Today we’d like to introduce you to Latoya Marie Smith.
Latoya Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an Emotional Specialist which means that it is my job to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions. What is funny to me is that as a child, I never had control of my emotions! I am the youngest of four and I always wore my heart on my sleeve. I struggled with having low self-esteem due to being bullied in middle school because of my grades and my weight. Unfortunately, I didn’t know how to cope with my experiences and it led me to feel alone and even to make some bad choices such as becoming an emotional eater. I started therapy in college and it opened my eyes to the world of affirmations and the power of loving yourself unconditionally. My journey, although hard empowered me to want to make sure that children had the tools and resources to deal with the negative things that they might face throughout their childhoods.
My passion for helping children to love themselves and to have coping skills led me to become a school counselor and to start a non-profit called Devoted 2 Restoration, where I work with children affected by violence and trauma. After spending more than a decade assisting children with emotional discovery and coping skills, my work with my students leads me to want to write books that showcase children of color using the techniques that I teach to embrace their emotions and problem solve in positive ways. I currently have two children’s books and one activity book out so far: Emotional Makayla Mommy’s Birthday Gift, Super Jacob, and Super Jacob activity book. My goal is to reach children everywhere through my methods and books which cultivate love, self-esteem, and positive choices.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This is a very good question! Yes, I have had challenges but I believe that it is important to remember that we all will have obstacles on our journey. My biggest struggle has been Marketing myself! It is important to realize that brand building is a full-time job. People can’t support you if they don’t know they exist. I would tell anyone who is starting a business that it is so important to believe in what you are doing and not be afraid to put yourself out there! Do not low ball your prices out of fear or not promote yourself because you do not want to appear arrogant. The whole point in being a go-getter is to GO AND GET what it is you have been working for! That being said, be prepared to lose some supporters along the way, don’t take it personally, just keep working hard at fulling your purpose and the right people will support you.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am an Emotional Health Specialist. I help children and their family understand and learn techniques to manage their emotions. I do this through my emotional health books, workshops, and through my non-profit Devoted 2 Restoration Inc. I am also blessed to do this on my day job as a school counselor! Most of the children I work with call me their “Emotions Teacher” and my organization Devoted 2 Restoration is known for having little pop up emotional based arts and crafts activities that we do within community events called Fun With Feelings.
Hmm, I honestly can’t name just one thing so I say that I am most proud of founding an organization that is helping the children of metro Atlanta cope with negative experiences which earned me the Outstanding Georgia Citizen Award and for my books affording me the opportunity to be awarded the Emory O. Jackson Journalism Award, given by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., South Atlanta Region, and that my latest book release Super Jacob being up for the 2019 Author Academy Award for Best Children’s Book! People can vote for it at www.authoracademyawards.com
If I had to name one thing that sets me apart from others it’s the fact that I allow myself to follow the path that God has laid out for me. I strive to follow His purpose for me and be a light and help for all children and their families without judgment. This is important to me as I don’t want anyone afraid to get the help they need for their children out of fear they will be perceived as a bad parent.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Yes! This might sound crazy but I believe that the challenges I have faced have created the opportunities. What I mean by that is that as women, we have had enough of society trying to keep us in a box socially and especially financially! We have more than enough proof that we are low balled in Corporate America even though we are more educated, creative and in some cases more experienced than some men within our same fields. This has pushed us to branch out on our own and be our own boss. Women are no longer allowing ourselves to be afraid of being labeled as bossy (or the other B word) that typically comes with being a mover and shaker in the business world! We are moving away from working within larger corporations to use our creativity to create new opportunities for ourselves. I especially see women more and more in self-care, life coaching, motivational speaking arenas. Of course, I am more in tune with this field than any others, but I feel like this is the case across the board. There are so many more women owning storefronts and online stores.
Pricing:
- Super Jacob Paper Back is $12.00
- Super Jacob Hard Back is $18.00
- Emotional Makayla is $12.00
- Super Jacob Activity Book is $8.00
Contact Info:
- Website: alwayslatoyamarie.com devoted2restoration.org
- Phone: (678) 827-2523
- Email: latoyamarie@alwaysdevoted.com info@devoted2restoration.org
- Instagram: @latoyamariesmith @alwaysdevoted
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alwayslatoyamarie
Image Credit:
Darnell Johnson, Jemimah Scarlett, Cob Banks Photography
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