Carlita Singletary is the Founder of Keep Walking Community Foundation. She has helped hundreds of women for almost 25 years recover from alcohol/drug addictions and women going through various hardships. Carlita has accomplished many goals in her life. She’s a motivational empowerment speaker, community liaison, a spiritual midwife (helps birth and carry out visions), a loyal friend and a family woman. But the most important goal she believes in order to make a difference in life is to maintain her “genuineness” as a servant/leader in her community. She is a woman that is relevant to the times, she carries herself with grace, extends compassion to all and will defend the underserved to the end.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
I felt like there was a need to share my story and my experiences with other women to help them get through some of the hardships in life.
Tell us about your business?
Keep Walking Community Foundation is a volunteer member based organization that empowers women in the community. We act as a liaison that provides referrals to other community based organizations. We mainly provide mentorship and life coaching services for women in recovery and host community events to help foster unity and empowerment.
Are you currently running any promos/contest/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Regularly, we highlight women’s life stories on our website. We encourage women to submit short stories of their experiences to help other women who are afraid to speak out while going through hardships. Anyone can submit their short story to our organization by going to our website and signing up.
List awards/ certifications/ and accomplishments.
- 2007 – Awarded “New Jersey Outreach Supervisor Award”
- 2010 – Ordained as a “minister” at WholeLife Community Church
- 2012 – Awarded “Outstanding Outreach Director Award” from WholeLife community church in Totowa, NJ
- 2016 – Awarded “Women of Distinction” from Promises Delivered, Inc. in Newark, NJ
- 2016 – Elevated as an “Ordained Elder” at Highway Deliverance Temple in New York, NY
Where is your business based?
In the state of New Jersey.
What are the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
- Created a business plan.
- Consulted my vision with the person I wanted to become my business partner, Sheila Addison, who is the co-founder.
- Trademarked my organization name and registered with the state of New Jersey.
- Created a calendar for upcoming events and solicited volunteer members.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Social media and physical presence at various places in the community.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
- Keeping consistent volunteers.
- Not always having the funds to do events or provide a direct service to those in need (i.e feeding the less fortunate).
How do you keep motivated through challenging times?
- Prayer and meditation.
- Talking to my own mentor.
- Reminding myself about the purpose of KWCF.
Also, the women who continue to reach out to me for help, let me know that they need me to keep walking and assisting them.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I wouldn’t say that I’m competing because people tend to know if you’re authentic or not. I stay in my lane and operate in my element, so it works. I believe we are operating in our niche and the people we serve keep coming to our organization for services.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
Create a dream team that allows you to focus on what you need to do.
What advice would you give another entrepreneur?
Surround yourself with others that believe in your vision and trust your decisions.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
Nonprofit sustainability: “Making Strategic Decisions For Financial Viability” by Jeanne Bell, Jan Masaoka and Steve Zimmerman.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I’m looking for help with expanding.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
My goals for the next few months are to concentrate on fundraising and building up a consistent team of volunteers.
What social media outlets do you use?
Facebook www.facebook.com/keepwalkingcommunityfoundation
Instagram @keepwalkingcf
Website www.keepwalkingcf.org
Email keepwalkingcommunityfoundation@gmail.com
Hashtags #keepwalkingcf