Meet Pamla DL Johnson | Nonprofit Founder | The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, Inc.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pamla DL Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pamla DL, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

My thought process behind starting my own business initially came from my own personal experiences while being homelessness. Right before the summer of 2004, I was a single parent with a 9-year-old daughter. All my resource options were rapidly depleting; my savings and emergency fund, I cashed out my 401K and we were facing the inevitability of homelessness.

After all things to be considered in this typed situation, and being the planner I am, I managed the situation as much as possible but there wasn’t a lane for me to receive assistance. At least, not one that I knew. But it was the journey of my homeless experiences with my daughter that not only led me to my purpose but fueled the thought process behind me owning my own business. The irony was my long search for a meaningful purpose for my life’s journey was with me the entire time. Life’s funny that way.

Coming into the understanding that I have what I needed most inside of myself is the very thing that ignited a spark of determination from within. My circumstance and struggle to not only survive but thrive taught me exactly how resilient, strong and powerful I am. And those circumstances positioned my mindset in the direction of providing help for people like myself in comparable circumstances. My thought was, “I couldn’t be the only one!” This is why I started my nonprofit organization. I wanted and needed to know that someone else wasn’t struggling the same way I did. And if they were, I needed to create a space to help by meeting them where they are. Because I do not believe any person should have to give up all the choices that they have for the course of their life simply because they need a helping hand at a particular point in their life.

This is when I decided to start an NPO (non-profit organization).  After some research, I educated myself by and on August 26, 2013 founded, The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, #ITSROSASWILL. Our NPO assists homeless and single parent families with income disparities. I believe in Empowerment with tools necessary to educate oneself into a better position. I wanted to, Be The Blessing That Makes The Difference. I love my nonprofit because it speaks to the heart of who I am. Other than my family, I don’t think there’s anything I love more than helping people that need and want help so they can equip themselves for their own desired heart’s dreams. And the spirit of that comes from my Momma and Daddy, the namesakes of my non-profit organization, The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation.  We tend on social media as #ITSROSASWILL.

Helping and being a service to others is the foundation on which I was raised. As far as I can remember, Momma and Daddy were everything and our family did everything together. While growing up, our whole life revolved around the small community we lived in and who my parents were in that community (Owensboro, KY).

Outside of his 9-5 at Bell South and eventually AT&T, my Dad could do everything and did. He fixed anything broken in and outside our home, cars included. He added rooms to our home and did everything from plumbing and electrical work to building the frames, drywall and insulation to the roof and putting down flooring. Daddy even built a stereo that stood waist high from the floor and stretched the length of the entire wall. I remember lots of trips to a local lumber company for that one.

And then there was the Sweeney Street Baptist Church. Daddy was the Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Deacon Board, and a member of the Missionary Society, and Trustee Board as well as being the Vice-President of the Laymen’s League of The Green River Valley District Association. As Daddy’s eulogy read, “If he could do anything for anyone at any time, he would… [and]… Every material beauty you see in this church, Brother Little was one of the leaders and workers in the task. He always expressed kind words, kind deeds and kind actions…[underlining] the word KIND.” (The Order of Sweeney Street Baptist Church)

I remember visiting the “Sick and Shut-In” after church before coming home to eat what Momma cooked. I went every place I could with my dad. It was usually me and sometimes my next two youngest siblings, but I am a Daddy’s Girl and the Baby Girl of the family.

My Mother & Father’s life examples have had a huge impact on me. Their examples have planted the seeds that bear the fruit which I represent. To this day, I am still approached by young adults that remember my Daddy helping their family bringing by groceries or fixing something in or around their home. He was a Servant Leader before the term was coined in 1970 by Robert Greenleaf.

And please understand this, none of my father’s ability to serve in the capacity he did could have happened without Rosa Lee McDonald-Little, my Momma.  Daddy called her Rosie. Everyone else referred to my mom as Ms./Aunt Rosie or Missionary Little. She was matter of fact with a heart of gold.

Momma was employed until she was injured in an automobile accident and had to learn how to walk all over again. But more than that, my mom was anchored in her spirituality. She was a fierce protector of her children, a beautiful woman, independent thinker and a leader with many gifts and talents that got done what was needed and made the things that were necessary, she made happen.

By today’s standard she would be referred to as a creative type because Momma was a great seamstress, played the piano, organ and had a beautiful singing voice. She did her own musical arrangements of church songs for the children’s and adult choirs. Her musical imprint extends throughout our entire family who sing and not only play instruments, initially by ear but some of us have furthered our gifts through learning to read and now teach music.  Not me, but most of my other siblings and their children. Sister Little directed the church’s children choir, The Sunbeams, as well as the young adult choir. Our program’s title, Sunbeam Projects, is a nod to my mother and the work she did with the children’s choir.

Learn More about Our Story At: https://www.rosaswill.org/our-story

I’m so proud of the love my parents poured into me. My life’s journey has taken me to a point of seeing the love and wisdom they both gave to my family, our community, and this world. The desire to give back was reignited in me after my own experiences of surviving homelessness and deciding there must be better options for single parents who weren’t poor enough for assistance but did not earn enough money to support their family.

My being blessed to be in a position and have the mindset to choose the life I wanted for myself, gave me the will and drive to go back to school to prepare myself for the life I wanted.

After making the decision to change career directions upon attaining my Bachelor of Science in Applied Business Management and Administration and coming to the epiphany that I no longer wanted to work within corporate America, I decided to go back to school to attain my MPA with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Public Management instead of pursuing an MBA. The experience and knowledge I have attained in grant writing courses as well as an opportunity to be a serving member on the Fulton County Community Services Evaluation Committee evaluating grants for nonprofits in the Metro Atlanta Area.

This is why Our Mission is to facilitate the eradication of generational poverty through economic, educational, and communal acts of empowerment for the economically disadvantaged.

Our Vision is to empower those we serve. We believe that to empower is to encourage, invest-in, endow, embolden, and enable.

The demographic we serve are a community of single and/or homeless families with economical disadvantages but are working to improve their lives and the lives of their families. We deserve the opportunity to continue our endeavors in order to build a better futures. Single parents are strong and resourceful. This is an accomplishable task and I want to help them do that, just as someone helped me.

The work that I do through our non-profit is rooted in the desires of my heart, through actionable steps. It is the legacy of my mother and my father, It’s Rosa’s Will.

I am simply a reflection of them that can be seen in this world and through the work that I do. My parents walked the path of servant leader and there go I.

I live to Be The Blessing That Makes The Difference. #ITSROSASWILL

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, Inc., #itsrosaswill, has a commitment to investing our expertise and resources to further achieve Our Mission. Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks.

#ITSROSASWILL is currently working with some of the Title I (APS) Atlanta Public Schools within the Douglas Cluster of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, 30318-zip code. We have assist The William M. Boyd Elementary School and Frederick Douglass High Schools in the provision of educational supplies, holiday meal assistance and/or whatever is needed for our families and our babies in Title I schools, even more so since the outbreak of COVID-19.

2021 BackPacks-2-School Supplies Drive: Frederick Douglass High School, pictured below:

#ITSROSASWILL 2021 BackPacks-2-School Supplies Drive, Frederick Douglass High School’s Assistant Principal Jermaine Skinner and myself, Distribution Day on Monday August 16, 2021.

The difference that sets us apart from what and how necessities are provided to our families here at #ITSROSASWILL versus other NPO’s is a direct and personal approach.  Instead of having families with unmet needs fit into our organizational practices that allow us to qualify for governmental funding with minimal regard to situational circumstances, we are working with our school councilor’s, parent liaisons’, principals’, teachers, and directly with the families in need. We have our finger on the pulse of the community so we can provide them the things that will fulfil the immediate needs of their everyday lives. There are a lot of families that are still struggling to just survive.

The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, #ITSROSASWILL emerged out of my own experiences. Knowing firsthand the financial, mental and physical nuances of being homeless with children sets me uniquely apart from other organizations.  As founder, I have the authority to make the decisions that are critical to a family’s survival.  My life is literally a pursuit to inspire and support communities, as well as a desire for actions to speak louder than words. I not only have the authority but the responsibility to create and implement programs that are driven by progressive ideas, so that we can take bold actions, and put into place an increasingly strong foundation of support for our programs.

Whether it’s BackPacks-2-School Supplies, or our Embracing Family For The Holiday’s Sunbeam Projects, we’re a growing organization, which has and will continue to increasingly provide opportunities that is making a growing impact within the lives of our community members, especially now, during this pandemic.

Our Vision is to empower those we serve because when we know, as people feel empowered, we begin to act, and we do so with a commitment and more purposeful methodology. The information we get comes directly from those in need via our school support model which is already built into administration processes. Empowerment also prompts us to engage due to the confidence it instills within begins to become a reflection of the work done outwardly toward any goal, with determination.

Growing donations have allowed us to donate more to include students attending Gwinnett County Elementary, Middle and High Schools. The more we can help the more people get the opportunity to become what they define as success. Growing and having a larger impact, is an affair of the heart. #ITSROSASWILL.

To Donate: https://www.rosaswill.org/backpacks-to-school-supplies

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, Inc., has a commitment to investing our expertise and resources in order to further achieve our cause. Our Mission is to facilitate the eradication of generational poverty through economic, educational, and communal acts of empowerment for the economically disadvantaged. Dealing with the challenges of today requires problem-solvers who bring different perspectives and are willing to take risks. We work with the schools to help provide what is needed for our families instead of having them fit into organizational practices that allow us to qualify for funding. Working with schools our finger is on the pulse of the community so we can provide them the things that will fulfil the needs of their everyday lives. The William James & Rosa Lee Little Foundation, Inc. emerged out of a pursuit to inspire and support communities, as well as a desire for actions to speak louder than words. Established on August 26, 2013, we’re an organization driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and an increasingly strong foundation of support. I provide support to families that are either single parent or homeless families with income disparities. I am growing our organization into an organization that will provide opportunities that make a shifting impact within the lives of our community members.
Our Vision is to empower those we serve. We believe that to empower is to encourage, invest-in, endow, embolden, and enable. Single and/or homeless families within our communities who are working to improve their lives and the lives of their families deserve the opportunity to continue in striving to build a better future. I want to help them do that.

Generally, when a person feels empowered, we take action and we do so with commitment and a higher-quality of initiative. This empowerment prompts us with action due to the confidence it instills within us as we work outwardly toward any goal with determination.

Business-wise, I made a decision to change directions after attaining my Bachelor of Science in Applied Business Management and Administration. I came to epiphany that I no longer wanted to be in corporate America. So, I decided to go back to school to attain my MPA instead of my MBA. Starting the nonprofit was easy as far as actionable steps. I took a grant writing course and am on the Fulton County Community Services Evaluation Committee Member evaluating grants for nonprofits in the area.

What I’m most proud and excited is that we are growing in donations and able to do more for the schools. We have donated to students in Gwinnett County Elementary, Middle and High Schools. The more we can help the better someone’s chances are to succeed. Growing and having a larger impact this is also what I want everyone to know. It is an affair of the heart.

What I learned along the way is that there were no truer words spoken than those of Martin Luther King, Jr, “EVERYBODY can be great. Because ANYBODY can SERVE. You only need a HEART full of GRACE And A SOUL generated by LOVE.”

No it is not easy but it is worth it!

I want the world to know that in everything I have experienced, I’m better. I once heard a preacher say, “All pain comes with a gift.” I can think of no better gift that to give love that makes someone’s load lighter, if I can. And if, I can’t, I can find someone that can help me make it happen. That’s why I advocate for everyone to BE THE BLESSING, That makes the difference. Whatever it is, let it be!

I have overcome the same challenges that I am currently overcoming FEAR. Fear that I’m not enough. Fear that I can’t help in the ways I have dreamed about. That there will be someone suffering needlessly because I haven’t done enough. With every decision I make, I have to check fear at the door. I had to make up my mind, and say, if not me, who?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. In your view what are some of the most fun, interesting, exciting people, places or things to check out?

I would get an Atlant City Pass and it all the tourist spots. Everyone always loves that. I’d get tickts to see a show at The Fox Theater. Go to the Illuminarium at the Atlanta Beltline, Slutty Vegan, Pappadeaux, Soul Vegetarian, Café Sunflower, JoJo’s Beloved Cocktail Lounge, Negril Village, IPIC, Six Flags Over Georgia, Top Golf, Medieval Times Dinner Theater, Centennial Olympic Park, Piedmont Park, MLKs Home, Andretti Indoor Karting and Game, Little 5 Points: the OutCast Mural, and everything else there, ZuCot Gallery, and Arnika Dawkins Photographic Fine Art Gallery and maybe Hammonds House Museum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to Shouout my husband, Theron W. Johnson and my daughter, Amber-Nicolette Little. They have been in full support of my dream to be of service to others. This means more to me than I can say. I met my husband a bit after I was blessed with an opportunity to regain employment and move to in an apartment. My daughter Amber weathered the storm with me and gained her faith with God as He kept us covered throughout our journey. And my oldest sister Debra who helped pray me through some really tough times. And an old family friend who would not like me to mention his name, Brother DW.

Joi Kilpatrick, Principal William M. Boyd Elementary School. She was also my daughter’s 4th grade teacher when we were homeless. We had a full circle moment in that when I sought out schools to partner with I had no idea that Joi’s career journey had taken her to the school that I chose to connect with to seek out my first partnership.

She graciously allowed my organization to be of service to the #boydbabies in the Douglass Cluster.

Website: www.rosaswill.org

Instagram: @itsrosaswill

Twitter: itsrosaswill

Facebook: itsrosaswill

Image Credits
Photo credit(s): Pamla DL Johnson, Theron W. Johnson, Amber-Nicolette Little. The READ photo was a volunteer opp with Everybody Wins Atlanta. That is their photo that I have permission to use. It is also listed on my website.