Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakedia Jones.
Shakedia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a USA Olympian that sat down with my other successful friends and reflected on how we all got to where we were at that moment. Each of us grew up with low to no resources, but we all realized that someone stepped in and helped us and their selfless act lead us on a path that got us to where we were. So, I decided to start a Nonprofit to do the same thing for as many young people as I could. I tasked my younger brother with coming up with acronyms for my Nonprofit. One of the acronyms he selected was F.L.Y. which was cleverly based off of my track and field background. I played around with the letters and “Furthering the Lives of Youth (FLY)” was born. Our mission is, “To Assist Exceptional Youth with Limited Resources”. We help high character youth from the ages of 10-18 with a minimum 3.2 GPA that have gifts, talents, and passions but come from families that can’t afford to maximize them. We then step in and cover costs or provide resources to help maximize their success in whatever area their gifts entail.
Speed was my gift. I was born and mostly raised in Waukegan, IL. My mom didn’t have the money to pay for me to participate in any organized sports until I got to high school. At that time, my cousin, Shannon King who was the Illinois High School Boy’s State Champion in the high jump, encouraged me to go out for the track team. I didn’t want to, because I didn’t see the point of running just to run. He then continued to harass me until I gave in. I went out for the team and 4 years later I concluded my Illinois High School Track & Field Career with 17 Individual State Titles, an undefeated High School Career, Full Scholarship offers from every University in the United States, Chicago Tribune Illinois High School Athlete of the Year and the most decorated Track & Field Athlete in Illinois High School History. I accepted the offer from UCLA and moved to Los Angeles, California and became a Bruin!
I then went on the win 2 Junior Olympic titles, 2 AAU titles, 2 World Junior Titles, 2 NCAA Team Titles, Several Pac 10 (now 12) titles, 2 NCAA Runner-Up medals and became a USA OLYMPIAN!
If not for Shannon encouraging (harassing from my perspective) me to run, where would I be today?! He was my angel that stepped in and lead me on the path that I’m on now. He is ultimately that catalyst that leads me to start this nonprofit to do the same for as many youths as I can.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This is my calling. I’ve known since the age of 18 while I was interning at the “Jackie Joyner-Kersee Boys & Girls Club” in East St. Louis, IL that I was destined to do this. I didn’t want the responsibility. As the years passed and I kept avoiding this, my spirit kept telling me to make this a reality. Finally, a couple of years ago, I accepted my calling and it’s been rewarding, frustrating, exhausting, fulfilling, exasperating and nerve wrecking. But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world! Seeing the joy in the youth’s eyes that we help make it all worth it.
The biggest struggle has been finding funding. I understand people’s apprehensions. But, things always work out for us. Those moments let me know that I’m doing EXACTLY what I’m supposed to be doing!
Please tell us about Furthering the Lives of Youth (FLY).
The name is “Furthering the Lives of Youth (FLY)”. Our mission is, “To Assist Exceptional Youth with Limited Resources”. We help high character youth ages 10-18 with a minimum 3.2 GPA that have gifts, talents, and passions, but com from families that can’t afford to maximize them. We then step in and provide assistance to help maximize their opportunities for success in whatever realm their gifts involve. We receive our youth through nominations and our Board votes on who we will help and how much we will help.
We’re known for providing opportunities for not only the individual youth that we assist, but also creating opportunities for people in our surrounding communities: Chicago Sky Games, Community Give-Aways, Community Tournaments, and Volunteering.
I’m most proud of the individuals that we assist. Being able to have an impact and create opportunities for them; their gratitude makes it all worth it. From buying a brand new cello, to witnessing our Track & Field athlete run faster than she ever has to creating an opportunity for an aspiring Music Therapist to perform for special needs adults to finding activity specific mentors for all of our youth and getting private chess lessons for our Chess Prodigy with the number 1 ranked Chess Player in the United States… It’s been pretty amazing!
What sets us apart is that we specialize our assistance based on the specific youth that we assist. Everything benefits them as individuals and when they come together they get to share their passions and talents with each other.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would’ve found a Fundraising Specialist first!
Honestly, I’m happy with the way everything has gone. It took the bumps, in the beginning, to get to where we are today.
Pricing:
- Brand New Cello & Bow ($2,400)
- Volleyball Fees ($3,900)
- Track & Field Club Fees and Personal Training ($1,500)
- Music Lessons ($500)
- These are fees that our youth incur that we’ve contributed to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shakediajones.wixsite.com/flyyouth1
- Phone: 224-303-7018
- Email: flyyouthorg1@gmail.com
- Facebook: @furtheringyouth
Image Credit:
Janii Jenkins, Tamar Cherebin, Dr. Jameeka Moore, Amie Marks, Sophia McGrew, Mia Hernandez, Shellie Jones, Bryanna Gonzalez, Alana Lucas, Cynthia Maloney, Kevin Stevens, David Smith, Malakai Turner, Regenia Sanders, Clarissa Garcia, Nelly Hernandez
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
