Rising Stars: Meet Tamika Melvin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamika Melvin.

Hi Tamika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Tamika Melvin is the Executive Director and Founder of the nonprofit organization Art of Discovery INC. She resides in Raleigh, NC but is originally from Brooklyn, NY. She loves NC because it saved her from the chaos and violence she encountered growing up. With hard work, she self-published five books and a magazine under her company, Royalty Crowned Publishing and Media LLC, which are doing exceptionally well. She earned her Medical Office Administration Associate’s degree from Wake Technical Community College. She recently received her bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing with a minor in Screenwriting. She has always loved creativity and artistry, so she decided to step out on faith and start a nonprofit, Art of Discovery Chance4Change, for underserved communities and underprivileged kids. She knows artistry has been a powerful tool to create positive social change in the community.

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?
The road was rough It was a lot of researching grants and funding resources, putting the creative arts programs together, building the right team, out-of-pocket expenses, sleepless nights, trial and error with several events and paperwork, licenses, insurances, getting supplies, finding space to teach classes and making sure we stay within legal guidelines with paperwork. No, it has not been easy, but the highest has provided us with resources and people that have helped us along the way. We are growing and building our programs every day.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Hello, I’m Tamika Melvin, the CEO, and Founder of Royalty Crowned Publishing and Media LLC. I reside in Raleigh, NC, but I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY. I love NC because it showed me the real meaning of resilience. However, I learned my hard work ethic and hustle mentality from growing up in New York, watching my grandmother and Mother create different income streams. With hard work, I self-published four novels, a Magazine, and a cookbook in remembrance of her late mother, Angela Melvin-Freeman. They are doing extremely well, and I hope to pursue a career in screenwriting shortly. I want to build a multi-platform company for writers who want to self-publish their work. I want to give these individuals content creation and marketing incentives to encourage them to produce the best work possible. Through my nonprofit Art of Discovery creative arts program, I will teach creative writing and screenwriting. I have my BA in English Creative Writing with a minor in Screenwriting.

What sets me apart from others is that I had my oldest son turn to the streets, drugs, and gangs, so I saw firsthand what it could do to the youth. We need these programs to lower crime and substance abuse rates while giving the youth something constructive and positive to do in a safe environment. Also, we are providing these programs and services at no cost to give parents some relief from financial burdens. My programs will help the youth but also help the parents who feel they can’t do better and show them how to excel and become more self-sufficient.

Any big plans?
We plan to have family weekend retreats, women retreats, couple retreats, special needs program, a re-entry program for former offenders, and financial literacy for poverty-stricken communities. A valentines Gala, a huge art exhibit, purchase a van for transportation, mission trips to Africa, and hopefully get a building to have a summer camp by next year. We have huge plans for AOD and the future of our youth. We look forward to changing lives and being the voice for the voiceless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aod22.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofdiscovery22/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artofdiscovery22
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNN9bCDE_uRD79fKg-Lqmrw

Image Credits
John Brown Brown Boy Fotos