Today we’d like to introduce you to Dee Hankins.
Hi Dee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a husband, father of two beautiful children, entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, former foster youth, low key sneakerhead, and I thank God for all that He’s done for me and my family every day.
I entered foster care when I was two months old. I had a great family for the first four years of my life but then I was moved from that home. For the next eight years of my life, I bounced around all over Southern California. I ended up in 12 different foster homes and two different group homes by the time I was 12 years old. I’ve lived in some great foster homes and I’ve lived in some crappy homes. Due to the constant movement at such a young age and not knowing how to handle all my emotions, my behavior became problematic. Despite all of my troubles, I ended up graduating High School, graduating from Long Beach State, and using my experiences to help others bounce back from events in their lives.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The challenges of growing up in foster care are many. For me personally, I felt like a piece of trash. Getting passed around from home to home felt like no one wanted me. Not even my own parents. I fell into a state of hopelessness when I was around eight years old. I felt like no one cared about me, so I made a decision not to care about people. I developed anger issues. I was fighting all the time. Stealing. I had trouble with authority, especially women. It didn’t hit me until years later that deep down inside, I was angry at my mom for letting us go. One of the biggest issues I had to face was “asking for help.” When you go through foster care the way I went through it, you rely on yourself and only on yourself. It is extremely difficult to trust people. Those types of things showed up in relationships, friendships, and family.
However, there were some amazing people in my life that showed me that I could do more, be more and that I am more. Organizations such as United Friends of the children. Social workers like Mrs. McKinley. Families that opened up their hearts and doors for me such as the Parkhouse’s. School counselors that never gave up on me like Mrs. Hunter. All of them showed me that I didn’t have to become a statistic.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Inspirational Speaker helping students focus on their resilience; the ability to bounce back. Using personal experiences coupled with the stories I’ve heard from traveling the around the country and speaking in front of thousands of students every year has allowed me to keep it real and relevant. I’m on a mission to show people that Life Throws Curveballs but Even Curveballs Can Be Hit For Home Runs!
Any big plans?
God willing, I’d like to become and international presence. There are millions of people all over the world that I feel I could have a positive impact on.
I also have a creative side. I like to shoot videos and maybe one day become an actor. I have many business ideas I want to get off the ground.
Ultimately, I want to use the time that God has given me to make a mark on society for the better.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.DeeHankins.com
- Instagram: IamDeeHankins
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DeeHankins
- Twitter: IamDeeHankins
- Youtube: www.Youtube.com/DeeHankinsSpeaks
- Other: www.TikTok.com/Dee_Hankins
Image Credits
Jesyka Hankins @JWPhotonDesign Priscilla Gibb @PriscillaPicbyP Aleah Clark @foreverbyher
