Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Stewart.
Hi Renee, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We moved out to East Texas (Tyler) in Fall of 2020 as Northern California transplants with our non profit organizations Central California Youth Academy (CCYA)- that provides vocational services for at risk youth 15 – 21 years old and Grassroots Childcare Cooperative- providing holistic 360 degree family wrap services from Stockton, Ca. We endured many tough challenges as a blended and growing family with no immediate support so we began branching out to find some. Wanting to dig deeper in the farming space, Renee found a local 4-H chapter which ultimately connected us to Flyin H Ranch where Charles later became a Business partner with. We host a biannual event called the Spring and Harvest Farm Festival, and Grassroots North Tyler 4-H meetings as well.
Our experiences have made us more passionate about families and the youth. Our programs provide support and community to families with negative predisposed outcomes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We moved out to East Texas because of a better opportunity to raise our children and run our businesses. Shortly after 2022, we’ve been dealing with housing insecurity after an unfair eviction while homeschooling and running in home businesses, and are passionate about ensuring all the families we support don’t have to worry about the same. We’ve endured many hardships and challenges in the process of establishing our roots in Texas. In Northern California, the farming and co-op model is more “popular” and received amongst the indigenous cultures. While Northern California was more connected to our way of life, the south is slowly but surely is reconnecting to the passion and joy of farming and ranching. We homeschool our children, so we’re passionate about educating them and teaching them the ways on the land and teaching them about farming and agriculture/ranch management.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
With Grassroots Childcare Cooperative we focus on providing 360 degree family wrap around services- aiming to assist families live a more present and holistic lifestyle. Right now we specialize in Community Homeschool Co-op services, and holistic Prenatal and Postnatal support for mothers. We have mothers involved in our non-profit organization from around the nation and are still looking for more families that are interested in getting involved.
Central California Youth Academy focuses on providing vocational training to at risk Young Adults aged 15-19 that include, Construction, Audio/Video production, Culinary, Farming and Ranching, and Entrepreneurship. The programs goal is to catch and support at risk youth with mentorship and guidance to prevent them from becoming apart of the penitentiary system.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Renee- My favorite childhood memory is sitting with my grandmother picking lemons and processing other vegetables and her telling me stories about her upbringing as a sharecropper in the south.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ccya209 and http://www.facebook.com/grassrootsccc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grassrootsccc
Image Credits
self
