Meet SeVeda Kent of Smyrna Infant Village in Smyrna

Today we’d like to introduce you to SeVeda Kent.

SeVeda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m a full time working mom and wife. To be totally honest, it’s a privilege but very much so flat out exhausting! My day never ends and I work twice as hard at home as I do at work. I was a walking zombie and it showed. My commute to work is a little under an hour each way and most days I’m racing against the clock to pick up my kids. To top this, my husband and I spend a vacation beach house mortgage on childcare; we pay over $2,000+ monthly only for the schools to be closed every holiday and for seasonal weeklong breaks. On these occasions, we have to pay additional for a sitter or drop in care at another school which could be more than $600/week for two kids. It’s insane and for millennial parents already trying to pay off student loan debt, it’s debilitating. I’m fortunate to have a career that allows me the flexibility to work from home most days and on those school breaks, instead of bleeding out money, sometimes I keep the kids home. Ever had a conference call with a screaming baby and toddler screaming that he has to poop?! So, I found a solution to the problem that I and many other working parents have and that’s providing a space for coworking with an onsite childcare program for babies six weeks to five years old.

Has it been a smooth road?
It most definitely has not been smooth! This is a passion project, that’s in addition to my already busy schedule with family and work. The most challenging issue I’m facing now as a startup is getting the awareness of my service and establishing a reliable, trustworthy brand. The beauty of my business is that its service is almost nonexistent in this area. Sure, there are plenty of coworking spaces but none of them in this area offer a space for work-family integration, which is the onsite childcare. Our childcare program kicks it up a notch by emphasizing the introduction of Spanish, French, and Mandarin as a second language.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Smyrna Infant Village – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
As I previously mentioned, our space is one that caters to working people with kids. Our coworking space is bright, spacious and has the same ambiance you’re used to at a larger coworking chain, however, we have the added benefit of onsite childcare. We want people to know us as the company that supports working families and helps to bridge the gap between family and work life. Work/like integration is so important especially for today’s working-class families who are largely millennials. We have already come up against the Great Recession, battling student loan debt, still managing to buy houses and climbing ladders and breaking glass ceilings in the workplace. We’re now having kids and it’s critical to have structures in place to help balance it all.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love that our city is full of energy. No matter what time of day, there’s always a hustle going on. Money being exchanged. Ideas being materialized. It’s rare to find a person who only has one job. Everyone is always on the go. That’s also what I like least about the city. I personally have a hard time with having downtime; it makes me uncomfortable. I’m slowly now finding the value in rest and relaxation. My business will also have happy hours, networking events, and workshops, that will promote the feeling of leisure while simultaneously making connections and moves.

Pricing:

• Coworking prices start at $100/mo
• Infant care membership is $150/mo
• Toddler care membership starts at $600/mo.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1295 W Spring St Suites 200 & 200A
  Smyrna, GA 30080
• Website: Infantvillage.com
• Phone: 770-405-8800
• Email: smyrnainfantvillage@gmail.com
• Instagram: @infantvillage
• Facebook: @infantvillage
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/smyrna-infant-village-smyrna?osq=Infant+village

Image Credit:
Shekeidra Booker

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.