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

Hi Tameka, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Passion. When people talk about the organization, whether it’s me, a board member, or a volunteer, you’re going to see the passion come across. We’re not just checking boxes, we want to make sure that the girls succeed. So, when you have passion that you’re able to drive the right way, you can get a lot of things accomplished.

We’re also data-driven. We don’t make our choices based on what is considered popular, or what other people are doing. We make full proof decisions that we know will be successful and beneficial to our girls. If the data changes ten years from now and says that actually boys, or let’s say elementary girls, need it more, then we might change our focus. We’re meeting the community need.

Lastly, I wouldn’t have achieved any of this if I didn’t decide to bet on myself. Sometimes I really look at myself and say, I can’t believe it. It’s been four years and I’m really doing this. There’s some things that we failed at along the way, but those failures don’t outweigh our successes. There are plenty of times that it got hard, but I had to remind myself that I can do this, Atlanta needs this, young girls need this.

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?
When I started The Power of Girls, I knew there was a risk associated with entering the marketplace with yet another girls nonprofit organization. It was hard. I had to block out the negativity and remain focused on why I was doing this. People would always ask, are you sure you want to take middle school girls over to another country? Why don’t you just be an amazing volunteer? That constant questioning caused me to form a separate drive to prove naysayers wrongs. But, I had to remember, I wasn’t doing it for that reason, and that what was for us would be for us.

This has proven to so true! Since our inception, people have been inquiring on how their daughters, nieces, and young girls in their lives get be involved with The Power of Girls. We combine girls mentoring with exposure to travel, and we do so in a unique way. I call it our secret sauce. That, and the authentic passion I described in the previous question, is what sets The Power of Girls apart.

There are three things that are important to me: (1) the girls being safe, both physically and mentally (2) the girls having a great experience and (3) the girls going on an international trip. If we’re not getting those things done, I don’t care about anything else. When I stick to that, I get things accomplished and The Power of Girls has success!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First things first, I am taking them anywhere black 🙂

Throughout the week, we would visit Breakfast at Barneys and Toast ATL. For great drinks, I’m taking my bestie to DBar Vegan and Apt 4B! For our sugar rush, we’re heading to Sublime Donuts (maybe a nightly ritual 🙂

Atlanta is such a beautiful city, and I love to take it all in!I We’d enjoy Historical Spots in Atlanta, Piedmont Park, and The Beltine.

As a nature buff, I also love to check out the surrounding areas! I love parks and hiking, and Atlanta has great proximity to beautiful waterfalls and nature! We’d probably take a few day trips to soak up nature’s beauty!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out all of the girl organizations, whether big or small, that help positively impact girls. We need more organizations, we need thought leaders, we need people to inspire girls and remind them we are here for them.

Website: https://www.thepowerofgirls.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepowerofgirls/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-power-of-girls-inc./

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepowerofgirlsorg/

Image Credits
All images are credited to The Power of Girls.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.