Today we’d like to introduce you to Raheem Turane.
Hi Raheem, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Starting your own business is the one guarantee that you will always have an opportunity to create a stream of income; you may have to pivot while creating, but you’ll never be fired. In the process of creating “the GROW Development Corporation, LLC,” I saw a need that touched every sphere of influence and began the process of identifying pain points and created pain point escapes. In doing this, “the GROW Church of Houston” was launched to meet the spiritual, socio-emotional, economical, and relational deficits within the region. With this, we observed a greater need, and that need was affordable, accessible childcare and educational opportunities; this caused us to launch the “GROW Kidz Academy.” In launching the “GROW Kidz Academy,” we were afforded the opportunity to obtain a license through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and we are partnering with the Texas Rising Star program, which is a quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) which is powered through the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for families and children who receive assistance. We have several other offshoots that are coming to include “GROW Mentoring and Development,” which will focus on inner-city youth from the ages of 6-17 years old that have been deemed at risk for community involvement and out-of-home placement, the “GROW Abstinence and Teen Pregnancy Program” will focus on the cycle of pregnancy and prevention to include educational, and resources for those who have been deemed at risk for such challenges and issues to assist in breaking a cycle of generational poverty through educational assistance and resources., Finally, our “GROW Cares” is our community initiative where we raise awareness and meet the needs of the community to include but not limited to outreach, food drives, school drives, giveaways, and bringing dental and health accessibility to those at the highest levels of risk.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey was not difficult; there were bumps in the roads and obstacles. Some obstacles were self-inflected, some were environmental, some were financial, some were educational. However, through it all, I’ve always been one to persevere and always had a level of favor that produces supernatural assistance.
I’ve learned many lessons throughout my career, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned is accountability. Accountability is foreign to a lot of people because many people have never been held accountable, and if there was an attempt, it’s often fought and brushed off as an attack. Whereas accountability is the highest form of love we can be governed by.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I began my journey in the mental health space back in 2007 where I found myself working in a maximum-security juvenile detention facility in Virginia as a mental health advocate and counselor. I fell in love with helping young people deal with their personal issues through the use of perspective-based counseling. In this, I learned that much of what these young people had experienced was generational trauma and poverty that led to a vicious cycle of absenteeism, aggression, and hopelessness. It was at this moment that I understood that I had a responsibility to lead these young people to a place of healing, community and familial reconciliation, and self-forgiveness. Through this, I was afforded the opportunity to create mental health-based programs to address the prison-to-pipeline pandemic, to include Medicaid funded school-based counseling services that addressed the highest risk students for in-home, at-school suspension, and possible expulsion, all the way to In-home-based counseling services which addressed the issues within the home that bleed into the community.
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
Collaboration is the new currency, and I’m an advocate for cross-pollination as it has the ability to create innovation and resources and identify the needs beyond what one can think.
Support can began with connecting on all social media platforms, email, or even calling our office at 346.366.3971. raheemturane@gmail.com, raheemturane (IG) AP Raheem Turane (FB)
Our School/Church is always in need monetary donations and supplies for all kids enrolled.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Raheem Turane
- Facebook: AP Raheem Turane
- Youtube: Tea with the TURANE’S
