Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebonee Copeland.
Hi Ebonee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been working in civil service for a few years, as well as volunteering. I am currently an Auditor for the Jefferson County Revenue Department. I wanted to do more for the community, so I decided that I would run for City Council, where I live in Center Point, Alabama. I became one of the first black women elected to the council in August 2020. I’ve had a passion for helping teenagers and young adults in preparing for higher education and entrepreneurship, so with my vision, I decided to start a nonprofit organization called The Higher Learning Initiative. The Higher Learning Initiative is an organization in the Birmingham, Alabama area that provides resources to high school-age children up to young adults on college and trade school preparation and entrepreneurship training through workshops, group learning sessions, and community engagement outings that will educate and empower young people to thrive in the real world.
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?
It took years of hard work to get where I am today professionally. I obtained my Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Public Administration. It wasn’t an easy road trying to complete my degrees and work full time while raising my children. I just knew it had to be done in order for me to be able to get to the level that I wanted to be at professionally. I want people to know that it’s important to be resourceful and find a path that works for them. It’s important to take action and never give up on their ambitions. It’s important to know that your path might not look the same as others, but continue on with it anyway.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently an Auditor for the Jefferson County Revenue Department in Birmingham. I am also a licensed Mortgage Loan Originator working with First Choice Mortgage. In the past, I have professionally worked in Finance, Insurance, and Governmental agencies. I obtained my Associate’s Degree in Small Business Management Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Public Administration. I am most proud of the skills that I have learned working in these different industries and how I have been able to integrate them into my personal and professional life over the years. I think that me having the ability to adapt well to different environments has been a pivotal aspect of my success.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson that I have learned along my journey is that if I don’t believe in myself, no one will. Having faith in myself allows me to continue to push forward even when things are not going the way I feel they should.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@thehigherlearninginitiatitive
- Website: www.thehigherlearninginitiative.org
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/thehigherlearninginitiative
