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Today’s Featured Individual 2012 April Feature | Lauren Anderson

“Everybody has some form of adversity, I don’t subscribe to the idea of falling victim to that adversity though. I don’t make habit of trying to over tell my story either, the focus is on the triumph and the character building through the rough time.” – Lauren Anderson

Sunday, April 01 2012 | BY JEREMY C. MADDOX FILED UNDER FEATURED

  

Life can hit us from all directions.  There are typically two outcomes as a result, flight or fight.  We will either cave under the immense pressure, or fight and create a diamond with the pressure applied.  Whether life lows are self induced, or environmentally embedded, there is always a choice to push for prosperity, and to strive for success.

Lauren Anderson is a person who has dealt and overcome life’s low points.  Not only has she overcome these low points, she’s turned them around and created a business from that source of inspiration.  Sometimes, it’s what we don’t have that allows us to give freely, and kindly, and allows us to fill in the gaps that world hasn’t thought of.  As well, it’s hard to be relatable if you haven’t walked  both sides of the fence.  From that very foundation, Lauren Anderson created Young Black Minds, LLC. to “re-mind” youth of their endless potential.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lauren Anderson!

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INTERVIEW:

Todaysindividual: Lauren, what’s up…what’s been going on?!  For the viewer’s information, give us a brief introduction stating who you are, family, and where you’re from.

Lauren: I’m Lauren Anderson, affectionately known as “L”, my birthrights hail from Gary, IN but I am a New Yorker at heart.  I was raised in Bronx, NY and since then I have resided in Indianapolis, IN, and Chicago, IL.  I’m a 25 years young, Black, proud, and loving it! I currently reside in Las Vegas, NV.  So, as you can tell, when people ask me where I’m from, or where home is, my heart visits a few different places in that moment.  Home to me is wherever I’m comfortable.  God has blessed me to live in several places and gain new perspectives from those experiences which have really helped to enrich my life.  Most of my life was spent with my mother Adrienne Anderson (deceased) and my older brother Larry Anderson.  We were, and still are a very close knit family with an unbreakable bond!  In latter years, I spent much time with my aunt Lisa Jones and grandfather Carl Jones, all of whom have helped mold my character today including summer visits with my father Larry Anderson.

I consider myself hard to categorize because my interests span so broad. I am a Poet, Singer/Songwriter, Scholar, Professional, Entrepreneur, Sociologist, and Political Activist. Of course these titles illustrate some of what I have become, but not all of who I am. I consider myself a very well rounded individual having lived in small towns to major metropolitan areas to having experienced the working poor, middle class, and upper class of society and in my family. I pride myself on being down to earth and never allowing my accomplishments or wealth of resources to ignite my ego. I understand how important humility is by learning from experience.

Todaysindividual: I met you in my latter years at Indiana State as a fellow poet, and fellow intellectual.  So before we move on, how did you end up at Indiana State University anyway?  What’s your path-story?

Lauren: Yes, I recall the ISU days of political commentary amongst friends and writing all night to promote conscious thinking and the joys of performing my work with you and other talents. And the partying, good times but I digress!

As a kid growing up, I can’t remember even thinking of desiring to go to college. I knew that my mother had been but it never really intrigued me. As an adolescent, I was concerned more about what my friends were doing and how to maximize on my fun rather than my future. I spent many days cutting school in Junior High to hang out with friends and run the streets of NY and barely getting through to graduation. Then, I spent many more days cutting school in High School hanging out and not valuing my education while my mother worked hard a single parent trying to make ends meet for my brother and I. I suppose my delinquent behavior during these years would classify me as at-risk youth. It wasn’t until my mother fell ill that I realized I should take some responsibility for my actions and do better .My brother and I spent a lot of time as her caretakers and going back and forth to hospitals with her. In 2002, I had the option move to Indianapolis to finish HS so I conceded. I remember getting my transcript from NY and seeing my GPA, that’s when I something triggered in me to exceed in my education. I knew I was smarter than the overall 1.9 on my transcript and I was determined to prove it to myself. I dealt with the embarrassment of having to take freshmen courses as Junior due to my falling grades from NY. I recall guys liking me that were in my grade and they’re friends would make fun of them thinking I was a freshman. Anyhow, I spent much of my last 2 yrs of school grumbling about how I couldn’t stand Indiana, how bored I was, and my lack of social life. But, I believe everything happens for a reason. I began making straight A’s and B’s those last two years in spite of the rough transition.

Upon graduation, my overall GPA was still fairly low due to the previous yrs of failing grades so my collegiate options were slim. I had applied to several schools and heard back from two and my grandfather said he wouldn’t pay for me to go to Paine College in Augusta, GA because he didn’t think they had A/C .  So, I headed out Vincennes University and became President of Women of Essence on campus to empower young women to be leaders on campus and headed a committee to propose an African American Culture Center which was presented to the President of the University. I graduated in 2006 with Honors and an A.S in Sociology.  Then, I headed to ISU because that’s where the few close friends I had in Indiana where going to school. I made the Dean’s List several times at ISU, joined some great organizations, and I became a Barack Obama Campaign Intern while studying there which allowed me to personally meet President Obama on  a number of occasions. I graduated from ISU in 2008 with a B.S. in Sociology and Human Resource Development. Then I decided I was done with small towns and I needed to get back to my big city flava’ and headed out to Graduate School at Roosevelt University in Chicago where I obtained a M.S. in Human Resource Management in 2010.

Todaysindividual: So let’s talk Young Black Minds, LLC., how did it become?  How does it work?  What’s the idea behind it?

Lauren: Young Black Minds is actually a concept that was brewing in my head for years.

Young Black Minds, LLC. is a Motivational Speakers Bureau. As a Human Resources Professional and Entrepreneur, I realized my title could lead to the betterment of my community.

I sought out human resources within my network including friends and associates encountered through institutions, entertainment, and networking. I recruited young adults who have made imprints on society and possess credentials as well as the charisma to inspire youth across the country. Having met so many influential young adults with inspirational stories, evident success, and endless potential, YBM was birthed.

The mission of YBM is to empower and encourage young people to strive for their goals and inspire them to live beyond their dreams.Thereby, Young Black Minds, LLC. is  Re-Minding youth of their endless potential! YBM speakers and entertainers are inspiring youth from coast to coast!

Young Black Minds, LLC. consists of notable, highly educated, successful young adults from diverse backgrounds who are committed to the intellectual progression and uplifting of young people.

Young Black Minds, LLC. speakers and entertainers have triumphed through social, economic, and educational challenges. They are devoted to encouraging and inspiring youth to strive for their goals through the presentation of compelling personal narratives, exchange of extensive knowledge, sharing of their talents, and offering of individual mentorship.

YBM is able to remind youth of their endless potential in a charismatic, contemporary, and edgy fashion through motivational speaking, popular entertainment, and through specialized mentorship! YBM speakers and entertainers are role models who can relate and motivate!

I can remember writing hooks for songs and poetry and that phrasing just kept ringing in my head. But, I’ve heard for years now, from friends from childhood who notice me now and are amazed on how I changed my life’s outcome because no one ever saw this change coming. But, what really touches my heart is the amount of people who have told me that they’re proud of me and I inspire them to rise above and beyond and to not be afraid to break away from majority to accomplish their own dreams and lay their own foundation! I was taken aback one day as I was invited to go to Vincennes and speak to students about my experience and be paid. I was flattered but nervous so I declined. With that said, I was really led to be more courageous and create something to inspire other people, I know its my mission to use my story to uplift others and show them that they are greater than what they’re circumstances may dictate or  what  limited options they’re environment may portray. So, I feel it’s my calling to use my talents and knowledge to network with other young black minds who have overcome obstacles in life so that they too can share their experiences in a motivational setting to re-mind youth of their endless potential!

Todaysindividual: Has Young Black Minds, LLC. always been a vision of yours?  What was that motivating force throughout the process of making YBM, Inc. a reality?  Have you always viewed yourself as an entrepreneur?

Lauren: YBM has been a vision of mine since I first saw a motivational speaker in college. At the time, I thought to myself, I could do that, I want to do that! But, it laid dormant in mind as I always had exciting ideas to add to it but not much action behind it. Finally upon graduating, I was having a rough time as a marginalized professional. I had to too much education and not enough work experience having gone straight through college and being 23 with a Masters Degree. So, after realizing it would take me years to earn what I’m worth from a corporation, I decided I would find a way to pay me and others while doing something I have a passion for and that no one can tell me I need 5-7 years of experience to do when I’ve invested thousands to get the paperwork that those people that are doing the job don’t have. I was frustrated with the job market and began meeting peers who were Entrepreneurs and making it happen for themselves. I’ve grown to be free thinker in my adult age which in turn has become an entrepreneurial spirit. So, I was inspired and released my fears and my setbacks and YBM was birthed.

Todaysindividual: What influence, and or reasoning guide your decision-making regarding your business?  As well, who or what has made a significant impact on your life in general?

Lauren: My background, my life, my peer’s life, black kid’s lives, lower income kids lives are the reasoning behind my business. Too often, our kids are pointed at and judged by they’re elders including our generation and it frustrates me to hear someone judge a kid for whatever reason and dismiss the youth but not extend to help that kid become better. I believe that as a community, if we could reach out to more of our youth and at least show them their options or expose them to better resources, the Black community specifically but not limited too would be better off and more progressive than it is.

Todaysindividual: Have you overcome any adversity to get to where you are today?  As well, what is your single-most greatest accomplishment to date?

Lauren: Everybody has some form of adversity, I don’t subscribe to the idea of falling victim to that adversity though. I don’t make habit of trying to over tell my story either, the focus is on the triumph and the character building through the rough time. That, after-all, is the beautiful part! Im blessed to be alive, independent from the system, trying my best to do my part in this world and to help someone else to be even better than I am to continue the cycle.

Todaysindividual: So regarding Young Black Minds, LLC., and or yourself in general, what things are you currently working on?  Anything big the public should be anticipating?

Lauren: Yes, the public should be anticipating the roll out of the Young Black Minds website. Staying posted on our upcoming events. Figuring out how they can get involved and/or promote YBM’s to youth who need us or people who just want to meet us! Lets Just Say the Public should expect the BEST from YBM and that’s what we Will provided soon!

Todaysindividual: Describe your outlook on life.  Realist?  Pessimist?  Optimist?

Lauren: Im definitely an Optimist who can see the innocence in everything and also realize that everything isn’t innocent. Lauryn Hill said “Fantasy is what people want, but reality is what they need”, I like to think I live in between that statement!

Todaysindividual: Aside from all the business, what kind of hobbies do you engage in?  What’s your idea of “having fun” so to speak?

Lauren: Aside from working on YBM late nights and early mornings, I enjoy the occasional socialite scene of Las Vegas. I love to travel which I obviously do a lot of. Fun for me is being comfortable around genuine people in my life and having a good time whether at home or out and about!

Todaysindividual: With everything going on, how can we keep up with you and Young Black Minds, LLC?  Blog, website, Twitter?

Lauren: Well, these days it’s hard for me to keep up with myself! But, it’s easier for people to keep up with YBM at www.youngblackminds.com . Our website in still in the roll out phases but our information is readily available per your request and  email at info@youngblackminds.com.

Todaysindividual: Lastly, do you have any advice or words of wisdom to encourage today’s individuals worldwide?

Lauren: Of course, foremost congrats to you on being the ultimate individual and thank you for the feature! The love is appreciated!

My Wise words are be yourself unless being you is hurtful, then be a better individual, and while you’re at it help someone else! Blessing to you and your subscribers!

Todaysindividual: I appreciate your time Lauren.  Peace, Love, Individuality!