Today we’d like to introduce you to Taneesha Rolland.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Taneesha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Many families are trapped in the poverty cycle. None of us can decide what circumstances we are born into (i.e. economics, geography, race, etc.), but we reap the benefits of suffering the burdens associated. I was born to a teenage single woman who had not completed high school. As a result, we faced difficulties. When I was 17, I gave birth to a baby boy… continuing the cycle of an unwed teen mother. Although I was young, I decided that I wanted my son to have a very different life experience than mine. I enrolled in college and my life began. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or what I wanted to be, but I knew that I wanted to help other people like me. In college, I was granted work-study and got a job in a TRIO program. TRIO programs help low income, first generation potential college students gain access to higher education. That experience lit a fire in me that has yet to be extinguished. Back then, only colleges and universities had TRIO programs so I got a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and worked hard to advocate for disadvantaged students.
My last experience as a university professional was extremely challenging. I worked in a university with a cost of attendance above $40,000. I noticed disparities in the financial aid awards of disadvantaged students. The school’s financial aid packaging policy valued merit over need. Therefore students with lower ACT/SAT scores and lower grade point averages did not receive much merit money and need-based aid was not enough to cover the costs. Students who were already disadvantaged appeared to be penalized by borrowing more to close the financial gap. It was grueling attempting to explain cost and financial aid to parents and students who were simply proud to be in college.
For me, education was my catalyst from poverty and I believe everyone deserves the opportunity. Family Legacy Foundation was formed to help others change their lives and legacies through education. We want to make sure that individuals are empowered to be savvy consumers of education.
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?
Creating the non-profit was not difficult. However, securing funds was not easy. Grant writing is time-consuming and the process can be complex. It’s also disheartening when you don’t get a grant that you’ve spent time applying for. If I don’t get a grant, I give myself one day to sulk and then start the process over again.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Family Legacy Foundation story. Tell us more about it.
Family Legacy Foundation specializes in educational access. We help adults improve their educational standing. We offer tutoring and classes for GED; assistance in the college-going process; and student loan resolution.
I am proud that we have adopted an elementary school to host a family literacy program. The goal is to improve the literacy skills of students and parents. This enables parents to actively participate in their child’s education. I think this is the first step in breaking the poverty cycle.
What sets us apart is that we are rooted in respect. Every person is served with respect. We don’t judge based on the past. We respect that the people we serve have a desire to change their lives and we offer assistance with respect and dignity.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t think luck has anything to do with my life or business. I have been blessed. I believe when you do the work that God has planned for you, success is inevitable.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1817 East 71st Street
Chicago, IL 60649 - Website: www.flfchicago.org
- Phone: (773) 341-1530
- Email: contactus@flfchicago.org
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