Meet Heaven Sent Sisters!
There’s nothing stronger than a bond between sisters! Heaven Sent Sisters is proof that sisterhood empowers + lifts young women up to a higher level in life. Beverly Hooks, Tamara Thomas and Kyinqua Wright launched the L.A. based organization Heaven Sent Sisters in 2013. These women were brought together by a common belief that many youth in their community lacked meaningful academic and career guidance as well as many other important life skills. Determined to make a difference, the women convened a series of meetings to discuss the issues. With research, hard-work and commitment to working together for the cause, Hooks, Thomas and Wright founded Heaven Sent Sisters. It is the goal of these women to carry out the Heaven Sent Sisters’ mission and vision.
This empowering organization currently coordinates outings and workshops for girls ages 13 years-18 years old in the ‘Because it Takes a Village Program’ which brings girls together to socialize, meet new people, experience music, art, culture and many other important subject matters, all while having the opportunity to experience mentorship!
Let’s get to know Heaven Sent Sisters a little more…
Heaven Sent Sisters is an amazing organization that builds self-esteem, develops necessary life skills & increases education + awareness, what made you ladies want to create a platform to allow teen girls to shine?
The development of Heaven Sent Sisters began when our Founder/President, Beverly Hooks, called a group of women together to discuss the vision she had of starting an organization for young girls in the community to have positive role models who they could spend time with and look up to. Considering the nature of today’s society and access young girls have to so many negative images and examples, we felt it was important to get involved with girls to help them see the positive in themselves so they don’t define themselves by what they see in the bad examples that are out there. We wanted girls to see women who are prime examples of successful women. We believed that by being the example it would allow girls to see that they have the potential to be successful in whatever they set out to become no matter what and where they come from.
Being a voice in the community motivates others to be great, how do you teach young women to be a positive role models?
We teach young women to be positive role models by being the example. We teach girls to love one another and to come together rather than tearing each other down. We show girls how important it is treat everyone with kindness. We promote a sisterhood within our organization where girls can become close and develop lifelong friendships with one another.
We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?
There are many people who inspire us but one of our biggest inspirations is the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS). I smile as I write this because she is such an example of what a woman should be. She is many, many things but most importantly, she is such a positive example to all women and girls. She carries herself with such class, speaks so eloquently and is an educated woman. She involves herself in causes that really matter and she gives her time to give back to the causes that really mean something to her.
If you had to give one piece of advice to teen girls who are struggling with being comfortable in their own skin, what would it be?
Be you. We are all made unique and we are all beautiful just the way God made us. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks or says about you. In the words of India Arie, “What matters most is what you think of yourself!”
Working with youth both parties learn from each other, what’s one trait you have learned from working with girls?
I’ve learned how important it is to stop and listen. A lot of times we just need someone to listen. We all face different challenges in life and often times we are quick to want to tell people how to solve their problems or we try to analyze the problem for them but sometimes what we need is for someone to hear us and listen to us without judgement.
We’re all about empowerment at C.O.R.E Mag, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you + your organization?
Empowerment means to us, helping girls reach the point of self-determination. When we empower girls, we are able to help them establish as sense of hope and power within. Empowerment means we have helped them to recognize that they have the power to have, do, be and achieve anything their heart desires.
Fun Faves!
Song? Whitney Houston- Greatest Love of All
Food? Mexican Food
Artist? Common
Celeb Crush? Tyrese
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