Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Crawford.
Melanie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
It all started in Pleasant Grove, off Lake June and Masters Rd. Being raised in that area taught me so many life lessons at a young age, but looking back, they help me become the woman I am today. During my adolescent years is when I learned the most (like most people) but mine was life-changing. At 16 years old, I got pregnant! My whole life did a 360. The girl from “The Grove” with a bubbly personality but could also have a bad attitude, who mom was working hard everyday just make sure she and her brother had a good life; had to now become a mother. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t have the fairy tale story about me finding out I was pregnant but in the end, I had the greatest thing that ever happened to me. On October 27, 2008, I had my son Ashton. He was truly God sent because my whole mind frame changed and I had a totally different purpose in life. I always knew I wanted to help others but never knew in what aspect. I started off working as a Camp Counselor at the Park South YMCA at 19 years old and fell in love with children. Now, I have been working with DISD for four years as a SPED Inclusion Teacher Assistant. I love my job but I wanted to impact children’s lives on a whole level, so thats’ when I decided to start my own Non-Profit organization. Legacy Youth Outreach was always a long term goal but in March 2018, I made it a reality. I am proud to be the Owner/Director of my own non-profit that is on its way to impact so many communities.
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?
Smooth Road?? Nah, this has been the bumpiest ride I ever been on with potholes along the way like Dallas Freeways. But seriously, the obstacles that come at you while you’re trying to become something great can be pretty harsh. One of the struggles I still face today is being able to balance it all. From being a mother, working two jobs, side hustles and being an entrepreneur and let’s not mention a social life. Finding the balance can be hard but with time you learn more and more how to manage your time. But between God, a great support system and passion it all gets easier with time. If I had to give young lady advice on entering this journey I would say, never stop working towards your goals. It may be hard in the beginning and seem like it’s never going to happen, but you take that fear of failure and build on it. Every day at some point, make sure you’re doing something beneficial towards your goals. Just never give up, always keep God 1st and find your purpose, we need more strong female leaders in this world.
What should we know about Legacy Youth Outreach? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Legacy Youth Outreach is a 501c3 that mission is to provide programs to youth in areas of pregnancy prevention, education and mentorship to prepare them for post-secondary success. Since March 2018, LYO has hosted donation drives and giveaways. The first event was a Back to School Supply Drive with another non-profit (Crowned x Cesh), where over a hundred supplies were donated to W.W. Bushman Elementary. We did a “Keep Dallas Warm” Blanket Drive alongside High Life Promos and 2Legit Car Club and also did a flat screen tv Christmas GiveAway. We are looking forward to mentoring more youth in the South Dallas/Pleasant Grove area. Summer 2019, we will begin pregnancy prevention classes for teens in the Dallas area. I want to have a major impact on the next generation coming up by providing them with the right tools needed for post-secondary success. What sets me aside from others is my life experiences. This is not a charity thing for me; these are some of the same struggles and obstacles I had to go through to become who I am and if I can stop the next generation from making some of the same choices I did, they will be off to a better start.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Stay focused, work hard, and put God first! Those three things can determine your success in anything you want to do.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 469-226-6579
- Email: legacyyouthoutreachdfw@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacyyouthoutreach/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LegacyYouthOutreach/
Image Credit:
Melanie Crawford
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