Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Okolo-Ebube.
Hi Amber, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a woman of color in the homeschool world, I often faced difficulty finding multicultural homeschool co-ops. So, I decided to create a diverse community where my children and their friends could grow and learn through hands-on experiences. It is my opinion that the best part of homeschooling is the ability to hear, see, and touch the subjects we are learning about. As LLA grew, I withdrew my daughter with special needs from school and began SPED homeschooling. She is now flourishing with record-breaking growth. Other parents noticed her growth. Organically, I began helping others build SPED home programs.
The heart of our community is always support and community and hope. Our model is to create an environment that lets parents know that they are not alone; while providing quality education for their children.
Success is when we have the resources to welcome 30 families or more from diverse backgrounds to LLA. It also means, children can get a quality education in one of our classrooms while their parents relax in the parents’ lounge and get to meet other parents.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like every business, we have faced a variety of challenges. LLA was birthed in my home. We started with a dream and a bunch of friends who were willing to take this journey with me.
During Covid, we had to close our doors. We were once a group with several meetups throughout the week, suddenly we found ourselves navigating something that NO ONE in our lifetime had ever experienced. We tried it all; Birthday parades, virtual classes, and even dropping presents off at our member’s doors. But unfortunately, the magic of LLA is in-person community. So, our group essentially paused until it was safe to meet in person. I was devastated. I felt as if I had feel the very moms I felt called to serve,
In 2021, I sat down and really looked at my company. I realized that while I couldn’t give our customers the same experiences pre-COVID, I could give them something better! In 2022, we relaunched as an outdoor group, with hopes of obtaining a building.
Currently, those same closed doors are bursting at the seams. In addition to our tutorial serving students weekly, we also have extended our reach to providing YouTube videos, webinars, and a bi-monthly magazine. These materials are designed to be free resources to help new or struggling homeschoolers stay in the homeschooling lifestyle. We also provide weekly “Live” Q&A Sessions free of charge to help troubleshoot homeschooling challenges. Currently our magazine “Tribe Guide” is distributed at a local library for hundreds of homeschooling or potential homeschooling families to see.
In 2020, LLA was mainly an online community with families and monthly “play dates” which drew about 7 families to each meeting.
Today our online presence has grown with over 50% of our families taking part in our weekly discussions. We also have families meeting in person weekly at our current location. When we offer events to the general public, we now have to cap our attendance families.
It just goes to show you that hardships or challenges are not a “sign” to quit. It means innovate and NEVER give up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Leading Little Arrows’ is a cooperative association of homeschoolers whose mission is to provide community and rest to homeschool families that feel overworked, anxious, and overwhelmed. Because of this mission, we are one of the few tutorials in the DFW metroplex that don’t require parents to teach classes.
Our Tutorial allows children to discover the world around them through STEM, ART, and Nature Studies. Our Arlington classes are Fridays from 10 -2. We proudly serve ages 3 – 17 years old.
With the implementation of new programs to serve our community, the word has spread about Leading Little Arrows and our commitment to diversity and inclusion across many checkpoints. We recognize how important it is to have diverse spaces in the homeschool world. Not just for racial diversity but also for neurodivergent children to have a space to belong.
Because of this core value, we currently have a waiting list. We have decided that expansion is just the natural step. This will allow for more families to be able to attend and find support within our belonging culture. We have also started an interest list for families that would like an alternate day due to various commitments on Fridays.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Compassion.
I remember what it felt like to feel lost in the homeschool space. This is in addition to having multiple children (one with a special needs diagnosis.)
In starting this business, I NEVER wanted a homeschooling parent to feel this way.
Because I lead with this mission in mind, I believe that it comes across in our company’s culture. Parents feel like they have a place to be seen and belong.
Pricing:
- Tutorial – $450 per Student + $150 Annual Family Registration Fee
- Homeschooling Consultation – $150/ session
- SPED Homeschooling Consultation – $200/session
Contact Info:
- Website: leadinglittlearrows.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadinglittlearrows/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadinglittlearrows
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChTXq3KyI66Uf0iZfnARreg
Image Credits
Zander Todd
