We had the good fortune of connecting with Alena Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alena, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I established Trust Your Strength to help create awareness of the mental support needed in and after the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) stay. Through our own personal experience of delivering two children prematurely, we are passionate about providing support to families of premature, sick infants, medically fragile babies and to those who have been affected by pregnancy and infant loss. Studies have suggested an estimate of 70 percent of parents whose babies spend time in the NICU may grapple with symptoms of depression, yet there are not good screening measures in place to help them. Through our services, we coordinate therapy and crisis resources to parents to help them during some of their most difficult times of their journey.

What should our readers know about your business?

Trust Your Strength focuses on the well being of the parents. Providing self-care packages, financial assistance, and support while working to strengthen parents who have experienced unimaginable journey’s.

Through our organization, we provide the tools and support needed to better assist parents in building long-lasting relationships that will allow them to lean on each other and acknowledge them for a job well done. Babies born prematurely or medically fragile come into this world fighting for their lives.

Knowing first-hand the mental strength a parent must possess while caring for their babies in the NICU and seeing them through this fight we recognized that these babies that survive are miracles, warriors and champions.

Every journey is different and not all babies or mothers survive. Black women especially, in the United States experience unacceptably poor maternal health outcomes. Studies have shown that Black women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women in the U.S. and it’s unacceptable.

Annually, We host a Trust Your Strength Fundraising Miracles Gala. During the gala we acknowledge parents, nurses, and doctors for having strength, courage, and for sacrificing a lot during their NICU experiences. Through the last 5 years of business and supporting over 5,000 families, we’ve learned that we still have a long way to go to fight the maternal health crisis but if we continue to raise awareness and help families along the way our impact is huge for the families who need us. Alone we can do so little, but together we can do so much.

We will continue to partner with businesses and the community to keep our initiatives going.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There is so much to do in Atlanta. If my best friend was visiting we are going try out some of Atlanta’s best restaurants. Toast on Lenox for brunch is a must. We would check out the concert list to see if any of our favorite artist are performing at any of the venues or stadiums. Also, as a baseball lover if the Braves are playing we may check out a game at the Battery.

If the kids are involved then we would take them anywhere that has a pool or water park involved like Six Flags White Water or Seven Springs Water Park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Our impact has been huge because of our volunteers and sponsors. Our organization is coordinated by volunteers who continue to show up and dedicate their time to help us keep our initiatives going. We have sponsors who continuously contribute financially to our non profit organization and believe in our mission. For the past 5 years Georgia Best Childcare Centers, IV League Marketing, Xlusive Designs and Events, The Turner Collective Realty, BMW, South Atlanta, JW Event Suite, Father Movement, Optimum Pediatric Services, Smith Gourmet Creations Restaurant & D Brothers Realty to name a few have played a instrumental role in the success of our Annual Miracles Gala and quarterly self-care events.

Website: www.trustyourstrength.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/trust_your_strength or www.instagram.com/alena0916

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064510430251

Image Credits
Crystal Alexis Photography LLC ShotbyYM Ozone Productions

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