give mom’s things needed but they wouldn’t know it came from us. Then the pandemic hit, we both got laid off from our jobs and once we were able to come outside some, we took it upon ourselves to visit all the stores like Walmart, Kroger, Meijer and target to buy up all the diapers wipes formula and more and do pitch drop offs for moms in need. Then I decided to start doing community events where I would collect new and gently used clothing, baby items and more and do pop up shoes and give it all away to the community! That really took off and I made a program because of it by provided needed item to teen and young moms up to 25 years old and also a mentoring program to help Girls, Teens and Teen Mom’s 11 to 17.

Tyra, 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?

From my experiences of being teen mom at only 14 years old, being scared to tell anyone, ashamed and worried about what people were going to think and feel about me, I knew I could help others like me by telling my story to the world. I have been through so much and can relate to some many girls, teens , teen and young moms. Not only was a teen mom I had my my last 2 kids in my early 20’s. I have been stressed to the point I thought about suicide a lot and just wanting to give up. But I knew I didn’t want to leave my kid even though I was a teen. With the service I provide now, the baby program for moms up to 25, we provide parenting classes, help with resources and will be starting more classes in 2023. For the mentoring program for the Girls and Teens 11 to 17 we discuss, pregnant Prevention, self care, mental health, period care, hygiene, family & friend relationships and more. What I am most proud of is knowing that my story has changed so many lives and continue to. I am also so proud of my daughter who is 15 now and the AGirlLikeMe Mentees, myself and our partners in New Jersey for writing a book called Daughters of the Community. The book was released March 2022 and available on Amazon for purchase.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I was approached at one of my latest events which was the 100 Thanksgivings 100 families giveaway with our Partners Our Own Wall Street, a women walked up to me and said I just wanted to tell you that you have helped with all my kids which were 3 and she was pregnant, she told I moved from Florida a few months ago and everything she has, has came from A Girl Like Me Inc and I was so happy and proud that we were so happy to be able to help you and your family and continue to. Also to have mom’s, girls and teens coming to me finally to tell their story finally. I love that they trust me.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I learn that God used me to use my story to help others. I never knew that being a teen mom would change the world. I don’t regret having my daughter at all. The lesson was for me not to be afraid to tell my story because just by me telling my story more Girls, Teens, And mom’s can feel comfortable to reach out to me and also tell their stories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://agirllikemeinc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=t9e6ogz09swh&utm_content=jyykmb3
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGirlLikeMeInc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agirllikemeinc

Image Credits
A Girl Like Me Inc Mom’s Me and my daughter Samari