Meet Niya Anderson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Niya Anderson. 

Hi Niya, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
GEMS was actually given to me in two different dreams from God back in 2016. The first dream I had regarding it was of me standing in front of a group of girls with a white blouse and pen skirt on. In the dream, the sides were blurred out in which my dreams are never like this for the most part. Two weeks later, I had the exact same dream but this time the crowd of girls was even bigger, and again the sides were blurred out. I knew God was speaking to me and giving me instructions on something He wanted me to do. 

About a month later, I started putting the word out there about starting a girl’s nonprofit organization for girls ages 10-18 just to see if I was going to get any feedback or sign-ups. Surprisingly I did! I only say that because I’m originally from Tupelo, MS, and didn’t know many people in Nashville. 

Two months after I was preparing GEMS behind the scenes, I became very sick. Sick to the point where I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis. I remember after having lung surgery that January of 2017 telling God that I can’t do GEMS any longer because my health was taking a toll on me. One thing about God, when He calls you to something it doesn’t matter what you have going on. In May of 2017, I was involved in a major wreck in which this woman ran the light and totaled my car, and also suffered bodily damages as well. In November of that same year on a Tuesday, a woman ran into the back of my new car while sitting in the drive-thru of Mcdonald’s. Exactly two days later a guy hauling furniture on the back of his pickup truck had an incident in which all the furniture fell off the back of his truck. This particular day it was raining and we were traveling on a busy highway. The car in front of me crashed into the sofa that fell off his truck and I crashed into the back of that car. I turned around and saw an 18-wheeler coming my way and the last thing I thought about where my 2 children before I braced myself for what was about to take place. Seconds later I felt my car shake and as I eased my head up, I saw that the 18- wheeler had swerved around me. As I climbed out of my car, the first thing I said was “What do you want me to Lord?” The next day over 5 people had texted and asked me “What’s going on with GEMS?” Some even asked if I needed help with getting it back started. 

With that being said, we have been up and running since June 2018. GEMS Organization offers young ladies ages 10-18 an opportunity to be joined with a positive influencing mentor to enhance their growth as young ladies while prepping them to become beautiful women. The long-term goal for GEMS Organization is to empower the young lady to love herself first which positively harmonizes with not placing herself in unhealthy and toxic situations. We currently offer 3 different programs one being the “Trailblazer” program which is tailored to all girls within the program. The Trailblazing program is the organization’s primary program in which every young lady takes part in. The young ladies participate in a 9-month group session that focuses on teaching them things that they normally don’t learn from school such as self-love, financial stability, effects of hanging around the wrong crowd, plus more. This particular program also offers one on one mentoring as well as free professional counseling and tutoring. Each girl also receives assistance with hygiene products as well as school supplies. The trailblazing program begins in January of each year and ends in September. 

The Evolving Young Ladies program focuses solely on our young girls enrolled in the Trailblazer program who are having continual behavioral issues within school. The goal of this program is to rekindle the young lady’s commitment to learning and being successful throughout the school year by building a strong network with the school system. The director over this program will make school visits periodically to track the young lady’s progress as well as motivate her. By motivating each young lady to be committed and finish school, mentors are setting the girls up to become prosperous adults. 

The Beautiful Butterfly Program focuses on the young ladies who are transitioning to age out of the organization. This program helps to ease the stress that comes with transitioning from childhood into adulthood. The directors of this program will work to help the young ladies prepare for college through assistance with college applications, FAFSA, and funding for certain school supplies. The mentors will also assist with travel and/or travel assistance onto the college campus as well as purchase groceries the first day of this transition. 

Our mission within GEMS is to create a safe haven for young girls to shed, grow, & evolve as a young woman by providing different tools, education, & resources that assists in their developmental process of transforming from a young lady to a healthy functioning adult. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been smooth sailing. One of the things we currently lack is funding. We are currently in the process of becoming 501c3. One other challenge we face is finding consistent and dedicated mentors who have the heart for young girls. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently obtaining my BSN and is prospected to graduate in May of 2022. If it’s in God’s will, I plan to start a nursing school within 10 years. 

I am most proud of my dedication, hard work, and resilience. I tend to bounce back from anything and never allow life or any circumstance to consume me. 

One thing that sets me apart from others is my humility and heart. The only ones I’m looking to please is my Heavenly Father first and the young girls who are a part of GEMS. I don’t look to be in the spotlight or to compete with other leaders in my community but I look to serve the young girls within GEMS. Serving them means dying to myself and living for them. I sacrifice my time and money to make sure our girls within GEMS have what they need. Our parents tell us so much how much they are grateful for us and what we do but, in my eyes, I don’t feel it’s enough because they haven’t seen or heard about the plans God promised me for this organization. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is when my grandparents would take us to Florida every year. Anyone that knows me knows I love the water. 

Contact Info:

• Email: info@gemsorg.net
• Website: https://www.gemsorganization.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gems.organization?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: facebook.com/GEMSORG