Today we’d like to introduce you to Maleka Chris.
Maleka, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I moved a lot when I was younger and I believe that gave me a gift to connect with a variety of different people. Before I found this gift I thought it was a horrible thing and growing up as a teen in Compton and South Central LA I made a lot of bad choices and experienced what I know now to be self-inflicted pain. I suffered a lot of lost in my life and that’s why I believe Love doesn’t hurt, only the loss, lack or abuse of love causes pain.
I’ve also done some pretty cool things in my life. But to date, my greatest accomplishment is becoming a mother. I have four beautiful daughters: Terica 21, Makaila 20, Jordan 18 & Maleka is 14. Yes I named her after me (we think 2 Maleka(s) are better than 1.) In June 23, 2018, I married my best friend. It was also the day I lost my father, in 2010—just six months after losing my Mother, December 12, 2009 and 6 months prior, my Granny May 24, 2009.
I have so much to be grateful for and a sound mind is the one thing I’m most grateful for. My Granny introduced me to Jesus Christ at a very young age, but it wasn’t until I needed Him for myself that I searched Him out and found his love. There was so much that happens in and around this time, it really depends on how much time you have to listen. I hope this is a good start for more questions.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think my biggest struggle was my mindset and lack of information. I always knew there was something more to life then what I was doing, but I had so much pain and anger—that my dysfunction felt quite normal. Once I made a decision to change my thinking it changed my words, then my actions and ultimately the trajectory of my life.
Making a change for the greater good is painful and sometimes lonely, but every time it’s worth it. I still struggle in my personal and professional life, but God always sends help.
We’d love to hear more about your organization.
Love Beyond Limits 2019 Nonprofit of the Year. We are a mentoring program that teaches life skills to youth and parents. We took are 13 Stone curriculum and published a workbook in 2017. Our 13 Stones are love, respect, social skills, hygiene, image, self-esteem, the role of a mother, the role of a father, the role of a child, education, abuse, meditation and accountability.
We are known for being for the community. We feed families at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Beach, we sponsor an annual beach clean-up, we celebrate our organization’s anniversary in March with our “Laugh 4 Love” dinner and comedy show, we host an annual interactive community event called “Beyond Community” and for the holidays we provide Thanksgiving meals, adopt 13 families for Christmas and pass out toys to families in need. I am truly proud of the work we’ve done with limited resources. Through our relationships efforts with companies, other organizations and communities we can afford to send young people to a camp for a week at UCI to learn financial literacy and 4 weeks on the campus of Villanova High School for Computer Science, leadership & humanities. This year we have a fundraising goal is $ 50,000 to provide a week-long wellness retreat for 24 young ladies.
I believe what sets us apart is our desire to “Love Beyond Limits” in word and deed.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I think LA is a great place for grassroots work. Our children need us, our schools need us, our communities need us.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3515 Linden Ave # 58
Long Beach Ca 90808 - Website: Www.lovebeyondlimits.org
- Phone: (562) 377-4857
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