Meet Danielle Bray | Nonprofit Founder

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

Hi Danielle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Where do I start and very long story. It was a vision. Everlasting Vessels Inc was established in 2013 after a layoff in February 2013. However, I did not fully launch until a spiritual encounter circling me back around to it. In August 2013, I went back into corporate world and did not finish anything with Everlasting Vessels Inc. In December 2014, I accepted an invite to visit my friend and goddaughter in Dallas, TX for my 35th birthday. My friend contacted me the Thursday before I flew out. She asked, “Would you like to attend TD Jakes’s church?” Of course, I read all his books but never really new anything about his church. Therefore, I said, yes. Sunday, December 7, 2014, I arrived at the church. My friend ask if I wanted to go to the visitor desk. Of course, I wanted to just say “no” and go have a seat. However, I went to the desk, and they went with me. They give me a giftbag, and we head to the elevator. We sat in the balcony area. Pastor Jakes was not there. However, I recall the Pastor’s sermon “You’re worth it”. I was very emotional. I’m back at my friends home and packing for my early morning flight. I opened that gift bag, and there were two CDs. One was titled “You have Unfinished Business” by Bishop Jakes and the other “You have just been Upgraded” by Bishop Henry Fernendez. I was very compelled by the message that I wanted to know about his Bishop Henry Fernendez’s ministry and why God was connecting with me through a CD. In 2015, I experienced a serious health issue and another layoff. However, I was experiencing situations that kept pushing me towards establishing the nonprofit. I even recall meeting a guy at the job in 2015 and telling him about the nonprofit. He says, “Do you know what is wrong with you church people? You have so much faith and forget that you need to do something.” It was very odd because I needed very strong, strong faith on this journey. God was leading me to Bishop Henry Fernandez’s ministry. In December 2015 going to January 2016, I made up mine to launch with Everlasting Vessels Inc full time. If God had such an odd encounter happen, then, there must be a deeper reason, and I need to complete my part. It has been so much to learn, many projects to take ownership to close in gaps in our communities. Everlasting Vessels Inc has tackled social issues with housing negligence, food insecurity, family abuse, and broadband (Digital Divide) in addition to our self development workshops in rural and urban communities. It has been tough because we have operated on bare minimum while giving back over $500k in professional skills back to our communities on just one project.

What should our readers know about your business?
Everlasting Vessels Inc closes in many gaps in rural and urban communities. When, we first started, we were focused on providing a self development and business planning workshops. However, with time, we realized that there were other needs that should be addressed first like food insecurity, negligence with housing, lack of affordable reliable internet services, or just lack of any type of tangible item needed for success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would visit Chateu Elan. After working on the nonprofit and many initiatives, I’ve lost touch with many social events in Georgia. Yet, I enjoy music, nature, and art, so we would visit sites pertaining to these things.

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 shoutout my parents Mr and Mrs Demetrius Bray. They did not understand the journey that God has had me on. Yet, they have supported my efforts.

Website: https://www.everlastingvessels.org

Facebook: Everlasting Vessels Inc