Meet Tricia Cardoso: Victim Advocate & Business Owner

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

Hi Tricia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When I decided to start Crowned Rentals, I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter, Ava. I had so many ideas while being home but didn’t know how to start especially in the middle of a pandemic. My daughter is now 6 months and looking back, I am so happy that I took that leap of faith. For some reason, I was excited for the new beginnings. I was getting ready to become a new mom and business owner. I wasn’t sure how I was going to balance it all while still working a 9-5 but I felt extremely optimistic. Luckily, my 9-5 decided to go temporarily remotely in March 2020, so I was able to be at home until March 2021, while we slowly transitioned back in the office for a few days a week. I migrated to the USA at the age of 9 from the Cape Verde Islands with my mother and sisters. We didn’t have much but I saw my mother work multiple jobs including overnight shifts to make sure we had everything we “needed”. We lived in different shelters for a few years until we were able to obtain permanent housing. From being homeless and now owning 2 homes, my mother is my inspiration and the reason why I so work hard to give my daughter and family everything. She taught us the value of going after your dreams while trusting God for guidance. In April 2021, I decided to do just that and launched “Bold and Luxe Picnics”, sister company to Crowned Rentals. For some reason, launching this business brought a lot of anxiety and took me longer to bring it forth. I am not sure if it had to do with my newly mommy hormones but I was dealing with a lot of insecurities, self-doubt and low self-esteem. I felt somewhat uncapable and self-sabotaged my abilities to juggle it all with all these new responsibilities. I remember praying for success but also for balance. I am big on self-care so I knew that pouring from an empty cup wasn’t going to help me in any areas of my life; personal or business. It’s easy to get burnt-out and fatigued in this type of industry. I am learning to ask for help when I need and take a day off to recharge, so when I am back to the grind, I am capable of being great to myself and those around me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I actually have the craziest story on how I got my job. You are hearing it first on here lol *hides face*. I work full-time at the District Attorney’s office as a Victim/Witness Advocate since 2019, when I first moved to Atlanta from Boston. I feel everything was aligned for me before even moving here because I was a domestic violence survivor and I just knew that this position was purpose driven. Making this long story short and giving all glory to God, back in 2014 my ex’s friend was giving me a ride home from work and apparently was being followed by detectives for a while due to drug activities and because I was in the car with him, I was also charged with conspiracy and class A drug felony. I remember feeling my world crashing down. I was 23 years old, working and going to school full-time. I had never had any problems with the police before and definitely never seen heroin in person. I was confused on how I was now attached to this situation and how my life changed from one day to the other. So when moved, I was encouraged by family and friends to still apply but I wondered how can they hire me when I have a criminal history and this is the DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. So I prayed and prayed for God to make a way. Along with the application, I wrote them a long letter about my charge and how I was an innocent bystander that simply got offered a ride. Ironically, I am now working for the same organization (District Attorney’s office) that wanted to convict me for a crime I didn’t do or even knew about but in a different state. It still crazy to me that I am in this position and I am able to help those affected by a crime. God showed me that nothing is impossible for him and that’s what I want to leave you guys with. When its impossible for you or your mind just don’t see a way out, remember that he’s able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My Best Friend is actually visiting in the next 2 weeks from Boston. So for; Friday Day 1: She arrives in the afternoon, settles in. Later at night I give her a tour of the city and we stop for a bite at “Taqueria del Sol” in Howell Mills. She’s probably tired, so we just chill in for the rest of the night.
Saturday Day 2: We’re up early and go get breakfast at “Thumbs up diner”. We then do some shopping at Lenox or Cumberland Mall. In the afternoon, we grab a quick bite at “Local Green Atlanta”. Later, we get with some of my friends and either go bowling at the “Painted Pin” or hit up “Sky Lounge” for a chill night.

Sunday Day 3: I decided to cook us some breakfast at home. We later go pamper ourselves at “iwi fresh garden day spa”. In the afternoon, we go to Piedmont park and have a fun picnic and play some outdoor games with other friends of mine. Because we spent majority of our afternoon so at Piedmont so at night, we come to the house, get ready and go have dinner at “Poor Calvins”. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout my husband, Kemar, who is also my business partner for being my backbone behind Crowned Rentals and Bold & Luxe Picnics. I would not be able to do it alone. His support and help has played a huge impact behind the success of our businesses.

Instagram: Crowned_Rentals, @gracefully_tricia and @boldandluxepicnics

Image Credits
Photos taken by: @dr8nn (Drayton McJunkins)