Today we’d like to introduce you to Narkie.
Narkie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The Wakaboomee Program was founded in 2016 with a simple vision: every child, regardless of their background or zip code, deserves access to opportunities that help them discover their potential.
What began as a children’s storybook has grown into a 501(c)3 Non-Profit serving under-resourced and Title I school communities across North Carolina through STEAM, Wellness, and Entrepreneurship education for Pre-K through 12th grade students.
Today, Wakaboomee is a statewide movement that partners with corporations, educators, industry professionals, and youth-led organizations to provide world-class learning experiences that inspire curiosity, innovation, leadership, and purpose. Through both virtual and in-person programming offered throughout the week, students gain exposure to careers, develop real-world skills, and build confidence in their ability to shape the future.
Our mission has remained the same since day one: to empower the next generation with STEM+Art, Wellness, and Entreprenuership that changes the trajectory of lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges has been introducing a concept that didn’t fit into an existing box. When The Wakaboomee Program was founded, there weren’t many organizations combining STEAM, wellness, entrepreneurship, industry professionals, and youth leadership into one educational ecosystem. Because people had never seen a model like ours before, we often had to spend as much time explaining the vision as we did delivering the work.
Like many Non-Profits, funding has also been an ongoing challenge. Building innovative programming requires resources, technology, dedicated volunteers, and strong community partnerships. We have learned to do more with less, relying on passionate educators, corporate partners, and volunteers who believe in our mission.
Perhaps the greatest lesson has been that innovation requires patience. Meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight. It takes persistence, consistency, and the willingness to keep showing people what’s possible until they can see the vision for themselves. Every student we serve, every partnership we build, and every young person who discovers a new passion reminds us that the journey has been worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The best part of my work is that it is genuinely fun. Every day, I have the opportunity to bring together people from all walks of life around one common purpose: transforming the lives of young people through education.
As the Founder and Executive Director of The Wakaboomee Program, I connect educators, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, artists, corporate leaders, and community organizations with students who are eager to learn. I believe education is most impactful when students can learn directly from people who are passionate about what they do and willing to invest in the next generation.
What I am most proud of is creating a community where collaboration drives innovation. We are not simply teaching STEAM, wellness, and entrepreneurship. We are creating opportunities for young people to discover new passions, develop leadership skills, build meaningful relationships with mentors, and gain confidence in their ability to shape the future.
What sets me apart is my ability to build authentic relationships and connect people who might never have crossed paths otherwise. I see possibilities where others see limitations, and I enjoy bringing individuals, businesses, nonprofits, schools, and communities together to create something greater than any one organization could accomplish alone.
For me, success is measured by the lives we impact. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a student discover a new passion, believe in themselves, and realize that their future is filled with possibilities they may have never imagined.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Building The Wakaboomee Program has been the greatest risk of my life, and I would make the same decision all over again.
When I first shared my vision, some of the people closest to me encouraged me to focus on a more traditional career path instead of pursuing what seemed like an impossible dream. They cared about me and wanted stability, but they could not yet see what I saw. At the time, the idea of creating a Non Profit that combined STEAM, Wellness, Entrepreneurship, industry professionals, and youth leadership into one educational ecosystem was unlike anything people had experienced. Because it was new, many underestimated its potential.
There were moments when I questioned myself. Starting a Non Profit requires countless hours, personal sacrifice, and an unwavering belief in a future that others cannot yet envision. There is no blueprint for building something that has never existed before. You have to create your own roadmap, and that is exactly what I did.
That experience changed the way I think about risk. I no longer see risk as something to avoid. I see it as the price of innovation. If everyone immediately understands your vision, you are probably following a path that someone else has already created. But when you believe deeply in an idea that can transform lives, you have to be willing to take the first step and build the path as you go.
Looking back, the risk was absolutely worth it. Today, I have the privilege of watching students discover talents they never knew they had, seeing young people become leaders in their communities, and bringing together people from every profession to invest in the next generation. Those experiences have reinforced one simple truth: some of the greatest opportunities begin as ideas that only one person can see. Sometimes the courage to build your own roadmap is what makes all the difference.
Pricing:
- We have a Sponsorship Deck that allows everyone to support our work.
Contact Info:
- Website: wakaboomee@gmail.com
- Instagram: @wakaboomee2016
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wakaboomee/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-wakaboomee-program-91b755225/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wakaboomee1723
- Other: https://dashs.liveimpact.org/fundraiser/li/10891/D/313903#
