Happy Wednesday, Keepers! 
It is my sincere hope that this email finds you well. I am doing well too. Thanks for asking. Things are kind of quiet around here this week aside from meetings and regular organizational responsibilities.

Here are a few items that may be of interest to y'all:

1. I was featured on a podcast this week and you can listen to that here

2. IAMSK will be a vendor at a Community Baby Shower on Saturday from 11-1 at the Raleigh Community Center. The flyer is attached for your information and distribution. 

3. One of our newest moms had her first baby on Sunday! Congratulations, My'sha Mclain! 

This year, on the last Wednesday blog of each month, we will share the story of one of our moms. By doing so, it is our hope that you will not only learn more about the moms we serve but also learn why it is so important that we serve them.

The mom we will be highlighting this month is Lanikia Williams (she is My'sha's aunt-she has a sister here too-it's a family affair ), a single mother of 6 boys. Lanikia is an awesome mom, a true joy to be around, she gives the most amazing hugs, has the brightest smile, and always has a kind word for everyone she meets. Plus, sis can throw down in the kitchen! Be on the lookout for those plates! (shameless plug)

Lanikia is from New Orleans, LA, and moved to Sumrall, MS in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. She and her boys moved back to New Orleans and then here to Memphis where I first met her.  When IAMSK first began, she was one of our first moms. Due to familial circumstances, her family moved again to San Antonio, TX where they remained until last year (single moms often have to move around for various reasons-you'll learn more about this statistical fact in the coming weeks). However, now that we have her back, we are not letting her go!

Lanikia and I had a chat this week about her experience in IAMSK and she had LOTS to say. Per usual.  One of the things that Lanikia loves the most about IAMSK is the sense of community. She finds immense comfort in being able to relate with single moms from all different walks of life. "I love that I can be happy or sad, I can laugh or cry all without being judged for doing it or how I do it."

When asked how IAMSK has benefited her life, Lanikia told me that even though we helped her to get into her own apartment (through our Mommy Move program) that is not the most important thing we've done for her. "IAMSK has aided in my mental health recovery and in my need for more consistent accountability." Lanikia also talked about how important it is to have access to our pantry for the tangible items her family needs.

Thank you for taking the time to read these emails. I hope you all enjoyed learning more about Lanikia and the many ways IAMSK is a benefit to single moms in our Memphis community. Don't forget! Y'all can respond to these emails. Please feel free to share any thoughts or questions you may have.

Signed,

YOUR Founding Keeper


Email: iammysissyskeeper@gmail.com
Business Phone: 901-505-1010

*This blog was originally sent out on January 18, 2023*

Hey, Keepers! Happy Hump Day!

I'm on time this week! Woot Woot! No need to praise me for it. I'm just celebrating each win. 😊

How are you all? This is not a rhetorical question. I would really like to know. You all know you can reply to these emails, right? Well, now you do. Please do so whenever you feel so inclined. I'd like to hear from you.

For me, this week has been lighter than the first couple of the year and for that I am grateful. I am learning to be still whenever it is possible. Sometimes women, especially single moms, feel guilty for sitting in stillness, doing absolutely nothing. I am here to tell you that it is very necessary! 

We've all heard the saying "you can't pour from an empty cup" and we often shrug it off as a cliche when in reality it isn't. If I am not taking the time to care for myself, mentally and physically, everything that I "pour" will be tainted by tiredness, aggravation, impatience, etc. And who does that really serve? No one. Not the pitcher (me and you) or the glass (others).

My daughter said something a few weeks ago that really struck me. She said, "animals hibernate in the winter so what can't we?" Now we all know that animals don't have to go to work and pay bills to provide for their families, but they do have the same responsibilities of care. Animals plan and prepare in such a way that allows them to hibernate (they don't sleep the entire time either. I could go into detail but I will spare you my nerdiness...this time) and to recharge. I realize that we can't all take months off to "hibernate" but we can create times of stillness in order to recharge. It is a must.

So that's your homework! What can you take off of your plate to allow for some stillness? We ALL have something. I just know it. You can keep this "something" to yourself or you can email me about it. Either way, it'll get you thinking and that's the ultimate goal here. 😉

Thank you for taking the time to read these emails. We appreciate you. ❤

Signed,

YOUR Founding Keeper

Email: iammysissyskeeper@gmail.com
Business Phone: 901-505-1010

*This blog was originally sent out on January 13, 2023*

Greetings, Keepers! 

**Click here to watch our 2023 Promo Video**

I come before you head bowed and knees bent. I dropped the ball already. 😬 I knew I had to write the blog on Tuesday, it was in my planner to write the blog on Tuesday, it was on my phone's calendar to write the blog on Tuesday, and I STILL forgot to write the blog on Tuesday. So, here it is on Friday!  

This is the perfect segway to talk about a new thing IAMSK (that's our acronym, in case you didn't know) is doing! 📢We are holding monthly Accountability Sessions with our moms! Each mom in our village will have an initial meeting with me (the Founding Keeper) to discuss their goals for 2023. There we will decide, together, on the smaller monthly goals that will culminate into the larger end goals for the year. Each month, we will track progress, make adjustments, and add another piece to the puzzle. It's gonna be great! I am excited, the moms are excited (most of them anyway), and now you get to get excited too! You're welcome.

I also want you guys to know that I wasn't loafing about while I was forgetting to write this blog. I was busy securing our new Brunch location, forming a partnership with Shelby County's Youth and Family Resource Center, completing two grant requests, being interviewed on a podcast, holding six Accountability Sessions, hosting our bi-weekly Wednesday night check-in, our weekly Friday night learning session, and AND being an awesome single mom who spent quality time with her children. 😊 Whew! Y'all tired yet? I sure am. This is why weekends are my favorite. 

Thank you for taking the time to read our emails. Please accept my sincere apologies for the tardiness of this one. Because I am human (hard to believe, right? 😉), I cannot promise that this will not happen again. I can promise, however, that I will always own up to it when it's late or forgotten entirely. Y'all can hold me accountable too. 

Signed,

YOUR Founding Keeper

Email: iammysissyskeeper@gmail.com
Business Phone: 901-505-1010

*This blog was originally sent out on January 04, 2023*

Greetings, Keepers! Happy New Year!

**Click here to watch our 2023 Promo Video**

2022 was a doozy, wasn't it?! There was adversity followed by triumph, loss followed by gain, and sadness followed by joy. Whew! Through it all, we are still standing tall (ish) and we are definitely ready to turn the page.

This year, these weekly blogs will be my responsibility. Those of you who know me (IRL or online) know that I am a person of great transparency. It may make some uncomfortable but I truly believe that we overcome by our testimony so there will be much of that. 😉 

That said, we are still without a home for our organization, our Brunch has to be rescheduled (March 12, 2023, from 12-2 is the new date so don't forget!) due to a last-minute lack of location, and we need money to continue providing our moms with the resources they need and to pay salaries, etc, etc. 

That sounds like a lot, huh? It is! However, we remain steadfast in our mission "to alleviate many of the stressors which prevent single mothers from becoming successful".  We are in talks with some other area organizations regarding potential office space AND a new Brunch location, we have been blessed with grant writing assistance (praise break!), and we have YOU! Sounds like we'll be fine, doesn't it? Because we will be!

I cannot promise that the weekly blogs will always be this brief so be grateful for this one. Lol. But seriously. 😁

We appreciate YOU for all that you have done and all that you will do. 

Signed,

YOUR Founding Keeper

Email: iammysissyskeeper@gmail.com
Business Phone: 901-505-1010

We thank you for taking the time to read this today! See you all next week!