Today we’d like to introduce you to Patonia Rhule.
Patonia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Short version lol. I went into the Army because I couldn’t pay for my college. I served my time in the Army, finished college and started my career in the government system. I did most of this while being a single mother that was initially struggling. Even while working for the state, I made too much to qualify for government assistance and I made too little to really sustain myself. I had to make hard choices like… having to choose between paying to get flat tires replaced on my car and paying my daughter’s crazy expensive childcare while worrying about how I was going to pay rent or my car note. So, that is how I came up with establishing a nonprofit for single parents. I started out as a single parent in need and now I feel like I am in a position to help other single parents not have to go through what I went through.
When I transferred federal agencies in 2018, from the Bureau of Prisons to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) and was drowned in discrimination cases; I really started to understand how broken our nation is and how much work we still have to do. There is a lot of work that we need to do RIGHT NOW. There’s no time to wait. With the ongoing political, police and racial wars….. I came up with an idea to help build up the black and underprivileged communities. That idea started with a facebook group about building up the black and underprivileged communities and now with a little over 2k members in about a month and a half….. this group has expanded and turned itself into the nonprofit B.I.G. (Build Invest Give).
Great, 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?
It has not been a smooth road and it is not nearly close to being over. I learned that being a regular person with no connections makes it very hard to establish a nonprofit. I can’t believe it is so hard to be able to help people! I have had the toughest time trying to get the City to want to help. So, my goal is to try other towns and cities near Dallas and within the DFW to build a collaboration unless the City of Dallas has a chsnge of heart. Right now I have a petition going with over 5k signatures for my nonprofit SPE. Expenses for starting a nonprofit are not cheap. I pay out of pocket for grant writers, attorney consultations and much more. The expenses do not stop there. I have been turned down by foundations saying that my nonprofit is not a good fit. How can helping the majority of people in need not be a good fit?? Definitely puzzles me. I get messages from single parent men and women to see if I have the transitional homes up and going yet, especially during this pandemic and its so heartbreaking to have to tell them I am doing my best to get there.
Please tell us about Single Parents Empowered (SPE) & B.I.G. (Build Invest Give).
The nonprofit Single Parents Empowered is in place to provide single parents. MEN AND WOMEN free transitional housing along with other resources to help them become self-sufficient, stable and better parents. I will provide counseling services and case management services from a licensed counselor and social worker for the single parent families. As a Vet myself, I have a soft spot for Vets so, priority status for transitional homes will be given to single parent Veterans. I also would like to offer childcare or set up near a childcare facility. As a single parent…. i know that having someone to watch the kids while going to school or working is a big factor. It’s a make or break situation.
The nonprofit B.I.G. will be providing grants to underprivileged businesses, nonprofits and other organizations or individuals that support the mission of the nonprofit. I am most proud of these because there is nothing like these nonprofits in the area and a few if any in the U.S. at all. So, what I am trying to accomplish is very special and rare indeed. I am not asking for any salary/compensation as the CEO. The funds given go directly to what it is intended to go to and the donors expect the money they are giving to go to. I am not in this to make money. I just want to help our nation be whole and heal. I want to be a good role model for my kids. I want to be the change I see in the world. I believe that’s a quote from Ghandi. One of my favorite quotes.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was a military brat. My father was an abusive drunk. I moved around a lot and was taught not to develop attachments. I was also in foster care and I have a fun fact….. my foster care parents bred rabbits for a living. Yes, I went to a lot of rabbits shows lol. Moving around made me a very diverse person. So, I can typically see many perspectives to things and I am able to get along well with anyone. So, I do appreciate that. I love everyone!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.helpsingleparents.org
- Phone: 972-804-1157 B.I.G.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/Build.Invest.Give
Image Credit:
Hair: Anita Joe at Strand by Strand Salon(Dallas)
Makeup: Glam by Cham LLC
Photography: CWhite Photography (Chanel White)
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