Daily Inspiration: Meet Kerisha Tidwell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerisha Tidwell.

Hi Kerisha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Our passion for forming Define U Foundation derived from the lack of proper development and guidance for adolescents within the community. We believe that it is vital to have a caring and trustworthy individual who provides a young person with advice, support, motivation, and personal enrichment.

In the beginning stages, Define U solely focused on mentoring young girls between the ages of 13-18 years old. Two public schools, one community center, and roughly 40 girls later, Define U has expanded our horizons. We now offer Community Outreach, Health and Wellness, and Mentorship programs.

Our ultimate goal with this foundation is to continue to have a positive outreach within the community, be a positive consistent influence in young girls’ lives, and just as our name implies, give each and every person we encounter the strength and courage to know that you, Define U.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning stages, it was pretty challenging. Our first few interest meetings that we held at Southeast Community Center in Antioch were no shows. We made and passed out flyers within the community, prepared a PowerPoint presentation, and even prepared refreshments… everyone loves refreshments, right? We attempted this process a total of three times. Lucky for us, the third time was a charm.

We were provided an opportunity from a NAZA site coordinator, Lauren Branham, who allowed us to work with teen girls participating in the community center’s summer program. Since then, we have been privileged to partner with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). Like most, 2020 caught us by surprise. It put a complete halt to our mentorship program at Donelson Middle School and our community outreach events. We are actually still feeling the effects of this today.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Cierra and my profession are within the healthcare and technology field. However, we are both really passionate about mental health. I am working to obtain my Master’s in Clinical Psychology, Clinical Counseling. Cierra recently received her certification as a Holistic Life Coach right here in Nashville through Radiant Coaching Academy.

Without question, our proudest moment is our 1st Annual Fall Festival which was held in 2019. This was our first community outreach event so naturally, it was special. What started out as a knee-jerk response, turned into an event that people still bring today. Our main goal for this event was to provide a safe place for kids and their families to enjoy food, games, fun, and… lots of candy!

The thing that sets us apart from others would be that we are one of the few local non-profits that are run by two African American women that cater to minority teenage girls.

How do you define success?
Define U (no pun intended), defines success based on our ability to fill various voids in the lives of so many teenage girls and have a lasting positive impact on everyone we encounter.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://defineufoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defineu_foundation/
• Other: https://defineufoundation.org/donate/