We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen ” DJ Nett” Lawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen ” DJ Nett”, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my 501c3 Nonprofit: Nettwork Inc was inspired by my passion for both, working with youth and my love for Arts & community.

The Nettwork Inc’s mission is to Educate, Engage and Empower youth in underserved communities through leadership and entrepreneurship. We provide music and art workshops to youth who live in communities where they have limited resources. These music and art workshops teach the youth how to express themselves and cope with the aftermath of leaving during a global pandemic. The youth also are equipped with learning about becoming art inspired business owners and entrepreneurs.

On top of our music and art workshops we teach the youth about civic responsibility by having them participate in our community cleanup and beautification projects with our program SEQ Cleanup (short for South East Queens CLeanup). During the height of the pandemic, South East Queens, NY was hit hard with lot of illegal dumping and built up trash filling up local parks and residential streets.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artistry is DJing. I teach at local schools and within the program called Starting From Scratch under my Nonprofit: Nettwork Inc. I have been djing for over 20 years and started at the age of 14. When I was a teen they had no classes or workshops like this back in the days. I can see the excitement on the kids faces everything they come to class. I am most proud of being able to provide them with entrepreneurial skills so they can start up their own dj business as young entrepreneurs as well.

As a female dj in this music industry it wasn’t always easy. There’s many men and women who see a female dj on the flyer for events and underestimate my dj abilities until they hear me mix. So getting pass that obstacle of being a women in a male dominated industry has had their challenges but I have learned over time to let my skills and talent speak for me.

When it comes to my Nonprofit org: Nettwork Inc, I want the the world to know that we not only teach the youth about how to play music or how to draw or dance, but we help them build their confidence and help them tap into their creativity. They become leaders and develop their individualism.

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.
I would show them the many parts of South East Queens from visiting our local beautiful parks which my org has assisted with beautifcation projects and cleanups like Roy Wilkins Park & Baisley Park. We would get some delicious Oxtail Patties from black women owned local business: Queenz Bakery Cafe on Merrick Blvd in Jamaica, and we would go see a show at the Black Spectrum Theater. To stock up on items for the hotel fridge to snack on we would stop by local black owned Grocery store: Earnest Foods to support this new establishment that has been monumental with fulling his shelves with black owned businesses and entrepreneurs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my inspiration and success to my 1 year old twin daughters, Ocean & Skye. They were born during the height of the pandemic in April 2021 and during that time of pregnancy with them, I had an awakening as to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, what I wanted to give back to this world and what I wanted my legacy to be so they would one day look back when they are older and be proud of their mom for. Waking up everyday and doing what I love to do as an entrepreneur who started a nonprofit where I can be both, a dj and youth mentor, is my calling. I owe that awakening all to my twin daughters.

Website: www.nettworkinc.org

Instagram: @nettworkinc @Seqcleanup

Facebook: www.facebook.com/seqcleanup

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCo1VLnjPhVvyP54VUAZEVpg

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