Daily Inspiration: Meet Kitwana Cottonham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kitwana Cottonham. 

Hi Kitwana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
The name of my organization is 202Love. 202 represents the number that was on the house that raised me. That’s where it starts. As I got older and started hearing friends’ stories of growing up, I began to realize the gift of being in that house and loved by those that walked in and out of those doors. I wanted to share that with other teens and pay tribute to the residents of that house at the same time. 

I have always felt a connection for youth and worked with different ages over the last 10+years in various capacities with different organizations. I would often look for organizations to join or volunteer. 

During a brief health issue before Covid, I was forced to be at home to rest and recover. Dealing with the health concerns really put me in a low emotional state. However, the only thing I did want to do during that time, was continue my work with the youth. At that time, I was a leader in our high school girl’s ministry at my church. Shoutout to FireHouse at The Potters House of North Dallas! The only thing I had energy and passion for was making sure my team was prepared to lead our girls. I still planned their sessions and had our conference calls with the team every week. 

All of this led me to realize working with the youth was my passion. I have had several situations where young girls whom I had never met, would pull me to the side and tell me their story. Some would be dealing with bullying, family situations, depression, etc. Many grew to trust me and see me as someone they could talk to about anything. Their parents trusted me as well. That’s when I started to figure out that this work was also my assignment. 

From that realization, 202Love was created. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest roadblock or challenge has been ME! 

Looking back, I was questioning everything. Where would the needed support come from for our programs? Will the teens come? Will they like it? Why do I think I can do this? Who am I? 

I’m so glad I didn’t listen to ME! For every question or doubt I had, solutions and support came right with them. It got to a point where I had to trust that God had given me this vision and would provide what I needed along the way. He hasn’t missed anything yet! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
202 is the number on the house that raised me. In that house, I was seen, heard, loved, protected, and corrected. The people that came in and out of that house had expectations of me. They believed in me. They were not perfect by any means but I knew they were there for me. I had struggles just like any other teen- doubt, insecurities, comparison, etc. The village was always there to help. 

That is what 202Love is. It’s the extended village that is here to be another guiding, supporting voice for our teens. We specialize in creating a safe environment that lays the foundation to allow our teens to connect and grow. We see that clearly in our current program, Girls That S.P.A.R.K. We have 8 girls, ages 13-17. We affectionately call them “the Great 8” 

I am most proud of the bond they have created so quickly. Our girls look forward to our mentoring sessions and events. They feel safe enough to share and respect each other enough to listen. They encourage each other. I call it a SPARK SQUAD and I love it. I remember how important having a space like that was for me as a teen and proud to say that we help create that for them. Having this environment helps us to talk about the 5 pillars of the program: Self Purpose, Action, Responsibility, and Knowledge We also include yoga, meditation, community service, and exposure experiences. We tell them the SPARK is never just for them, it’s for others too. It’s to help light up every room they are in. They understand their light is also there to light up someone else’s as well. 

I guess I can say I’m known for being something like a “teen whisperer”. As I worked with youth, they always seemed to gravitate towards me and would share things with me that they would be hesitant to share with others. They can be very good people readers and I think they see me as someone they could trust. I always approach them with the goal of building a relationship first vs trying to fix them or change them. I show a consistent interest in them as a whole. I am always real with them. That approach has always proven to be the best to knocking down the wall they put up and again, creating that space that allows them to connect and grow. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising? That’s a good one. 

I don’t think many people know the story behind the name of our current program, Girls That S.P.A.R.K. Being a true lover of 90s music, I am a Tupac fan. Years ago, I heard him talking about his legacy and what he wanted to do with his life 

He said “I may not change the world but I will “SPARK” the mind of the one that does.’. That quote stayed with me. When I was creating 202Love, it was in my head the entire time. When I started thinking about programs, I knew SPARK had to be a part of it. It laid out the 5 pillars of the program-Self, Purpose, Action, Responsibility, and Knowledge. 

His quote is exactly what we set out to do. We are here to help them see and remember their greatness. We are here to help connect them to opportunities. We are here to help them see new things and new possibilities. We believe they will change their families, their communities, and the world. This is why we are here. We are here to help them navigate their today and prepare for their tomorrow. We are here for them! 

Contact Info:

• Website: 202love.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/202loveinc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/202LoveInc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/202love-inc/