Today we’d like to introduce you to Roslyn Parker.
Roslyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My parents instilled in me the value of giving back to others when I was young. I believe that we are here to do more than just take up space in the world – we are here to benefit humanity in the way that is unique to us as individuals. Each one of us a special skill, gift or talent that is to meant to benefit humanity and be shared with the world through service.
As a little girl, I use to play “orphanage”. Being in charge of the orphanage began right after school on Friday and would go through the weekend. I would pull every doll out of my toy box and would take care of them all weekend long. I loved dolls and had at least 20-25 at any given time. Some dolls were missing hair, a leg an arm or sometimes an eye. It didn’t matter, I took care of them all. It wasn’t until recent years that I realized how relevant that was to my life today.
For me, this innate desire to serve showed up in my professional life. I held leadership positions and always was the one who would rally my co-workers to champion social causes, including everything from literacy, to homelessness to domestic violence awareness.
After a corporate merger, I found myself without a job, and in a unique position to do something different. I did my research and found there was an entire industry around travel and giving back through volunteering and service. With that said, I reinvented myself and created a business around my passion of service and travel. Nine years ago I started a travel “change” agency that focuses on volunteer travel, encouraging my clients to travel to do good to destinations around the world.
Through that division of my company, I have coordinated a variety of international volunteer projects including medical missions, do it in a day building programs, community cleanups, aid distribution and teaching/education programs,
With the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, I realize now that my company must now add another pathway for service specifically as it relates to the Houston area. As a result, I am in the process of creating a new division of my company – Teams to do good that will connect various affinity groups who visit Houston, with ways to serve and travel to do good.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not always been a smooth road. I have learned a lot about myself, not just an entrepreneur, but as a social entrepreneur in a very unique space. As a social entrepreneur, I am tasked to use business principles to address social issues. Because what I do is still somewhat of a new industry, often times, in the beginning, I felt as though I was all alone on an island.
There was a lack of support and resources. What I do is kind of out of the box and it requires out of the box, thinking, innovation and creativity. When I started there was no model for success or best practices that I could draw from. I had to learn by trial and error. The good news is that learning in that way served me because I had to be more hands on. I am immersed in all facets of what I do.
However, as I grow the next challenge is to identify talented people who can duplicate my efforts so that as a company, we can do more and serve more
We’d love to hear more about your business.
The Affinity Travel Group is a travel change agency that specializes in experiential travel. We encourage travelers to connect to a destination by opening their mind and heart to engage with the destination through volunteer or service, cultural immersion and/or community outreach.
I am most proud of my company because what we do is encourage people to connect to their heart in whatever we do. I believe that in some small way, Through these experience I hope that I can for that moment, anyway, help people connect the dots to what really matters.
No one else does it the way we do because I would like to think that we listen to what is important to our clients. Whether it is a nonprofit partner, an individual or an affinity group, we want to get to know them on a deeper level so that we can serve them in a way that is unique to who they are.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I believe that Houston is great for business. There is so much richness, culture, and diversity here. I believe that we do helps them to learn more about the life, history, culture, and people of Houston by connecting them to people, projects, and activities that can help them to be more actively engaged in the city. I am still learning myself.
As a new business starting out it is important to get out and about. There are so many activities and ways for businesses to do that. Networking is key
Contact Info:
- Website: www.traveltodogood.com
- Phone: 8328190467
- Email: info@traveltodogood.com
- Instagram: traveltodogood111
- Facebook: traveltodogood
- Twitter: #traveltodogood
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