Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelicka Crawford.
Hi Angelicka, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Jumping Dreams DD started in 2017 with myself Angelicka Crawford and sister Dominique Artis. We started Jumping Dreams initially as a hobby we used to do growing up DOUBLE DUTCH. But eventually turned into a youth development program. Both my sister and I are champion jumpers who used double dutch as a tool to stay in shape, make friends, and build confidence.
We used those same motives and geared it to the needs of youth in the city of Charlotte today such as mental and emotional health as well as childhood obesity. Jumping Dreams is more than just a jump rope program its a youth development program that uses jump rope as a tool in life to build healthy habits or a healthy lifestyle. We have partnered with local organizations to keep healthy through fitness classes, one on one mental health sessions, group sessions as well as academic excellence.
Through the ropes of life, as we call it we encourage youth to take the many opportunities, we provide to them and dream bigger and go further. What we mean by this is going to jump rope practice is great but remember you are a student athlete now and use the same skills to maintain your grades and extracurricular activities as you grow into become young adults. The self-love mental health sessions can still be used as techniques and tools outside of programming such as journaling your thoughts, setting goals and crushing them, and speaking publicly and confidently. Use these opportunities to learn about potential colleges when we go on our team college tours or shadowing local business owners to figure out what is it that you want out of life and work hard to achieve. But our biggest take back is don’t forget to give back to where you came from. Our high schoolers currently use Jumping Dreams as a tool to give back teaching other youth in the community the same skills we have instilled into them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth by any means but that is what makes the story and journey that much sweeter. Dominique and I both started Jumping Dreams in 2017 while working full-time jobs in corporate America. September of 2019, I (Angelicka) decided to take a leap of faith and start contracting with local organizations to grow the sport of jump rope and fitness. Soon after the pandemic occurred and all of the planning and goals quickly went away.
We had to revamp and figure out how to cater to our target audience while still be saving during the pandemic. We are grateful to say we gained two practice locations and three new coaches during the time, as well as placed first and second in numerous competitions but it was not easy at all.
Not knowing how programing would look day to day due to state restrictions as well as the fear for the children. But we are surviving and thriving.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Honestly, you will never have the answer to everything. It’s ok to make mistakes, it’s ok to learn from those mistakes, just don’t keep making the same mistakes.
Be intentional with your time, especially time for yourself and time for your business.
Rome wasn’t built in one day and the same for your business as long as you dedicate time to get it done, it will happen.
Most of all, be kind to yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: admin@jumpingdreamsdd.org
- Website: www.jumpingdreamsdd.org
- Instagram: @jumpingdreamsdd
- Facebook: @jumpingdreamsdd
Image Credits
Instagram: @marcusGcreations
