Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomasina Burns.
Thomasina, please share your story with us.
I am a Houstonian, wife, mother of two and an entrepreneur. I began my career as a health educator, while it was a great start, I dreamed of being an entrepreneur and creating my own destiny. In 2011, Styles for Life was born, it was a reflection of my finding who I truly was and what God put me on earth to do, and that is to inspire and empower people into greatness. Jeans & Jewels founded in 2016, is an extension of me educating, inspiring youth, and young adults.
“The name and focus of The Jeans & Jewels Institute begins with “JEAN” which was my mother. My mother was a woman who loved people especially youth and young adults. She inspired so many young people. She empowered them to believe that anything was possible even if their life circumstances didn’t warrant it. She was a mentor to so many just by how she loved and encouragement to those around her. In 2013, I gave birth a little girl, “Jewel” who changed my whole perceptive on life. My Jewel inspires me to be greater. It’s important to me for her to understand she can achieve anything in the world through hard work and perseverance. It’s important that I expose her, and my son, to everything this world has to offer, so they know the possibilities are limitless. I believe that exposing them to things and teaching them life skills, they will grow to be more confident, inspired, empowered and develop a drive and hunger to reach their greatest potential.
At different times in our lives we have had a Jean- someone that inspired us to be greater and a Jewel-someone we inspired to be greater. This generation is full of Jewels that need a Jean in their life to educate them, inspire them, and empower them to reach their greatest potential. It times for me to sow into others what so many have sown into me.”
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I realized 14 years ago when I started my career in corporate America and I was in a board meeting sitting among community and business leaders that did not look like me but there was one women in the room that instantly inspired me and was speaking a language that just felt right. It was the language of community and leadership all in one. So from then to now my spirit has be activated on high.
Since I was a little girl I have always had a passion for helping people and serving but I did not know that I could have career in it. No one talked to be about owning or even starting my own outreach program or non-profit organization. I received a degree in Public and Community Health with a Minor in Business from Lamar University but still didn’t know that I could start an organization. So my biggest struggle was not having a solid mentor or guide in what I wanted to do. I had to be self-taught. And self-taught is what I have been doing. My self-taught road map means placing myself in an environment where I can meet successful people and I can learn new skills. Now, I do have a small community of family and friends that have always believed in my dreams however not having that one person to lead me from start to finish has been my biggest struggle. I have had different people that have taught me and showed me different things and exposed me to new things therefore, I had to earn how to pull each piece altogether to create this one big thing.
Please tell us about Jeans & Jewels Institute.
The Jeans & Jewels Institute is a 501c3 organization that focuses on leadership development for youth and young adults by exposing them to life skills, image building, career preparation, and healthy habits, founded in 2016
Our purpose is to focus on developing youth, 11 to 18 years, and young adults 25 to 40 years, to become effective community leaders through education, inspirational mentorships, and exposure to unlimited possibilities for their future where they may reach their greatest potential.
The programs and services of the Jeans & Jewels Institute are designed to educate, inspire, and empower youth and young adults to reach their greatest potential. Some of our services include: Healthy Lifestyle, Workforce Development, Leadership Development, Life Skills and Mentoring. We seek to expose middle and high school students to entrepreneurship opportunities and career possibilities. We also seek to build young professional into community leaders to create an impact in community.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favored memory is being with my mother, Jean Jones, and all of her one on ones with me. I don’t think she ever realized that her special times with me is what I cherished the most. My mother didn’t have a lot of money to do the fancy dinners with me but she made it her business to set the table with the good china when it was just her and I at home alone. She made sure I knew which fork and spoon to use while dining. She would expose me to culture and history by going to museums and different historical sites throughout the city. We would even go fishing in little ponds off side of the road and she would tell me so many stories about her life and her struggles and she would always talk about her aspirations for me. I lost my mother when I was 25 and on that day I can truly say I lost my biggest cheerleader!
Contact Info:
- Address: 12655 Woodforest Blvd, Suite 701
Houston, Texas 77015 - Website: www.jjinstitute.org
- Phone: 832.951.4204
- Email: info@jjinstitute.org
- Instagram: @thejeansjewelsinstitute
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeansjewelsinstitute/
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
