Today we’d like to introduce you to Kehli and Terence Berry.
To begin with, Kehli was awarded a grant to launch her youth enrichment program while an undergraduate student in Atlanta, GA. She provided summer and after-school programming for at-risk children and created the DIVAS, which she named after her college dormitory at Clark Atlanta University. After completing research on the pedagogical strategies of teaching African American Youth in inner cities she lived abroad in West Africa. It was in Africa helping others that Kehli desired to come back home and start working with the youth in her hometown of Compton, CA where she was born and raised.
When she returned she went to a job interview at the local Boys & Girls Club where Terrence was the Branch Director. Terence was making a huge impact on the lives of inner-city youth with several premier programs that he developed infusing Creative Arts, Leadership and Mentoring. The interview between Terence and Kehli lasted about 3 hours, they found themselves intrigued by each other’s passion for youth development. Immediately, Terence and Kehli became inseparable and their visions aligned to the point where they couldn’t be apart from one another for a few hours. Their combination of purpose and passion for youth connected to create a movement. Very soon after meeting they decided to get married and start a family. They established 1 Shine Youth Services in 2011 and began doing summer day camps and after school programs for parks, schools, and churches in Compton and surrounding areas. Kehli also started the Divas of Compton at a local Charter School and then she decided to open it up to all the girls in Compton.
Since 2011 Kehli and Terence have provided more than 500+ youth and teens in the community with quality summer and after-school programs. This includes the nationally recognized Divas of Compton Dance Team, Leadership, Mentoring, Athletic Leagues, Music and Performance Art Programming and more.
Currently, Kehli and Terence operate a youth center in the city of Compton where they are proving quality enrichment and personal development programming for youth and local school districts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has not always been so smooth, at times it’s been quite bumpy, yet simultaneously through faith and dedication, we have been blessed with some amazing opportunities. Often times as a non-profit organization, the struggle has been to financially provide quality programming. We are constantly looking for grants where we are able to provide these services for minimal to no cost. Currently, we are in need of resources and equipment for our performing arts programs that we currently offer.
1 Shine Youth Service – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
1 Shine Youth Services is a unique organization because we provide Performing Arts, Leadership and Academic Enrichment programming to youth and young adults. We give the kids an opportunity to gain essential leadership skills while simultaneously allowing them to explore the myriad of Performing Arts.
1 Shine is a family-oriented organization whereas our kids come to us daily after school and all day during the summer months. We feed them and provide them with a safe-haven where they can get assistance with homework, speak with their mentor, all while feeling safe and secure. Our youth center is open to youth as young as two years old all the way up until 19. Monthly workshops and initiatives are organized and facilitated to address the issues many of the youth faces on a day to day basis. We implement goal setting strategies into our curriculum to make sure that the youth are actively working towards the completion of weekly milestones that lead up to major goals. Furthermore, we celebrate our youth and empower them through affirmations and positive communication.
We are excited about our community partnerships and collaborations, where we will serve as a Hub for youth development. 1 Shine embodies The old African proverb which states ” It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” The 1 Shine Center provides that village.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
We believe that the true definition of success living a purpose-filled life. When you seek to enlighten the lives of others through your gifts, you begin to dismantle generational curses and unlock the potential that may be dormant within others. That is what 1 Shine seeks to do and that is how we model our life after. We seek to inspire the youth and therefore, the youth inspire us.
We strive to walk in our true purpose and having a positive impact on the lives of people by uplifting them and inspiring them to think and act in ways to help them shine as trailblazers and change agents for their homes and communities.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1 Shine Youth Center
1203 E. Rosecrans Ave
Rosewood, CA 90221 - Website: www.1shineyouth.com
- Phone: (424) 785-5198
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @1shinetribe
- Facebook: Divas of Compton
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