Today we’d like to introduce you to Neferteri Plessy.
Neferteri, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was raised by a strong single mother in Oakland, CA. a city with a heartbeat for culture, music and street life. Oakland prepared me to be fearless in life and business, so when the opportunity came for me to relocate to Los Angeles, CA to pursue my career as a model, I took a leap of faith and went for it. My career in the entertainment industry lead me into modeling, television production, and broadcast journalism.
As a mother with two young sons from my former marriage, I felt firsthand the unique challenges that face single mothers. I struggled like many to find balance, self-fulfillment, and financial security. First and foremost among my concerns was my children and how to ensure a happy stable life for them while co-parenting with their father. I began to research the effects of divorce and single motherhood, and through my studies, I learned that the most disadvantaged group in the U.S. are single mother families which according to the U.S. Census 30% live under the poverty line. That’s when I founded the 501(c)(3) non-profit Single Moms Planet with my co-founder Cole Patterson to end the poverty cycle in single-parent households.
Through our work with Single Moms Planet we empower single mom business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs. We went on to create Cole Skincare for Men, a product line which donates a portion of its proceeds to Single Moms Planet’s programs such as financial literacy, job training, parenting classes, housing assistance, co-parenting resources, childcare assistance, medical referrals, special events and more.
Our goal is to build enterprise in the single parent community. Single Moms Planet is dedicated to encouraging financial independence among single mothers by providing business development support and resources such as corporate partnerships, affiliate members, and mastermind classes.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road for a non-profit can be challenging at times. Our team of advisors, board members, staff and volunteers help us move the needle toward success daily. Our main struggle along the way was creating sustainable programs that single parents need. Many single-parent families don’t have the resources to participate in child and family enrichment programs, leaving them isolated and alone. That’s where Single Moms Planet comes in, we assure single parents stand strong.
Please tell us about Single Moms Planet, Inc.
Single Moms Planet is dedicated to uplifting under-resourced families and their children nationwide. Building one strong family at a time. We do this through comprehensive programs of family bonding activities, mentorship, financial aid, family counseling and entrepreneurial training. Single Moms Planet provides support, accountability, and hope.
We are most proud of our annual Single Mom’s Awards which honors a community of single mom business leaders, owners, entrepreneurs and supporters. The event will take place May 7, 2020 in Hollywood, California. The awards dinner and celebrity kids fashion show will be a night to remember. Attendees will experience a media red carpet, VIP reception, musical performances, gift bags and more.
Since its inception Single Moms Planet has proven to bring much needed interactive family programming to the families that need it most. Over 1/3 of all children are being raised in a single-parent house-holds and the majority are headed by single mothers who are living under the poverty line, and we are on a mission to change that, and we need your help. Visit www.singlemomsplanet.org to get connected with us today.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Collaboration with other community and single mom organizations would have been our first step before we took a leap into the world of non-profits. Along with interviewing and meeting with top leaders that support and help mothers.
Pricing:
- Become a member of Single Moms Planet: $99
- Attend the Single Mom’s Awards: $550
- Purchase a table at the Single Mom’s Awards: $5,000
Contact Info:
- Address: 1021 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405 - Website: www.singlemomsplanet.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/singlemomsplanet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SingleMomsPlanet/
- Other: https://coleskincareformen.com/
Image Credit:
VCB Photography, Brian K. Freeman Jr., Billy Baque
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