Today we’d like to introduce you to Teia Jones.
Hi Teia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve spent most of my life working with children and families in one way or another. My background is in Psychology and Family Psychology, and over the years I’ve worked in youth development, education, family support, and as a Certified Family Life Coach. As a mother, homeschool educator, and community advocate, I’ve always been passionate about helping young people discover their strengths and reach their potential.
DFW Kids On The Move was born during the pandemic. At a time when many young people were feeling isolated and disconnected, I saw a need to create safe spaces where African American teen girls could come together for encouragement, personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful experiences. What started as a way to support teen girls during a difficult season quickly grew into something much bigger.
As the needs of families and communities continued to evolve, so did our mission. Today, DFW Kids On The Move partners with Child At heART School to bring educational enrichment, creative learning experiences, mentoring, and afterschool programming directly into communities. Most recently, that has included launching Palladium Connect Learning Lab powered by Child At Heart School inside Palladium City Skyline through a partnership with Omnium Management Company, Inc and Palladium Management. Students received academic support, enrichment activities, and encouragement in a safe and welcoming environment for the 2025-26 school year in Fort Worth ISD.
While the programs have grown and changed over the years, the heart behind the work remains the same: helping children and families feel supported, connected, and empowered to succeed. I believe every child deserves opportunities to learn, grow, and be surrounded by people who believe in them. That belief is what continues to drive the work I do today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I think that’s true for most people who are trying to build something meaningful.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow programs while working with limited resources. In the nonprofit world, there is always a need for more funding, more volunteers, more partnerships, and more time. There have been seasons when I had a vision for what I wanted to do, but I had to be patient and build one step at a time. I truly had to shift my mindset to a place of gratitude. The more grateful I was during each step of the journey, the more resources began to flow.
Another challenge has been helping people understand the value of preventive and enrichment-based programs. It’s easy for people to recognize a need once there is a crisis, but much of our work focuses on helping young people build confidence, develop leadership skills, strengthen relationships, and access opportunities before they reach a crisis point.
Most recently, launching an after-school program inside a residential community came with its own learning curve. We were building something new, establishing trust with residents, creating systems, and figuring out how to best meet the needs of the families we serve. There were moments when enrollment wasn’t where I hoped it would be, but I stayed focused on serving the students who were there.
What I’ve learned is that impact isn’t always measured by numbers. Sometimes it’s measured by one student who gains confidence, one family that feels supported, or one young person who reaches a goal they weren’t sure they could achieve. Those moments remind me why this work matters and why it’s worth continuing to grow.
We’ve been impressed with DFW Kids On The Move, Inc, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
DFW Kids On The Move is a youth and family-focused nonprofit that creates opportunities for children and teens to learn, grow, lead, and thrive. We work in collaboration with Child At Heart School and Family Vision 20/20 LLC, to strengthen families, empower children, and build communities through education, engagement, and opportunity.
While our programs have evolved over the years, our mission has remained the same: helping young people build confidence, develop life skills, and access experiences that broaden their view of what is possible.
What makes our organization unique is that we combine education, creativity, mentoring, and community engagement. We believe learning happens in many different ways, whether it’s through academic support, leadership development, service projects, creative enrichment, life skills, or simply having caring adults who encourage young people to believe in themselves.
As previously mentioned, we partner with Child At heART School to bring after-school and enrichment programs directly into communities. Through our Learning Lab model, we provide academic support, literacy activities, creative learning experiences, social-emotional learning, and mentoring in a safe and welcoming environment. Our goal is to remove barriers by bringing these opportunities closer to where families live.
What I am most proud of is the relationships we build and the impact we have on those we work with. Long after an event or program ends, the impact often continues. Recently, one of our FWISD high school students returned to our Learning Lab to tell us she had graduated. This student needed both academic and life coaching. She needed to know how to set goals and how to execute them. Words of encouragement and affirmation were spoken to her. Her greatest assignment was to imagine herself walking across the stage. She needed to know how much our team was rooting for her. Watching our team celebrate that proud moment with her was quite memorable. This experience reminded me that our work is about much more than programs. It’s about helping young people feel supported, encouraged, and capable of reaching their goals.
In our Learning Lab, it is important that we encourage both a love of reading and comprehension for our students. As a result, we not only built a library in the classroom but we also created ways for students to earn books so that they would build a library in their homes. We understand that reading is a major key to educational breakthrough. Our team is made up of local college students who are working towards their education and /or teaching degrees.
As we look ahead, we are excited to expand our partnerships throughout other LIHTC properties and bring more educational and enrichment opportunities into residential communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
I want readers to know that every child deserves access to support, encouragement, and opportunities to succeed, and we are committed to helping make that possible.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve never considered myself a reckless risk-taker, but I do believe that growth often requires us to step outside of our comfort zone. For me, risk is less about taking big chances and more about being willing to move forward even when there are no guarantees.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken recently was launching an afterschool and learning lab program inside a residential community. There was no blueprint, no guarantee of enrollment, and no way to know exactly how residents would respond. We were building something new from the ground up and investing time, energy, and resources into a vision that we believed could make a difference for children and families.
There were moments when it would have been easy to focus on what wasn’t happening yet. Instead, I chose to focus on serving the students who were in front of us and trusting the process. Looking back, I’m grateful we took that chance because it allowed us to create meaningful relationships and see firsthand the impact that can happen when children have access to support and encouragement.
I think some of my other risks have been more personal. Becoming an entrepreneur, starting a nonprofit during the pandemic, raising a family while caring for a sick parent, becoming an author, and continuing to pursue new opportunities, all required faith and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. It required me to live more intentionally and to always be grateful.
My approach to risk is simple: I try to be thoughtful, do my homework, and make the best decision I can with the information I have. Most importantly, I pray about all decisions. I’ve learned that my partnership with God is the ultimate foundation in life, career, and all things. At some point, you have to be willing to take the first step. That’s what faith is all about.
Oftentimes, we pray for guidance yet allow fear to paralyze our motions. If I waited until everything was perfect or guaranteed, I probably wouldn’t have started many of the things that have brought the greatest joy and impact to my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dfwkidsonthemove.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dfwkidsonthemove/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachteia/
- Other: https://www.childatheartschool.com
