Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Taylor-El.
Courtney, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story starts back in Rock Hill, SC. I was a Social Work major in my senior year of college and I was trying to figure out what was next. During my last semester of college, I was connected with an organization I never knew I’d fall in love with… Boys & Girls Clubs. I joined the team in York County, SC in 2013 as an intern to provide support to all of the grand services they were providing to youth at that time. Little did I know, that I would be a part of this team thanks to my mentor (Judy Artis), who was the Director of Operations at the time. I admired her work ethic and she admired my determination, so she took me under her wing to begin my journey in youth development. Fast forward one year and I joined my mentor in Arlington, TX where she had become the VP of Operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Arlington and brought me along as a Teen Director at their Main Branch location. I’ve been in DFW ever since with many adventures working with youth and afterschool professionals. Who knew that a little hard work would bring me to the big state of Texas!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I can honestly say that even though the road has not been smooth, it has been worth the ride. The sleepless nights, long hours, & frustrating moments all prepared me for where I am today. I use my struggles to educate my staff and anyone I have the pleasure of training. I always share what I didn’t do right and what I would have done differently to not only provide them with support but to also make them aware that they aren’t alone in this journey. I remember relying heavily on the anecdotes of my colleagues and leaders to guide me through my learning curve of working with teenagers, managing an entire facility, & motivating my staff/programs. If I didn’t have them, I wouldn’t have known my strength. Aside from those struggles, I struggled with being away from home and being out on my own 1,000 of miles from my family. Having a local support system (my colleagues, husband, & son) pushed me to be better each day.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Kids-U – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Kids-U is a non-profit apartment-based after-school tutoring program that provides services to 12 apartment communities throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. We provide services to students in grades Kindergarten-8th grades Monday-Thursday, focusing on math, literacy, & social-emotional development. We also work with the families of the youth we serve by providing ESL classes, financial literacy workshops, community watch dinners, & other services to impact the whole family. What sets us apart from other youth service organizations, is that we specifically work in low-income communities in partnership with the apartment management and property owners to positively impact the community by providing free programs. This alone makes me proud to be a part of the team. I firmly believe that under-served children should have the same advantages as their more affluent peers despite their circumstances.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m always looking towards my next challenge! Right now, it is all about creating endless opportunities in Dallas-Fort Worth for children who need it most. I do plan to open my own facility one day to help our youth seek entrepreneurial endeavors, while also providing training and development to those in the field through consultations and training conferences. My dreams are endless!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kids-u.org
- Phone: 214-503-3672
- Email: courtney@kids-u.org
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dclkidsu
Image Credit:
Donna Dunlap, Brianna Morgan
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