Today we’d like to introduce you to Shalondra Young.
Shalondra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a daughter of a single mother and a first-generation college student, I always knew my calling was to help young people reach their full potential in life regardless of their background.
I After graduating from the University of South Florida in 2007, I began working for the Florida Department of Children and Families Independent Living Program in Tampa, Florida. focusing on transition-age youth in foster care. I dedicated several years to helping youth in foster care find their voices and advocated for change within the foster care system using their personal stories and challenges experienced in the foster care system. I have helped teenagers and young adults in foster care develop life skills, find employment and graduate high school and enroll in post-secondary schooling. In 2014, I stood alongside the brave youth, legislators, and advocates as Florida passed a bill to extend foster care until the age of 21. I knew that this new measure would have a lasting impact on the Florida child welfare system. I had seen many young people transition out of foster care at the age of 18 with no clear direction on how to function as an adult. In 2014 I worked on implementing new state law that expanded foster care in the Florida till the age of 21. My focus was on how to effectively design policy, practices, and procedures that would guide the dependency system with the newly amended state statue.
More than a decade later, I am still working to improve the lives of young people. I am currently the director of programs for a community-based residential program for the transitional living program for youth who are aging out of foster care and homeless families. I focus on building resiliency in young adults ages who are between the ages of 18 to 21.
That passion for helping to guide young people extends to every aspect of my life.
In 2018, I founded Glow Girl Inc., a virtual mentoring and empowerment program for girls and young women, and Young & Consultants, an Atlanta-based consulting firm specializing in nonprofit and small business start-ups. I am also the CEO of Young & Consultants, LLC. 18-21.
I have served on several statewide and community boards , including actively worked on boards and committees in the areas of South Florida domestic minor human trafficking committee , The Homeless Coalition, Florida REACH Educational Initiative, Florida Children’s First Legal Services, and The Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Questioning Workgroup.
Shalondra was an active part of two major statues passed in Florida in 2014 “The Extended Foster Care Law” and “The Let Kids Be Kids Law”. The Extended Foster Care Law was passed allowing youth in the State of Florida to remain in foster care until the age of 21, allowing them to have a smooth transition from their youth to adulthood. This law also allowed normalcy in the lives of foster youth living in the foster home and group homes to have many of the same privileges as kids in a normal home.
In my personal time I am dedicated to philanthropic work in my community. I have served in previous roles with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals as the Community Service Chair, Warrick Dunn Charities Young Professionals as the Communications Chair, United Way Dekalb County Community Engagement Chair. Serving my community allows me to live a balanced life outside of running my business.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are days when I ask myself am, I doing enough? Am I setting the example of the change I want to see in the world? These are both questions that come to my mind more often then one would think. I believe that if I approach each day with my whole self and give all that I have, I am confident I will change many lives Obstacles and challenges are often a result of things unknown. I am intent on setting goals, planning, and executing on this journey to success. Another key component of my success is prayer and patience . I approach each day with the mindset that something good will happen if I walk in my purpose. Everything has worked out in my life according to God’s plan and will . I believe every child deserves a second chance and for that to happen we as professionals must be the change we want to see in the lives of our children. I am doing the work I was called to do.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Young & Consultants’ story. Tell us more about the business.
Young & Consultants is an Atlanta-based consulting firm that has been providing effective business solutions since 2016We develop leaders and deliver results that inspire people to live and work at their best. Our work reaches across various sectors including the following: corporate/office convention, non-profit, cultural centers, education, government, small business. Due to my experience in the nonprofit field and background in business, I have the expertise to start, grow, and push businesses and their visions to the next level. Young & Consultants is dedicated to provide individualized service for each our clients, by tailoring our services to meet the demand , need, and budget of all who request our services.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
What industry are they talking about? You don’t answer the question.
I see Young and Consultants being a national consulting firm that helps to build business and procure grants for programming that focuses on the development visons, goals, missions, and brands. Over the next decade the bigger vision of Young & Consultants is to development of opportunities for youth in our community to reach their full potential as productive citizens. Glow Girl, Inc, is dedicated to provided personalized mentoring services, educational support, and futures planning for young ladies all over the U.S. With the launch of our virtual mentoring services we will be able to reach girls from major cities to small towns. Our goal is that our services will be accessible to every young girl who desires to have a mentor. Over the next decade Glow Girl, Inc will officially launch a virtual news letter for teens written by teens, that highlights the highs and lows of being a teenager. This newsletter will also highlight careers and educational institutions to expose young girls to the countless possibilities and opportunities available to them after high school.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-956-8383
- Email: youngconsultantsllc@gmail.com
- Facebook: Shalondra Young
- Other: www.linkedin.com/in/shalondra-young-mba-six-sigma-65a7739b
Image Credit:
Andre Brown Photography
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