Dr. Mecca K. Terry shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Mecca K., thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yes, when reflecting on the nonprofit for the past 8 years one recent moment that made me proud was making connections in the community that we have been working towards for some time. Our organization strives to provide a service to the community. That service relies heavily on the relationships we develop with hair care brands. Some relationships are easy to build than others, but we are thankful for every connection. For example, we recently partnered with the Palmers brand, a well-known hair care and body brand. Because of this partnership we were able to provide Palmers hair care items in our Natural Hair Blessing Bags.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Mecca K. Terry, and I am an educator in higher education. Outside of my professional career, I am a Certified Sisterlocks® Consultant. I have been a Certified Sisterlocks® Consultant since 2020. I enjoy helping individuals embrace their natural selves, especially their natural hair. As a result I owned a natural hair mobile salon before developing my nonprofit organization, Embracing My Natural, Inc.
Embracing My Natural, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on promoting natural hair care. Our mission is to create awareness about the importance of natural hair care and to provide resources for those in need. Our signature program is Natural Hair Blessing Bags, which we distribute to individuals who may not have access to the necessary items for healthy hair maintenance. We offer various workshops and events to promote natural hair care and empower individuals to embrace their natural beauty with confidence. We have partnered with several natural hair care brands to support our nonprofit and our mission.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Before I started my nonprofit I remember going to a local store in my community to grab a few household items. When I opened the door to the store a young girl ran out and a woman followed her. I later learned the woman was her grandmother. I heard the young girl say to her grandmother, “I don’t want to go to the salon to get fake braids. I want to wear my hair.” The grandmother said to the girl, “I don’t know what you want me to do.” I assumed the grandmother was her caretaker, and was trying to get her hair done for the new school year, but the young girl did not want to add weave to her hair. I took a leap of faith and begin talking to the grandmother about my mobile hair salon and how I service individuals with natural hair. She mentioned that she did not know how to care for her granddaughter’s hair and taking her to the salon for weave was the best option. After sharing how I could assist her, and ways she can care for her granddaughter’s natural hair, with ease, I was immediately drawn to wanting to help others. As a result, Embracing My Natural, Inc. was born.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes! Several times. Embracing My Natural, Inc. is a small nonprofit organization with big goals. We are also a small team which means, as the founder, I wear many hats. This can sometimes become cumbersome, but I strive to achieve our mission. As such, I rely on our team members and volunteers who can help elevate the nonprofit towards its goals.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my mother for her character because she’s supportive and unapologetically herself. As a child she always pushed me to achieve my goals no matter the obstacles. I believe this is what motivates me to continue pursuing the mission of my nonprofit; knowing that I can support others as my mother has supported me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope to tell people when I am gone is that I am a genuine helper. I strive to help those around me no matter if I am up or down. I believe we are here to be a help to one another. We essentially need one another, and my goal is to be a support to people in need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www,embracingmynatural.org
- Instagram: @embracingmynatural
- Linkedin: Embracing My Natural, Inc.
