Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwilene Lindsey and Renee’ Windsor.
Dwilene and Renee’, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2009, our perception of mental and emotional abuse was forever changed after witnessing firsthand the devastating effects and personal turmoil it was bringing to two children close to my heart. It saddened us that we were unable to rescue these children or even provide funding to help them. Instead of getting bitter about the situation we set out to do something about it. Collaborating, we began researching different avenues and options we could take to help other children break from the shackles of mental and emotional abuse. In our research, we came across material on how to file for a corporation and how to file for a 501(c) (3) non-profit entity and a spark was ignited.
Despite banter from others that this process would take at least a year or more, on February 5, 2010, only three months after we started, God opened a door and we had an incorporated, non-profit organization, Children 4 Tomorrow.
This process was a true test of faith and a challenge to our spirit. Armed with only $500.00, the common love for children, a passionate vision and a bedroom as our headquarters, we were able to persevere and create this organization aimed at bringing education and support to the community. Although we were ecstatic to serve two children our first year, we regrettably had to turn down five other children due to lack of financing. This was devastating to our organization and an eye opener to the battle ahead. But we were up for the challenge.
A strong emphasis was placed on formulating a strong fundraising campaign in hopes to serve more children. Within four months we planned and held our first major event; a Charity Golf Tournament and Silent Auction that will become a staple of this organization and an annual fundraising event. In our first year as an organization, we raised approximately $9,000.00 which was better than the loss we were told to expect.
In 2011, we plan to raise funds to serve 20 children with an increase growth of 50% per year thereafter. Our challenge was to find volunteers, sponsors, and employees that are compassionate and committed to helping every child have a sunrise in their heart, a twinkle in their eye and illuminate with hope.
Three years later we had made an impact in our city and community. However, there are still so many children whose lives have been and still are significantly affected by life-threatening child abuse. Our efforts are far from complete. Every single day in this city children are victims to child abuse, neglect and abandonment. Nevertheless, with the present team of board members, volunteers, financial and organizational resources we are hopeful, and our passionate vision marches on.
Today, Children 4 Tomorrow is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness of emotional abuse and mental health of children by providing professional counseling, educational training, legal assistance, and mentoring programs in the Harris and surrounding counties. The organization has raised funds to support counseling for indigent children, maintained courses that raise awareness and increase knowledge of emotional abuse and its consequences, educate youth about emotional abuse, build self-esteem, develop interpersonal relationships, establish survival and coping skills to create and improve emotional health and provide adults with a non-combative solution for communication to enhance the family dynamics.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all, Due to the organization’s growth, Dwilene and Renee’ were forced to make some painful decisions to close their business of many years and push forward with Children 4 Tomorrow. Without funds for salaries both women sold their homes to keep the organization moving forward, with a monthly sponsor the organization was able to pay its bills and continue to facilitate indigent children to obtain counseling.
In 2013, Children 4 Tomorrow was forced to move into a larger facility due to expanding into the family law court system for parents to attend classes in order to gain awareness and knowledge of emotional child abuse. The courts have mandated parents to attend classes and attorneys have recommended their clients to attend the class creating more expense for the organization. In 2015 Children 4 Tomorrow lost the monthly sponsorship and Dwilene and Renee’ were forced to use their own funds to keep the organization moving without a salary and working 40 plus hours a week and Saturday’s until 3:00 PM.
Today, Children 4 Tomorrow is finally able to support the organization from class fees, private and corporate donations and grants. Some months there are still struggles, but God is good and faithful and the ladies just put their trust in him. It has truly been a big uphill struggle with a lot of bumps in the road, but the organization is growing yearly.
Children 4 Tomorrow – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Children 4 Tomorrow is like no other organization; Children 4 Tomorrow is unique in regards of training amicus attorney’s and mental health professionals to team together on a particular subject matter within the family law courts working with high conflict families with children. The program educates both groups to pool information on findings and report to the courts in order to transfer the family from the courts to the mental health professionals due to pathogenic parenting which is a form of emotional child abuse.
There are a few organizations that touch briefly on emotional child abuse however combat more towards the sexual and physical abuse as their primary concerns; such as The Children’s Assessment Center, Child Advocates and De Pelchin Center. However, C4T believe that battling emotional child abuse is the top priority for a child’s future.
While statutes and courts recognize emotional abuse as prosecutable conduct, it rarely surfaces as a charge unto itself. Instead, regrettably, it’s usually ignored except when it is a consequence of physical or sexual abuse, or discovered incidentally to an adult’s complaint of domestic violence.
Numerous studies have concluded that emotional abuse can have devastating, long-term consequences to children, more so, in fact, than other types of abuse, because it directly sabotages a child’s sense of dignity as a person. The emotional abuse of children must be addressed with the same vigor as physical and sexual abuse. Doing so requires knowledge of what it is, and the courage and determination to make it end.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
The founders at Children 4 Tomorrow see success as sustainability in programs that are relevant in today’s society. The programs have to make a lasting difference, being able to adapt with the times and allowing the people to make comments and suggestions. It is about having staff, founders and board members to have time, skills and plan ahead for the future of the organization. It’s about having a plan to overcome the crisis that attack.
The board and founders at Children 4 Tomorrow believe the key to success is achieving relevance and a lasting impact on the community through the mission of the organization. The board and executive directors of Children 4 Tomorrow believe that a regular reflection on the programs sustainability, the stakeholders and the community as a whole is a big factor.
Pricing:
- LEAP Course – a comprehensive 4-course curriculum with support resources for adults. $195.00
- 2017 Symposium – for the mental health, legal sector and targeted parents of “parental alienation” $125.00
- LEAP- E – a accredited course (TEA) for educators to understand the basics of emotional abuse in youth $195.00
Contact Info:
- Address: 2600 South Loop West,
Suite 170, Houston, TX 77054 - Website: www.children4tomorrow.org
- Phone: 713-660-0760
- Email: dwilenelindsey@children4tomorrow.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/children4tomorrow
- Twitter: Children 4 Tomorrow 2015
Image Credit:
Stephanie Kae Photography
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