Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Grantham.
Adventures to Dreams Enrichment was founded in 2015 by “Ms. Sheila” Grantham, a former pre-school owner, and Director, early childhood educator, and mentor. While teaching at a Head Start pre-school in South Central Los Angeles, a student expressed that he and his siblings weren’t allowed to play outside on the weekends because of the dangers in their neighborhood. Ms. Sheila listened to his words and put a plan into action! Ms. Sheila is an innovative community leader with a strong passion for exposing youth to experiences that transcend their norms. She thought, “I must do something to expose these kids to a positive environment on the weekends!” Next, Adventures to Dreams developed, and Ms. Sheila primarily used her savings to fund it with the help of some food donations and few small donations along the way.
In its current location at South 40 garden, the program has outgrown its space, and there is an immediate need for expansion. So Ms. Sheila is Dreaming BIG and has deployed a strategy to accommodate growing program needs. Her goal is to revitalize a local park in Long Beach, CA by developing a safe, functional green space for AtDE youth, and the surrounding community by partnering with Long Beach City Parks and Recreation. She envisions a space with multiple gardening plots, an outdoor kitchen, a play area, exercise area, restrooms, a storage area, and a small office. Space will allow AtDE to engage more youth, volunteers, and surrounding communities, and employ students from local colleges. With more food production, AtDE youth can continue to take it home, and host bi-weekly farmer’s markets to increase community access to healthy and affordable produce.
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?
This journey has taught me a lot about getting areas of involvement such as high profile organizations and City official’s to recognize what Adventures to dreams enrichment is doing in at-risk neighborhoods. I’ve learned that because of politics some doors will be shut in your face without a reasonable explanation and how excuses on how things are done are just excuses. People tell you to call them and you do and no return calls or even a voice mail is returned after several try’s before giving up and moving on to the next person or organization.
But don’t get me wrong not everyone is like this and I have had some organizations and people reach out to help with either in-kind or small donations to help adventures to dreams enrichment. I have used most of my saving to keep adventures to dreams in operation because of lake of financial support and In-kind. I wanted last year in September asking so many different sources to help with ten laptops and not one person helped but still trying to this day to make it happen.
Adventures to Dreams Enrichment – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from others?
Adventures to dreams enrichment is hands on enrichment educating through gardening, art, and STEM all in a garden setting. My job entails wearing many different hats transportation, cooking meals, buying food, and being the main person keeping this organization up and running. I specialize in being a good listener and encourager for my adventures kids and parents. I get many compliments about my cooking skills and the tasty food I provide for the adventure kids. I am most proud of being who I am as a positive, passionate and rewarding person. What sets me apart from others is I keep at it whatever it is that involves children so they know the best and know they can achieve it but they must keep at it meaning the life goals. Also, I make things happen I never let go. We are a non-profit who provides hands-on enrichment every third Saturday each month year round and we have a busy hands = busy minds concept.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When an eight years old said to me Ms. Sheila you are doing good work and God Bless you. Also, whenever I receive hugs from the adventure kids. Also, when I received 2017 The National Society of Collegiate Scholars Distinguished Honorary Member award from CSULB organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: adventurestodreams.org
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Christain student at CSULB 3nd year is our photographer.
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