Exploring Life & Business with Tiffany Swoope of Greater Ascension Community and Economic Development, Inc. (“GRACED, Inc.”)

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Swoope

Hi Tiffany , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My passion and pleasure are deeply rooted in bringing healing to those who have endured extreme trauma. Raised by a single mother with only a seventh-grade education from the 1940s, I grew up in a household with five older siblings, including a brother whose forty-year struggle with crack cocaine addiction began when I was just seven years old. Also, I have a sister who showed signs of mental illness as an adolescent that went undiagnosed for many years. I know firsthand the struggles of living in high-poverty areas, traumatic environments, and the lack of resources available within those communities. My life has been fraught with difficulties, but I was fortunate to receive effective support that helped me navigate the toughest trials.

Although I was educated as a rocket scientist, I spent the majority of my career as a LIHTC affordable housing professional. This path provided me with a unique perspective and a profound desire to do more—to play my part in helping others. Understanding the added trauma that some aspects of my work may have unintentionally created in some communities, I now strive to be a beacon of hope for those who feel forgotten. In this season of my life, I am dedicated to helping teens and young adults develop healthy self-perceptions and strengthen their chances of achieving personal success. My mission is to break the chains of generational trauma and oppression.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. Tapping into my passion and igniting my purpose required a process. My divine journey has been a tapestry woven with both challenges and triumphs; curves, valleys, and steep mountains to trek. Reflecting after healing, I am convinced that I was created for my current life assignment. Both my brother’s addiction coupled with my sister’s undiagnosed mental illness became a storm cloud that hovered over my childhood and family. As a gifted youth, I needed extracurricular activities we couldn’t afford, early intervention programs, and effective outside support to focus on my well-being. I also needed more of my mother’s attention, but she was consumed, at the time, mostly by my brother’s addiction crisis. As a result, I became a single, teenage mother at the age of fifteen. I vowed to give my child a better foundation from which to launch.

I educated myself, which often meant juggling the responsibilities of being a hospice care provider to my ailing grandparents, caring for my aging mother who had endured six open-back surgeries, working more than one job, and maintaining a college workload. Yet, I persevered. Despite entertaining opportunities to work in the space industry, I forfeited my career to remain close to Alabama because my mother needed someone to manage her failing health. As the baby of the family, I was grateful for my mom in many ways, so I stepped up to take care of her.

After graduating from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, I accepted a different type of once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote the mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Atlanta, GA. This was my second chance to launch and create success for my daughter and I. My tenure at the King Center sparked my spirit of servitude and allowed me to work for the world-renowned nonprofit founded by the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King. This decision not only fulfilled my desire to leave Alabama and escape the trauma I experienced there, but it also provided a chance for both my daughter and me to heal. I worked hard and purchased my first home in suburban Atlanta. It was then that I realized I had finally reached a place where I could process my feelings and begin to heal from the pain that had plagued my life up to that point. At last, my healing process could truly begin.

My healing journey was far from conventional. Truth be told, my struggles with depression, food addiction and low self-esteem surfaced years earlier during elementary school. I can trace it back to when I was seven years old—the moment my childhood ended as I took on the responsibility of helping to raise a niece and nephew due to my brother’s addiction. This precluded me from being a typical, carefree kid like my peers, who could go outside and play after school and enjoy their freedom. My family, coming from a different walk of life didn’t understand the signs of mental health issues. See, they were sharecroppers, cut from a different cloth with spirits rooted in trauma and fighting against adversity. All they knew was that when times get tough, you have to “toughen up” or “you might give in, but don’t give out”; “keep going” was their mantra. I suffered in silence for a very long time forging ahead as best as I could. Before giving birth to my daughter at fifteen, I had already been involved in raising six nieces and nephews. My family knew I was competent and capable, even as a single teen mother in high school. They would say, “Tiffany can do it.” Of course, I could, but Tiffany was tired.

I tried various modalities to overcome my generational pain because I discovered that what worked for others wasn’t effective for me. Little by little, I became stronger in my relationships and found peace within. Finally, I felt complete, whole, and safe. At some point, I realized that everything I had experienced made me hate myself. It took time, but I eventually made peace with my process and began to love myself and my life, for once. I was able to break the cycle of generational trauma and provide a healthy space for my daughter to do the same.

Relocating to Atlanta, GA, most importantly, afforded me the freedom to expose my young daughter to life-changing opportunities available in larger cities, helping to break the shackles of limitations that dominated our hometown. She is now a college graduate, a phenomenal wife supporting her husband’s rising career as a Division 1 defensive line coach, and an outstanding mother to two sweet, high-energy little boys, the oldest is reading and doing math at a third-grade level while in kindergarten, all while forging her own path as a successful entrepreneur. My daughter too has mastered the art of challenging kids to access their untapped potential. My grandchildren will never experience the struggles and hardships my daughter and I overcame to ensure their freedom from generational pain and spiritual growth. We fought through numerous trials and valleys so they could have a fair chance to thrive, reach their full potential and live without unnecessary pain or obstacles. My grandsons are well on their way and it is a beautiful sight to behold. Dreams do come true.

In my former career, I dedicated thirteen years to working in the multi-family affordable housing industry. Growing up in the industry allowed me to gain invaluable knowledge, which I felt created a positive impact on every community where we developed new housing. I was especially known for successfully and seamlessly administering the release of over $300 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding, resulting in hundreds of affordable and sustainable residential units being built and placed into service for low-income Georgia residents. About six years in, I made the decision to walk away and care for my mother after she became paralyzed from a stroke. I did so without hesitation while reinventing myself and launching a sole proprietor consulting firm. This firm supported an Atlanta-based developer, owner, and property management company with the Atlanta Housing Authority on their Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) redevelopment portfolio. In my capacity, I was responsible for meeting procurement deadlines, managing capital improvement projects, and completing mandatory Housing and Urban Development (HUD) monthly reporting for up to four senior high-rise living communities until they were decommissioned for redevelopment. The adrenaline junkie within me loved every exciting moment of learning new tasks, managing a heavy workload while allowing my mother to have the time of her life during her golden years. We traveled to fourteen states and experienced some of the most amazing moments of our lives. Thelma and Louise is who we were often likened to! My heart was wide open as I operated from a place of pure love and freedom in both my career and personal life. Once my mom transitioned, I decided to return to the corporate environment. This marked the beginning of the end of that season of my life. I realized that my heart was no longer in my work directly and I needed to focus my attention where I could make the greatest difference. I discovered that the greatest difference could be made in the lives of those who were being left behind as these new, beautiful complexes were being developed—people who could no longer afford to live in the communities they had called home for most, if not all, of their lives. They needed a plan to get to the next level, but who would prepare them with guidance and support? As a result, I took a hiatus from my career and rechanneled my energy. Life is like the Matrix, I believe; one has to win on one level to advance to the next. This is where I discovered is my true passion.

I wholeheartedly understand the domino effect of marginalization, coupled with trauma, poverty, lack of access to resources, mental illness, addiction and the journey to recovery on individuals, families, and the community at large. The cascading consequences of these hardships can often feel insurmountable, touching every aspect of one’s life and creating cycles of struggle that are difficult, but not impossible to break. Now that I have overcome and my daughter has broken through the chains of generational trauma, I truly believe that the spiral caused by my brother’s addiction and the effects of my sister’s mental illness happened for me, not to me, and not to devastate my family. If not for the series of events that occurred as a result, I wouldn’t be able to share my story of survival and victory. And I certainly wouldn’t be able to share the strength I developed while overcoming everything life threw my way, to give it in return to those who need it most.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Greater Ascension Community and Economic Development, Inc. (“GRACED, Inc.”)?
Imagine a world where every underprivileged teen can tap into their hidden potential becoming the innovators, healers and leaders of tomorrow. That’s the future we’re crafting through GRACED, Inc. Our mission is to empower youth and young adults, ages 12-18, to thrive by providing life-enhancing programs that support self-reliance and break the cycle of trauma. We reach underserved, mostly Black and Brown, youth who are disenfranchised and underinvested in, right in the heart of one of the highest-risk areas of Durham, NC, through our place-based services. Our meeting facility at Weaver Street Recreation Center, in partnership with Durham Parks and Recreation, is situated near a crime-ridden, poverty-stricken, and gang-infested very low-income housing community. Most of the youth we serve were born into the trauma cycle of generational poverty. Many of our youths’ parents work multiple jobs to meet their family’s basic needs making it difficult for them to be fully present and support our work with their teens. Additionally, many of our teens have very little exposure outside their community other than attending school. As a result, positive life exposures that typically foster an organic transition to more progressive life skills are lacking.

GRACED, Inc.’s unique modalities stimulate positive outlooks on life while inspiring hope for a better tomorrow for each youth participant. The presence of hope is integral in saving the lives of children who do not know how to save themselves. As a result of our consistent and evidence-based methods, our youth are beginning to believe; they are dreaming and planning as they align their actions with their individualized strategic life plans based on the foundation of success sequencing.

Because the population we serve has been historically marginalized, our work is ultimately centered around social justice for this community. We are supporting our teens’ mental health, delaying and averting youth substance abuse, teaching coping skills for dealing with disruptive life situations, and increasing self-esteem. We work to break the false narratives their environment creates and to alter their views towards achieving personal success, unlocking their potential to be their best. Youth are taught to develop response plans to future life stressors by transitioning their mindsets from survival to thriving—setting goals, overcoming negative thought patterns, and embracing the concept of living intentionally. In a community where gangs dominate, we provide inclusion through our place-based and youth-centered programmatic activities, encompassing both creative and holistic strategies that allow them to be included in spaces beyond our STEAM- based leadership, healing-centered mentorship, small group tutoring, and workforce development programs.

By offering these bright young minds not just life skills but a roadmap to intentional living, we’re unlocking doors to opportunities they’ve only dared to dream of. From mastering the art of etiquette to strategic goal setting, we’re not just preparing them for life; we’re setting the stage for them to thrive and lead. We are laying the groundwork, paving the way for them to venture into the unknown, unlocking the door to a brighter future.

This summer, we traveled by charter bus to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA, for a unique mentor-mentee outing—a tangible reward for those teens’ who completed required activities such as participating in our workforce development cohort, attending a career exploration trip to Cisco Systems, or learning more about civic engagement by attending a program and meeting lawmakers at the North Carolina General Assembly. They had to show their commitment to their own success, which was honored by our program’s volunteer mentors, community supporters, and their parents at our first annual awards gala. In July, one of our youth was competitively chosen for a global youth fellowship trip to Cuba through a partnering organization, where she experienced their norms and culture. This was the first time she or any member of her family had experienced international travel, as they lived vicariously through her. Last year, one of our youth achieved the incredible milestone of becoming the first representative from the Cornwallis Community to serve on Durham Office of Youth’s Changed By Youth Ambassador program. Giving this kid a voice and placing him in a position to be heard and seen empowered him to become a first-generation high school graduate, who has since earned certifications in trades. He is now working a full-time job while strategizing on how to become a first-generation college graduate.

Currently, both our organization and one of our youth serve on the Durham Youth Mentoring Alliance’s core planning committee, working with other organizations and young people to build relationships, share ideas, and shape the vision for the future of mentoring in Durham through collaborative conversations and events. GRACED, Inc. was honorably recognized as one of the programs in the city of Durham impacting the social determinants of health by the Durham County Health Department in their 2023 Partnership for a Healthy Durham semi-annual community report. In January 2023, our work was celebrated during the mentor appreciation celebration hosted by the Mayor and City Council as one of the four programs spotlighted in Durham during “Amplify Mentoring Day” at City Hall.

We’re on a mission to sculpt the fabric of our future society with a sense of purpose and commitment to this historically voiceless and invisible community—and ultimately, the world at large. The seeds we are planting today through our efforts will come to harvest as the next generation of changemakers. We currently have 18 youth enrolled and committed in our programs, with 7 on the waitlist. At this moment, I have to cap the caseload at 25 due to a lack of resources, human capital, and financial support. This assignment is bigger than GRACED, Inc. We need visionary partners, sponsors, mentors, volunteers, and other resources to maintain our momentum and continue creating impact one youth at a time. We need partners and sponsors to join forces with us in bringing our vision of a trauma-free community to fruition—a community where family units are healthy, productive, and living intentionally. Together, we will ignite a beacon of hope and empowerment and witness the unveiling of a generation that will redefine what it means to live a life of purpose and achievement, beginning right here in the middle of Cornwallis Housing Projects at the recreation center.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I urge each of you to support your local nonprofit organizations that are doing the work. This is where pivotal change happens in our society. Your actions empower and inspire our youth to grow, develop, and make a significant impact in the world. By joining hands with community-based organizations, you become an essential part of each of our missions to help the youth we serve rise above their circumstances and overcome the odds they face. Sometimes, all they need to hear is “keep going.” And through your support, that organization too can “keep going.” Together, we are making a meaningful impact in the lives of our youth and the broader world. Thank you in advance for being a catalyst of change!

Pricing:

• Bronze Sponsorship – $1,000.00
• Silver Sponsorship – $5,000.00
• Gold Sponsorship – $15,000.00
• Platinum Sponsorship – $25,000.00
• Diamond Sponsorship – $50,000.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gracedinc.com
• Instagram: graced_inc
• Facebook: Gracedinc
• Twitter: GRACEDIncDurham