Today we’d like to introduce you to LuKesha Tate.
Lukesha was born 1975 27, October. She is the oldest sibling of four children who was raised by a single mother on the City of Chicago Southside. Her mother worked two jobs to help meet the financial needs of her family. Being the eldest, LuKesha was forced to mature fast as she took on the responsibility of helping to raise her younger siblings.
With the pressures of a breakdown in family structure, Tate was often left to care for her siblings while her mother worked several jobs. Unlike most of her peers in grammar school, she struggled with imagining what her life would hold and had difficulty deciding what steps she needed to take as it pertained to her educational and future goals. Lukesha was enrolled into Kenwood Academy High School in 1990 with hopes to graduate and pursue her college degree.
However, her plans took a turn when she became pregnant during her freshmen year of high school and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in July 1991. It was that day her path in life changed, including her focus. Lukesha, fifteen years old and a mother, with the help of her mother, did not give up. Graduating from Kenwood Academy High School; she accomplished this while balancing school, a part-time job and motherhood. She continued her educational advancement at Kennedy King Community College and enrolled in a CNA program, with aspirations to pursue a career in nursing. Looking back over her struggles as a teenage mother and ahead at the struggles of her teenage daughter, the growing numbers of teenage pregnancy and the overall needs of the community, she felt compelled to share her story and to act on her strong desire to help young women. It was then that she decided to birth a Non-Profit organization that would service low-income families and Domestic Violence victims in her community. Lukesha trusted God to provide her with what she needed as she pursued another dream and prepared for its manifestation.
Today, continuing my dreams and strive for betterment in today’s community, with assisting domestic violence victims, youth, entrepreneurs, mentorship, and feeding, giving clothes to the homeless community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, throughout the years, from not having enough volunteers, board members. The fundraising, sustainability was very overwhelming; with events and no one shows up. It was on many occasion wanting to throw the towel in; due to not seeing at the end of the tunnel.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Better Sister Growth Network – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Better Sister Growth Network were an Human Services, Educational and Community Affairs organization that serves the multi communities Roseland, Morgan Park, West Pullman, Washington Heights and Englewood which promotes being a supportive resource for families, low-income individuals; with offering a referral data system to domestic violence women/children and the homeless community . The organization has partnered with local churches, schools, shelters, white castle, Popeye chicken, CHA and other local organizations and businesses within the Roseland Area.
Providing Clothes and Feeding Families and the homeless community
Back to School and Toy Drives
Domestic Violence Fundraisers
Job Workshops, After School Programs, Summer Programs, Financial Literacy, Resume Writing and Life Skills Developmental Training.
Mentoring Entrepreneurs and Grant Writing Training.
Most proud of the organization accomplishment; in 2017 by opening an office location at 10824 S Halsted Street Suite 104.
With setting the organization apart from others is that we will continue to strive to help provide resources, feeding, mentoring the Homeless Community, Families in need and those affected by Domestic Violence. By building relationships with the families, individuals, and entrepreneurs.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
The Organization next journey for the future 2019 is to offer a program to assist a family that is experiencing a financial hardship (emergency assistant) and a 24-hour crisis hotline for domestic violence. We’re planning for the future a Community Center that will have mentoring programs for young men, food pantry, workforce development training, classrooms for entrepreneurs to utilize, and group sessions for domestic violence victims.
Pricing:
- Grant Writing Training Monthly $25
- Mentorship Entrepreneurs Monthly $20
- Organization T-shirts $22
- Organization Hats $12
- Organization Sports Bottles $8
- Organization Tote Bag $5
Contact Info:
- Address: 10824 S Halsted Street; Suite 104
Chicago, Illinois 60628 - Website: http://tbsgnetwork.wixsite.com/site
- Phone: 773-253-2424/773-701-6950
- Email: tbsgnetwork@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukesha40/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tbsgnetworkorg/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbsg_network
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-better-sister-growth-network-chicago-2
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVLLJJtef_Jg3pOf7H_ZmaQ/featured
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.
