Meet Ja’net Young | Founder, Executive Director, & Chief Encouragement Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ja’net Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ja’net, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I used to work with girls who had been in and out of juvenile hall due to sex trafficking. One of my students approached me for help finding resources in the community to transition into society without having to return to sex trafficking to survive. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find resources that addressed emotional and character well-being while promoting financial independence through career training (not job training) for the girls I worked with. This inspired me to create the Alliance for Young Women and Girls, a nonprofit that provides an all-inclusive curriculum. Our curriculum includes health and wellness, financial planning, soft skills, and entry-level career skills to prepare girls from sex trafficking and young women from marginalized communities for entry-level careers (not jobs) that lead to upward economic mobility and professional growth. We now offer two programs: Entry-Level Career Training for Women ages 18 to 35 and Leadership & Employability Training for Girls, grades k-12.

Our program curriculums are constantly evolving and advancing. We update our curriculum annually to stay current with career trends, leadership styles, emotional intelligence, and technical skills. We strive to equip our participants with the tools they need to succeed in the workforce.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I don’t know if I would say this sets me apart from others because I try not to compare myself to others – I do not separate my business life from my personal life. The way I do business is how I live my life. I am intentional about everything I do, such as what I wear, watch, read, speak, listen to, eat, drink, and how I engage with people.

I am excited about helping people to do great things. I am always looking to see how I can help build someone up or make their life go better, this can range from helping them with a project or envisioning their purpose.

Education and various occupations in different career fields, such as a project coordinator, quality assurance specialist, a college enrollment counselor, helped me transition into the role I am in now. I obtained my Bachelor of Arts in English from California Baptist University, a Master in Education and Single-Subject Credential from the University of Phoenix, and a Certificate in Grant Writing and Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills. However, my degrees, certification, and skills opened doors for me, but resiliency, integrity, and a commitment to lifelong learning continue to empower me to excel in my profession.

Getting to where I am now in my career as a founder, executive director, and chief encouragement officer of the Alliance for Young Women and Girls has not been an easy road, but it’s worth it. One of the biggest challenges I had is being denied many grant opportunities. It’s difficult trying to help others with limited funding. However, I was able to overcome this challenge by relying on two of my biggest resources: people and honing my skills. Before my role as an organizational leader, I prided myself on being independent, so asking for people’s help and allowing people to help me was uncomfortable. I had to let go of pride and an independent mindset. I also had to hone my skills and upskill. Starting, I had very limited finances, so I was not able to pay for a web developer or marketing coordinator because I had to use the little money I did raise for our programs for training materials for our participants. I started watching YouTube tutorials and DIY videos on how to create our website, and put together a branding toolkit, and marketing materials. I also focused on cultivating relationships with the people in my life, professionally or personally. I stopped seeing myself as independent, but interdependent.

I also had to continue to remind myself of the why and the purpose behind what I do, which is to empower young women and girls from marginalized communities to thrive. I had to reflect on the lives of the women and girls we have helped thus far and remind myself that God doesn’t give a vision without provision. I continued to believe that provision is coming.

I have learned that life isn’t about the destination more than it is about the journey. The most important thing I have learned during my journey is that there’s no such thing as a self-made woman and to always find something to be grateful for, even on your worst days. You can’t journey to success and tell yourself that you did this all on your own. Don’t forget to consider the people who taught you, directed you, gave you a kind word, a listening ear, or the authors of the self-help books you read.

I want people to know: their success is because of people; don’t mistreat or take people for granted. Cultivate the relationships with the people in your life. Never compromise your integrity. Consider the needs of others. Be willing to uplift others and see the best in them even when they are at their worst. Always, always, do the right thing, even if you’re the last person standing and have to take a loss. From personal experience, you will gain more in the end. An exaggerated truth is still a lie.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A place I love to take my family and friends when they visit LA is a hiking spot at the Ocean Trails Reserve south of Palos Verdes Drive near the Trump National Golf Course overlooking the ocean — this place is a hidden gem, even to some LA natives. Afterward, we will enjoy Cuban food and live music at Havana Mania in Redondo Beach. Then the following morning, we head to Bixby Joe’s Coffee to have their Lavender Honey Latte. Later that afternoon, we will enjoy parasailing in Marina Del Rey and conclude the activities for the week with a paint and sip with Brushstrokes + Beverages.

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 express my gratitude to Jesus, my Lord, and Savior, as well as my family, friends, and community members for their support. Establishing an organization is not an easy task, and I couldn’t have done it alone. Additionally, I want to thank A’Noelle Jackson, the actress, producer, director, and brand ambassador of the Alliance for Young Women and Girls, for giving me the opportunity to be interviewed. Her generosity in giving her time, support, and gifts has helped to advance the mission of the Alliance for Young Women and Girls, and I am extremely grateful for her belief in me.

Website: https://www.alliance4ywg.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a4ywg/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alliance-for-young-women-and-girls/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Alliance4Ywg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A4YWG