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Lakenya Rivers: Empowering Homeless Individuals Through Family Values

“The reason for starting FAMILY Movement was to inspire homeless single young ladies to never give up and keep striving for a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their children.”

96Victoria Flexner
By Victoria Flexner

This story is part of our 1,000 + stories campaign. What’s your story?

Name: Lakenya Rivers

Business: FAMILY Movement, Inc.

Industry: Personal Services

Location: Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.

Reason for starting: The reason for starting FAMILY Movement was to inspire homeless single young ladies to never give up and keep striving for a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their children.

Related: Read about another entrepreneur empowering women here. 

How do you define success? I define success as an accomplishment constructed from goals, aspirations, hurt, pain and inspirations. I often envision myself in a car driving forward with a glimpse of the past in the rear view mirror, and a GPS that leads in the right direction but distractions that may cause a slight detour. Success, I’m noticing, goes hand and hand with failures. Failures in life build strength, wisdom, knowledge and more endurance to conquer until the end.

Biggest Success: My biggest success allowed me to build a movement in F.A.M.I.L.Y. (Forgiveness, Acknowledgement, Motivation, Inspiration and Love within Yourself). From childhood run-away, teen pregnancy, homelessness, to motherhood, sisterhood, college student, career-driven, entrepreneur, and wife! I still have some successes to achieve until then I will continue to strive and inspire others in the process! Through it all and with god I am still able to persevere and endure until the end!

What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it? My top challenge is saying no! I often feel that everyday is not promised so if I have a chance to help motivate a family member, friends, client I will do it. Time is never on my side when I say yes. But I am learning to manage my time, finances, knowledge and resources.

Related: Yes? No? Maybe? How Indecision Kills Productivity 

Who is your most important role model? My most important role model is Michelle Obama! Being the first African American woman in the white house shows there’s still hope if you continue to keep pressing, moving, striving, and building and you can reach your full potential of success!

[box_light]Website   www.familymovement.com
Twitter   www.twitter.com/familymovement
Facebook   www.facebook.com/F.A.M.I.L.Y Movement[/box_light]

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Edited by The Story Exchange