We had the good fortune of connecting with Darlene Burke and we’ve shared our conversation below.commitment

Hi Darlene, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Ten Toes In was created to support women who are romantically involved with incarcerated men. I was in a committed relationship with my best friend for over 8 years and I searched for a group that could support me on my Journey. However, I was unable to find the support to help sustain me in my relationship. I began having dinner with other women who were romantically involved with incarcerated men. We eventually cultivated relationships that eventually led to the formation or Ten Toes In. In the beginning, we were only focused on supporting women. However as time progressed, I decided to provide support for formerly incarcerated men. Today, Ten Toes In has grown to levels that I never thought would exist.

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 am the Founder and Executive Director of Ten Toes In. We became a 501(c)3 non profit organization on January 26, 2015. Ten Toes In is the component of Reentry and Incarceration that addresses Intimate Relationships. We are a Mentorship and Domestic Violence Prevention Program. We support, educate and empower couples during and after incarceration. We assist formerly incarcerated men to successfully reintegrate into society and we help them to maintain a healthy relationship with their female Partner.

Ten Toes In is set apart from other Reentry organizations because our primary focus is Incarceration, Reentry and Intimate Relationships. We serve incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and their female Partners. Most Reentry organizations focus on employment, housing and education. If they offer family reunification resources, it is typically for the children, parents and siblings of the incarcerated of formerly incarcerated man. Their romantic Partner is rarely acknowledged or seen in a favorable light. If she is spoken about, it is typically in a negative way. For instance, these women are seen as desperate or as having low self esteem. The women that Ten Toes In serves are professional, educated women who are good mothers to their children and wonderful Partners in their romantic relationships. I am most PROUD of creating awareness of this type of relationship, we are the Pioneers in supporting this community. I am also excited about changing the Narrative of how incarcerated men, formerly incarcerated men and their Partners are viewed by society.
We are educating others about this very UNIQUE relationship.

I am where I am professionally because of the GOD I serve. I realized that my Purpose on this earth was to be the advocate for those who were seen in a negative light. My GOD has kept me focused on my Purpose even though I have faced challenges. I overcame this challenges by always remembering my “Why” and knowing that it is not about me. The work that I do is for others while helping to build healthy families and productive and SAFE communities. I have learned that cultivating relationships is the foundation of my business. In our community, I must gain the TRUST of those that I serve. I need to create multiple streams of income to ensure the stability of Ten Toes In. RESULTS is the key word when running a business.

Ten Toes In means LOYALTY, COMMITMENT and ALL IN. We are serious about changing the narrative of the community that we serve. We want the world to understand that the majority of incarcerated people will be released from custody. They will return to the community and they need a village to help support and provide resources for them. If they do not receive these things, they may commit a crime against Citizens for survival. We all must be apart of the Village to make everyone feel accepted in our community. Everyone deserves to be loved. Let’s not judge individuals by their worst mistake but by the work they have done to positively transform their lives to be an asset to their family and to their community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take my friend to Fixins Soul Kitchen! This restaurant is at LA Live and has amazing food and music. I would love to take them sightseeing to areas like View Park and Hancock Park and see the beautiful homes. We would also visit Santa Monica Pier and have a meal and drinks. Since I am an Alumni of UCLA, I would be a tour guide of the campus and show them where I attended classes and lived in the dorms. We would also go to Long Beach and rent a boat that we can bring food and drinks during our 2 hours of sailing. The beautiful thing about this experience is that we sail the boat ourselves!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I would like to thank Phillip Norris Thompson (CEO of Thompson Unlimited 501) who helped create Ten Toes In. Thank you for your unwavering support and our 38 year FRIENDSHIP. I want to thank the Men and Women that I affectionately refer to as my Ten Toes In Brothers and Sisters. You REPRESENT our Ten Toes In Family well! I would like to acknowledge my Church One Family under the leadership of Bishop William Todd Ervin, Sr and Co Pastor Kimberly Jenkins Ervin. I thank you for your support of Ten Toes In. I want to recognize all of our Reentry Partners that are providing services for the Brothers and Sisters who are impacted by the Justice system. Thank you to my family and friends who believed in my Vision.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to my mother, Ernestine Douglas and my step father, Roosevelt Douglas. Thank you for teaching me to not be afraid to live life on my own terms. My BEAUTIFUL children, Davonna, Danielle and David, II. You are the wind beneath your mother’s wings. Thank you to my grandbabies, Aaliyah and Alaina for keeping a smile on my face and heart. A SPECIAL thank you to my Partner, Artis Dyer. I prayed for you and GOD graced me with our relationship. You will never understand the PEACE and HAPPINESS that you have brought into my life.

Website: tentoesin.org

Instagram: Ten Toes In

Linkedin: Darlene Burke

Facebook: Ten Toes In

Yelp: Ten Toes In

Youtube: Ten Toes In

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