Meet Isabella Breedlove of Love Breeds Hope in Fort Worth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Breedlove.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Isabella. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was a theatre kid for sure. I love all things Broadway! There is something about live theater that warms my heart and makes me want to sing. I can remember seeing “Hamilton” and that opening scene had me in tears as we heard the lines, “My name is Alexander Hamilton/And there’s a million things I haven’t done/Just you wait, just you wait.” Those words not only transformed Broadway, it served as a reminder to me that we all have a story to live and share.

At Trinity Valley School, I had a fabulous drama teacher, Anna Carlson, who changed my life. She saw something in me and helped develop my presence on stage. Mrs. Carlson taught me so much about what it means to be a performer and an actress. She and I would spend time together talking during lunch about my plans and she gave me the space to dream big dreams.

By the time I got to high school, I really wanted to focus on music, performing, and writing. I had wanted to be homeschooled for several years, and there finally came a day when this became a reality.

While I am not in traditional school that is not to say our home isn’t always filled with teenagers. My older brother Kent and my younger brother Paul are my BFFs. And you know the saying, “If you feed them, they will come.” This is very true at our house! If my Mom and Dad know a big crowd of kids is coming over they get in the kitchen, turn on some of our Motown favorites and get to grilling chicken wings, making homemade mango salsa, and baking delicious desserts. Cooking is for sure our love language!

Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Our family lives by this quote! We encourage each other to be brave in our pursuit of living authentically.

I have parents who empower me to live my best life. My Mom and I are super close and she has given me so much wisdom about what it is to be a young woman. She is not only my Mom but she is my manager, stylist, counselor, encourager, teacher, and best friend. She says “yes” to my dreams and helps map out the path for me to reach my goals.

I have the pleasure of doing volunteer work at River Tree Academy in Como. I work with the most amazing four year olds twice, a week. Seeing them struggle and reach their goals reminds me of what really matters, it’s not about if you’re popular or at the center of attention, it’s investing in other people and helping them realize their worth.

I have also spent the last three years working with my friends at the Net. The Net focuses on relationship building to help bring an end to human trafficking, poverty, and homelessness in Fort Worth. My work with them made me aware that we have a human trafficking epidemic right here in our city, and that shocked me. The Net’s message to girls is that “girls are not for sale”. I know that we each have to play our part to end this modern-day slavery. It starts with education and understanding what is happening in our city. I am so grateful to my friend Melissa Ice at The Net and her mission for this city, loving people unconditionally.

Has it been a smooth road?
The decision to homeschool rather than participate in traditional high school came with its own set of challenges. My decision to homeschool was twofold. I needed space to create music but I also needed space to heal my body from some health issues.

My struggle with my health caused me to miss so much school. Being home gave me the time to sleep and give my body the time it needed to heal. I have had to learn to listen to my body and take self-care very seriously.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Love Breeds Hope story. Tell us more about the business.
Love Breeds Hope is something very special to my heart. My full name is Isabella Hope Breedlove, and backwards is where my Mom came up with our family motto, Love Breeds Hope.

I think my generation is extremely good at standing for what we believe in. We’re not afraid of the backlash, and we aren’t afraid to include everyone. Our generation celebrates our differences instead of using them as a tool to minimize people.

Love Breeds Hope is more than a motto, it is a movement. When we can authentically love people who are not like us, we can have hope for change. I’m really inspired by what other people in my generation have been doing as far as activism, and I don’t want to sit on the sidelines.

My website will launch in early Fall 2018. I hope you will stop by to hear about the different things I am passionate about from fashion, baking, singing as well as activism. I am hoping it will serve as a place where people can feel inspired, encouraged and loved.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.isabellabreedlove.com
• Email: isabella@isabellabreedlove.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabellabreedlove/

Image Credit:
Amber Shumake
Personal Photo: Cal Quinn and Aly Fae

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