Inspiring Conversations with Canei “Ms. CiCi” Lampkin of Visions of the Minds, Inc.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Canei “Ms. CiCi” Lampkin.

Hi Canei “Ms. CiCi”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Canei Lampkin, but most people know me as “Ms. CiCi.” My journey didn’t start with a big plan or organization; it started with a heart for kids who needed someone in their corner. Years later, in 2017, that heart turned into something official: Visions of the Minds.
But the real beginning goes back to 2008–2009, when I was working at a daycare in Lithonia. I started tutoring teenagers on Saturdays, just trying to help where I could. What started as simple tutoring quickly became something much bigger. The kids began gravitating toward me, and before I knew it, I was with them 5–6 days a week, taking them to school, spending time with them on the weekend, and showing them to events around the city.
With that first group, I didn’t just teach schoolwork; I taught them how to give, how to help others, and how not to move through life selfishly. I got to know their stories, their struggles, and their potential. I supported them in a way that created real change. Their behavior improved, their grades went up, and most importantly, they started to see themselves differently.
At the time, I didn’t realize it, but that was the foundation of everything.
Years later, in 2017, while working in a community off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, I saw that same need again. Kids weren’t just struggling in school; they needed guidance, consistency, and a safe space. That’s when I knew I had to do more.
I thought back to my first group and the impact we made, and the vision became clear. It was time to build something of my own. My approach to mentoring has always been a little different. I believe if you really want to reach kids and create change, you have to think outside the box and do what’s best for them, even if that means tough love.
One night, I was just sitting there doodling on a piece of paper, and that doodle turned into the Visions of the Minds logo. I reached out to a parent I knew who made shirts, and before long, we had our first shirts and hats. It was all starting to feel real.
In October 2017, I hosted our first kickoff event so kids in the community could sign up. Twelve kids showed up, and honestly, that was all I needed.
From there, it grew into something powerful. On weekends, I would pick the kids up and spend that time pouring into them. We volunteered, had real-life classes on things like budgeting, health, nutrition, and sex education, and we stayed connected through church on Sundays. We created a step team and a dance team, and I even wrote plays for them to perform in their community.
But it wasn’t just about programs and activities. I made sure they experienced life outside of what they knew. We went to the mall, sports events, movies, simple things, but for them, it meant everything. A lot of them had never been outside their neighborhood. Showing them something different gave them hope. It showed them that there’s more out there.
I also made it a point to stay connected with their parents, teachers, principals, and local churches. It really became a village. After a while, something special started happening; we went from 12 kids to over 20 kids, then it just kept growing. Then, I saw our original mentees began mentoring the new kids coming in. One of the parents stepped up and became a mentor in my program; she became “the other Auntie.” My mom became “Grandma” to the kids, pouring wisdom into them like only she can.
That’s when I knew this was bigger than a program.This wasn’t something temporary; this was something that was here to stay.
Visions of the Minds became more than mentoring. These weren’t just kids, and I wasn’t just a mentor. We became a family. No numbers. No labels. Just family, and I became “Auntie.”
As of 2026, We’ve maintained a 100% graduation rate for the youth in our program, with over 100 kids graduating since 2017. That alone means everything to me, because it shows that when kids are supported the right way, they succeed. But we didn’t stop there.
We’ve awarded over 15 education and entrepreneurial scholarships, to help our youth take the next step in life. We’ve also made sure our families are supported in real, everyday ways, providing food to over 10,000 people in the community over the years.
We believe in creating experiences, not just programs. That’s why we’ve given away more than 1,500 tickets for families to attend ballets, sports events, concerts, and plays at the Fox, moments that many of them wouldn’t have had otherwise.
When the holidays come around, we show up big. Since 2017, we’ve given away over 10,000 toys so that kids can feel the joy of the season. And when it’s time to go back to school, we make sure they’re ready, providing over 800 backpacks filled with supplies.
Sometimes support looks like the basics, too. We’ve helped furnish homes with beds and furniture, provided school uniforms, and distributed over 10,000 pairs of socks to families in need, because dignity matters.
And every year, we bring it all together by hosting our annual Fall Festival, serving over 200 families in the community. It’s more than an event; it’s a moment for families to come together, feel supported, and just enjoy themselves.
At the end of the day, this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about lives being changed, families being supported, and a community coming together.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges with doing this kind of work is finances. A lot of the time, I’m paying out of pocket just to make sure things get done. When you’re truly doing this from the heart, the funding doesn’t always come the way you would hope, but the mission doesn’t stop. The kids still need support, the families still need help, and the work still has to go on.

That’s why I keep pushing, no matter what. I’m grateful that along the way, we’ve built strong relationships with partners who support us through in-kind donations. Whether it’s supplies, food, or resources, those partnerships help us continue showing up for our community. At the end of the day, this work isn’t driven by money; it’s driven by purpose. And no matter the challenges, we always find a way to make it happen.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Visions of the Minds, Inc. is more than just a mentoring program; it’s a family. We work with youth ages 6–16, focusing on their educational and social growth. But what really makes us different is this: once you’re part of Visions of the Minds, you’re in for life. I’m always going to be there, to support you, to listen, and to guide you the best way I know how.

In 2020, when COVID hit, we realized the need was bigger than just the kids. So we expanded and began supporting the whole family. Because I truly believe this: if parents are struggling and not stable, it’s hard for the kids to be stable. But when the family is strong, the child has a much better chance of succeeding.

That’s when everything started to grow deeper, not just mentoring, but real family support. Every month, we provide free tickets and experiences for our families. It’s not just about going out, it’s about creating real memories together. A lot of parents are working nonstop or simply don’t have the extra money to take their kids out, especially when there are multiple children. So we step in.

We make sure families get that time together, going to events, laughing, bonding, and just being present with each other. That’s what we mean when we say we’re different. We don’t just run a program, we build a family.
We celebrate together. We learn together. We volunteer together. Everything we do is rooted in respect, love, and connection.

Our program is hands-on and very real. We don’t just talk about life skills, we live them. If we’re teaching gardening, health, and nutrition, we’re out there building a community garden together. If a child wants to learn about horses, we make sure they get horse lessons and volunteer on a farm so they can truly learn.

We take boys to get fitted for their first suits and teach them how to tie their ties. We take girls to get fitted so they understand their size and how to take care of themselves. And if parents are working and can’t take their children to appointments, we step in and take them ourselves. We are very hands-on mentors.

I stay very involved with every family. I pay attention to how the kids act, how they respond, and how they grow.
We’re a little “old school” in the best way. We teach respect, character, morals, and self-worth. Our kids learn how to carry themselves, how to speak, and how to treat others. And I don’t just focus on school. I want to know:
Are you listening at home? Are you respecting your parents? Are you doing your chores? I care about how you show up everywhere, not just your grades, but your behavior, your attitude, and your character in the classroom and at home. And if I see something wrong, I don’t hesitate. I show up. I go to schools. I talk to teachers. I step in because my goal is to make sure every child has the tools they need to succeed in life.

From the very beginning, I tell parents something important: I have to be able to correct your child when I see they need guidance. Because this isn’t just about behavior, it’s about building character. And my mindset has never been about how many kids are in the program. It’s about the quality of the impact we create in each child’s life.

And what I’m most proud of is the real change. Seeing a child come in angry, struggling, and failing in school and then watching that same child grow into someone respectful, confident, and passing all their classes, that means everything to me. That’s why we do this. And that’s what Visions of the Minds is all about.

What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is showing God’s light through who I am and how people feel when I’m around. It’s the simple things that mean the most, being able to shift someone’s moment with a smile, or change a child’s life just by showing up and being present. Whether it’s attending a parent-teacher conference, celebrating a graduation, seeing them off to prom, or making sure a mother of seven has clothes and school supplies for her children, I show up where it counts.

For me, it’s not just about big moments. It’s about being consistent, being present, and making sure people feel seen, supported, and not alone.

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.visionsofthemindsinc.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visionsoftheminds