Today we’d like to introduce you to Akela Woodard-Mardis.
Hi Akela, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey from the “hood” to success is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of mentorship. Growing up in South Park, Houston, shaped my identity and ambition. Despite the challenges of my environment, it instilled in me the drive to defy expectations and pursue my dreams.
After my mother married my stepfather, we moved to Bryan/ College Station, where I completed my education at Bryan High School. I knew upon graduating from High School, I would return to my roots. I left Bryan to pursue my undergraduate studies at Prairie View A&M University, where I eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in communications. However, life threw curveballs, including becoming a mother to two beautiful children, Daylen and Kharleigh, which led to multiple interruptions in my academic journey.
Despite the setbacks, I remained determined to succeed. Balancing the responsibilities of being a wife to my amazing husband Wendell, a mother, full-time worker, and student, I continued my education. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in Juvenile Justice at Prairie View A&M University while also attending Texas A&M University School of Law, furthering my education and expanding my horizons.
In addition to my academic pursuits, I am a certified mediator and a notary of the public, leveraging my skills to contribute positively to my community. As a member of the NAACP and The National Black Law Student Association, I actively engage in initiatives aimed at promoting social justice and empowerment. This year will be the second year that I will be in attendance at the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C., alongside my mentor, who just so happens to be an Elective Official in Fort Bend County.
My passion for community service grew alongside my academic pursuits. Giving back to my community is something that I have always had the heart to do. Contributing to initiatives such as Meals on Wheels, holiday toy drives, and back-to-school programs for underprivileged families in the community brings me immense fulfillment.
Additionally, I coordinate a youth summer program that provides full-time employment opportunities for young adults between the ages of 16-21 for the entire summer; this program teaches them valuable skills and experiences,
Inspired by the values instilled by my grandparents, Hubert and Burma, and my mother, Jackie, I co-founded the S.T.A.C.K Foundation alongside my mother and sister, Latoria. Where I also am the legal advisor. This organization became one with the Central Texas Youth Outreach (CTYO), a non-profit 501 (c) (3) established over 25 years ago. Born out of loss and love, champions Skills. To. Achieve. Common. Knowledge., empowering young adults to make positive life choices. In over the past 10 years, $50,000.00 in scholarships were awarded via fundraisers and donations from fish dinner sales and private donors to deserving high school seniors.
My journey from the hood to success is a testament to the fact that greatness knows no boundaries, and never judge a book by its cover. Because of my tattoos, and the fact that I can quote an entire DJ Screw song, I was a single mother for so long and really didn’t have much going on with myself; no one took me seriously; in fact, no one believed that I would ever amount to anything other than a girl from South Park.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey was not easy at all, and I faced many challenges. In 2009, son was born, and his early months were overshadowed by medical challenges. At just 2 days old, he underwent a major surgery due to a life-threatening condition, Tracheoesophageal Fistula. Due to the severity of his health, I was forced to quit my job to care for my child.
Following his birth, I navigated the trials of single motherhood for years. In 2014, my daughter arrived, adding to the demands of my already hectic life. Juggling parenthood, work, and personal well-being became a constant struggle.
In 2010 I endured a horrific car accident as a passenger in a vehicle hit by a drunk driver, resulting in a broken bone in my neck, in which I still suffer from till this day. This left me jobless yet again and with a huge hospital bill due to the lack of insurance for the drunk driver.
Financial Strains were definitely something I had to overcome. My children and I lived in a modest apartment, where I turned a study into a bedroom for my son while my daughter and I shared a room. Making ends meet was a challenge for me.
Then, in December 2018, our apartment went up in flames, leaving us with nothing but the clothes on our backs. I had no choice but to move back to South Park with my grandparents. I fell into a deep depression. However, this move is where I finally realized the depth of support and the importance of family, a humbling experience that shaped me into the woman I am today. Though I no longer live with my grandparents, I strive daily to show my gratitude and make them proud because they saved my life.
My family, my Mother Jackie and sister Torie, especially my aunts; Gladys, Racheal, Fay, Cheryl, Angie, and Yvonne, my uncle Teddy, and my big cousin Xchelsia, my cousins, and my church family of New Zion Temple Church of the Worldwide Fellowship, served as steadfast pillars of support during tough times, offering encouragement and solace when I needed it most.
Despite living a life with many moments of sadness, heartbreak, and uncertainty, I persevered, clinging to hope and determination. These trials taught me invaluable lessons in resilience and perseverance and pushed me to create a better life for myself and my children.
I give God all the praise. I aim to inspire others by sharing my testimony, encouraging them to believe in themselves and follow their dreams, no matter the challenges they face. If I can, you can is my Motto!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As the co-founder of the S.T.A.C.K Foundation, our mission is dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth through mentorship, education, and skill-building initiatives. S.T.A.C.K, which stands for Skills. To. Achieve. Common. Knowledge was inspired by the vision of my late stepfather, Vincent E. Thornton, also known as “Stack.” In honor of my stepfather, we have created a multifaceted approach to youth empowerment. Through various programs and activities, we aim to equip young individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to succeed in life.
Our goals and objectives are to provide underprivileged youth with skills and strategies to guide them in making better choices that will influence their growth as productive members in their home, school, and community. We also provide youth athletes with innovative experiences through athletic training and mentorship.
We also provide parents with skills and strategies to enhance their parental involvement and develop effective communication skills by providing focused workshops and useful resources to assist their youth in becoming successful at home, in school, and as productive members of society. Lastly, we provide financially underprivileged high school graduates an opportunity to receive a scholarship via an application process to further their education with an accredited institution of higher learning of their choice.
At the heart of our organization is a commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, and we work tirelessly to ensure that they have the support and resources they need to succeed. None of this would be possible without the help of our wonderful committee.
As the co-founder of the S.T.A.C.K foundation, I am proud to continue the work of empowering youth in our community. Our foundation is dedicated to creating a brighter future for the next generation.
What’s next?
Our plan for the S.T.A.C.K Foundation is to expand its reach and impact within the community, collaborate with other organizations to maximize resources and broaden the scope of services offered. We would also like to collaborate with schools, community centers and more churches in the Houston area to reach more individuals and families in need.
We also would like to establish an endowment fund to provide sustainable financial support for scholarships. This will ensure that the foundation can continue to invest in the education and future of deserving youth for years to come.
Ultimately, the goal is to make a difference in the lives of the younger generation in a positive way.
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