Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Dowden.
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
It’s always been on my heart and a desire to start a non-profit organization. While under lockdown due to the pandemic, I decided I needed to stop waiting to create what I wanted to. While sitting on the floor of my parent’s house, I decided to go for it. I wasn’t going to wait around for the “perfect moment” anymore. Jeremiah 1:5 was an official 501(c)(3) in July 2020. I truly love being an active participant in my community and helping others, and with the pandemic, I knew people were going to need more help now more than ever. We are still a small organization, but we are mighty. I can’t wait to see where Jeremiah 1:5 goes and the impact we have on the DFW metroplex!
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?
A smooth road? HA HA HA! I wish it was, but nothing in life is easy. Definitely not. It’s been full of setbacks, challenges, gains, and losses, but the opportunity to learn, grow from it all, and get better is always there. I’m learning how to effectively lead, how to communicate well, and how to bounce back from setbacks. It’s so, so, so challenging creating a non-profit from the ground up. It’s been a refining process for me personally and professionally. It’s been difficult to gain consistent support and garner passion about what we do, so I’m learning how to adequately market and share what we do to others. There’s so much I need to learn, but I’m so thankful for those on our Advisory committee and for those on our Board. They have brought amazing ideas, suggestions, and encouragement to me when I have been feeling defeated or unsure. It will be a long road ahead. I might be many things, but I’m not a quitter!
As you know, we’re big fans of Jeremiah 1:5. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Jeremiah 1:5 focuses on helping and supporting disadvantaged and marginalized communities. We help those communities that are often unseen or forgotten by society. We do monthly homeless outreaches, foster care outreaches, holiday outreaches, and we are trying to get involved in nursing home outreaches, inner-city opportunities, and supporting single parent homes! As you can see, we support a wide variety of communities. There’s so many people out there who are struggling and need our help. Jeremiah 1:5 is unique because I don’t know of any other non-profit who is diverse and focuses on what we do. We are striving to have an effective impact in several different areas. I do want to make it known that our services are needed desperately in Texas. The foster kiddos need help. Our single parents need extra love. Life is too short to not help others. Join us in making an impact and being a blessing!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I can confidently say that we have all learned at least 3 different lessons from Covid-19, whether they are professional or personal. I was reminded how precious and fragile life is. With the discovery of my own personal health issues in late 2020, I’m thankful to be here. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, and I want to be able to make an impact while I’m here on this big floating rock. I learned was that true growth is outside your comfort zone. If one stays in their comfort zone, that’s not truly living. That’s surviving. Lastly, I was able to reevaluate and reassess my priorities and goals, and I learned that my focus was not on the right things. I reflected on my choices, mistakes, and mishaps. It was a humbling experience but was needed and necessary to become a better person.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jeremiahonefive.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahonefive/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremiahonefiveorg
Image Credits
Katie Dowden
Holli Clark
