Meet CASSANDRA SAMPSON | CEO/Founder & Pastor

We had the good fortune of connecting with CASSANDRA SAMPSON and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi CASSANDRA, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Actually, it wasn’t my idea to start my own business. My Pastor suggested that I start a church and not join a church; which I did. After 5 years, I had an opprtunity to merge with another church (I jumped at the idea); however, seeing the success of the outreach and leaving families that had come to depend on us for support was the driving factor. My thoughts were that people are constantly coming in and out of the lives of these families; I did not want us, to do the same. Everyone deserves a level of stability in their lives; I wanted Living Waters-West LA., dba, A Child’s Dream-CA to be one of them.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been in the hospitality industry since 1973. From high-end furniture retail, to creating a back-haul prgram for a trucking company in Thomasville, North Carolina to the Director of Customer Experience and more. The only thing I haven’t done was make furniture (I can’t sew for the life of me; LOL!!!)

What sets me apart from others is my love for people. I often tell customers (I work for a woman-owned furniture manufactuer, locted in Inglewood, California), I want your business; not your order. I also see our customers as my partner; my family. Family is welcomed in every area of our lives, so I’ve shared the vision and need of A Child’s Dream-CA with my hospitality family. Today, 75% of A Child’s Dream-CA’s support comes from the industry that I work in. I am both excited and humbled that I was the recepient of the Philanthropy Award 2016 & 2017 within the industry I work

I got to where I am today through hard work, commitment to excellence, Faith in God and rememebering my mother’s words, “you go to work to work, not to make friends”. My life has not been easy, I was a teenage mom; I lived on my own since 12th grade; dropping my daughter off at the sitter before school. I started working with the thought in my mind to make my mother proud, insprite of the fact that I had a child. I overcame the stigma of teen pregancy through my faith in God and the determination to proof that I destined for greater things; no was not an option; quitting was not an option!!

The lessons I learned was to never say, “I don’t know”; but rather say, “let me get back to you”. I always was blessed to know someone who knew the answers that i needed and I was not ashamed to ask for help. Never allow the color of your skin to determine who you are. My mother told me that because I was a womanof color I would have to work twice as hard and be twice as good (I believed her). While others were leaving work early and/or complaining, I was working later, sometimes on the weekends and being available whenever I was needed (I became the answer to a few of my employer’s problems).

I want the world to know that I believe that it is every child’s dream to be loved, protected and cared and that there is a child in each of us that still yearns to be loved. I want the world to know that though faith in Jesus Christ all things are possible; I am a living witness

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Breakfast at J. Nichos (Marina Del Rey). I took my sisiter Phyllis there on Saturdays befor eshe passed; the food is great. I will be sure that we sat in Michael’s section; he is an amazing waiter with an incredible future( heis never short of a great conversation)!

Afterwards, we would go to the Flea Market on Abbott Kenney in Venice; everything there is great

Will than drive through Venice toward Marina Del Rey, crossing over the canal and getting an eye-ull of the beautiful homes.

Heading south on PCH we would spend a few hours at Burke Williams Spa; Hunter’s retreat is my favorite treatment

We would end the day having dinner at Yellow Vase inMalaga Cove; watching the sunset!

Sunday morning, Church at Calvary Chapel South Bay (Torrance), afterwards, lunch at Terranea Resort (who can be in a hurry there)

we would spend a few days in Temecula; visitng my granddaughter and the vineyards

San Pedro (where I live) is rich in history; quaint restaurants, music and shops; not to mention Long Beach is just around the bridge. I love the ocean; sharing my love with friends is a double blessing!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Pastor Lillie M. Gibson – Fruit of the Vine Ministry

I was under her ministry from 1986 – 2006; it was there that I learned about outreach, and her heart to see the “whole man fed”

and OF COURSE my children , Chris Steptoe and Dana Andrews Jr. I dragged my children to every food giveaway we had. Where most adults can share their favorite pastimes growing you, my children can tell you how many families we fed, clothes we gave away and how poeple were really no thankful to get cheese and powder milk – LOL! Yet today, they still love me and are now on the Board of A Child’s Dream-CA (they both have a passion for serving)

Website: www.achildsdreeam-ca.org

Instagram: @achildsdreamca

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com.in/cassandra-sampson-68843713

Twitter: achildsdream-ca.org

Facebook: @AChildsDreamCA