Meet La Shaunn Spivey-Angeletti

We had the good fortune of connecting with La Shaunn Spivey-Angeletti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi La Shaunn, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most influential skill that has created success for me is my ability to relate to people through my since of humor. I have an innate ability to make people feel comfortable. I make people feel safe enough to share how they truly feel. In turn, I honor my gift by creating opportunities for people to be heard and then I teach them how to dream with their eyes opened. In order to cultivate a person’s dreams we have to hear them out. We have to be willing to tune into their unspoken language. Their world knowledge about fear vs. failure, right vs. wrong, to love vs. being loved. I teach families topics such as love languages, learning styles, and even host family boot camps. All of these tools lead people to seeking more out of life. Everything people experience either drives them to or away from their dreams. Laughter is like medicine. It doesn’t make the pain go away, but it sure than can make it bearable. When you feel free enough to learn and laugh at the same time, the dream becomes a little clearer.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
One thing that sets me apart from others is my openness. I love meeting new people and hearing about their experiences. When you speak freely and your candor is a little funny, people approach you constantly. I use that same energy and witty style to teach parents how to tap into their child’s innate gifts and talents. I show them how to cultivate the dreams of even their inner-child. Gifts and talents are the tools extended to us in life without effort but somehow along the journey we tend to pack them away as child’s play. I teach people how to unpack those skills in order to create personal success in all areas. I teach parents how to engage in family activities that develop deeper bonds. I show them how to create fun lessons and discussions that lead to enhanced critical thinking, academic achievement, greater self-efficacy, entrepreneurship, and so much more. I’m really proud of how I’ve been able to show parents ways to reward themselves as well. I teach them the power of having guilt free time for themselves. I host two events specifically designed to cultivate woman’s big dreams. It is the greatest all-inclusive pampering event (on this side of heaven) called Reflect|Refresh|Retreat which is twice a year. I host a monthly Ladies Night-In social event on Facebook, and a biannual six month accountability program called Honoring HUR Dreams. Now I can tell you, we laugh hysterically together at all of these events but I give these woman a place to take off their capes. I empower them with tools that maximize their efforts in less time, with greater results. So by listening and empowering parents with tools that will help them to master cultivating their own dreams, their children’s dreams are supported as well. When I think about how I’ve gotten to where I am today it makes me smile. After teaching in elementary classrooms and directing school programs for over 20 years, I always knew that I wanted to impact families in a way that would last longer than the 180 day school year. Policy and politics always promised to help students but very few curriculums did. Nothing encouraged teachers to find time to cultivate their students’ gifts and talents, let alone their dreams. I had always talked about parents needing more support. I volunteered but very few programs were designed to give them tools that would follow their children into adulthood. It wasn’t until my oldest child gave me an “aw-haw” moment that I actually made a change. My daughter Nylah was 17 years old and had owned her own gourmet cupcake business (Nylah’s Fat Thighz Cupcakes) for two years. By this time she had toured nine counties all over Europe, been vending all over southern California, and was speaking on big platforms to people of all ages about pursuing their dreams. I was the excited and supportive Momager that was jumping through hoops to help make the dream happen, and it was magical. Then one day Nylah said to me, “Mom, every time someone asks me about how I do it all, where did I get my talent, or what inspired me to step out and do whatever it is, my answer always comes back to you. I always explain to them how you’ve taught me that my dreams are worth living and that I don’t have to wait for the world to give me permission.” I was in aww, just so proud of her. In rthat moment the student became the teacher. She wasn’t done with me though. She continued, “Mom, people need for you to teach them what you do. Parents need to know why your students excel every year and why I am doing all that I do! It’s because of how you teach us. It’s because of how you learn what we dream about and you show us how to make it real. I’m not doing anymore speaking events if you don’t start speaking and teaching people like you’ve taught me.” I was floored. It was the truest statement I had ever heard. She was right. No one was getting the same results but everyone was watching. The truth made every day from that day forward uncomfortable in my classroom. It felt like I had visited a room with no walks and then returned to a small box. My mind was freed but I was faced with a fear that I didn’t even know I had, success. I took a leap of faith. I started by teaching parents small lessons that would help with their students’ academic performance. Shortly after I was asked by our Assistant Principal to lead a retention program that helped students with specific needs. I paired those lessons with practices that had been working in my classes for previous years. The students improved faster than ever before. I also started hosting parent boot camps every semester. This allowed parents to have tools at home for them to maintain the support that their children needed. Before long, The Dream Cultivator Enterprise was born. One of the greatest lessons that I’ve learned along the way is that when things change you must be willing to pivot. Sometimes what you want to do is not determined by you, it’s determined by the people you serve. The year 2020 will go down in history for all of us. Some have had challenges, and some have found ways to rise to the occasion. For me, I’ve been busier than ever. When society said that they were mourning the loss of their children getting to walk the stage for graduation, I taught lessons on overcoming the pain and finding the silver lining. When they didn’t know how to handle their kids being locked in the house all day, I taught classes on understanding their children’s love languages. When they felt like pulling out their hair because they couldn’t be sociable, I offered virtual sip and paint parties. Every pivot I’ve made has allowed me to give people more ways to cultivate their dreams. I want the world to know that I love what I do. Everyone should be able to live a life that pays them to be happy because they are delivering their best to the world by using their gifts and talents. Yes, I can say that I am a lil’ funny, and a whole lot of silly. I can also say that I deliver measurable results. I am proud about being able to tap into families and teach them how to be more accountable for their dreams. They learn to laugh a little longer, love a little deeper, and enjoy the journey along the way. My mission is never just to make a family smile, but it’s to make sure that they live out their dreams. It’s to make sure that their family’s legacy has the ability to bloom forever.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my best friends is named Cynthia (Cynt’ for short). She and I live nearly 3,000 miles apart but you would never guess it because we are in endless pictures together. We are complete travel-junkies for work and for play! We have been known to create storybook adventures out of our travels. Hopping from state to state, from islands to historical landmarks, we make it happen! One year we visited four states, went to two concerts, one play, a comedy show, went dancing, used four modes of transportation, and had wardrobe changes from bikini’s to snow coats, all within a six day period. Even writing about it makes me laugh because we specialize in making the most out of a little. If Cynt were to come to Los Angeles and my mission was to show her around locally, I would want to do something different. I would dedicate my whole culinary experience to trying out new and old black owned businesses. Our first day would be to see the Griffith Observatory. We would stop at the Bohemian House of Chai in L.A for coffee and breakfast on our way. After we leave the Observatory, we would take a walk through Griffith Park Trails. I haven’t been to the trails since I was a kid, so that would be fun. Next we would head to L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles. Once we leave that area I would take her on a tour of the murals created since Kobe’s passing. My son took me last year and it was beautiful. From there we would head to Simply Wholesome in Windsor Hills for a bite to eat before we retire for the day. Day two would be a little more physical. We would head to Eaton Canyon Falls in the San Gabriel Mountains. After hiking to see the beautiful 40ft high waterfall we’d relax and enjoy nature for a while then we’d head to the beach. One of the greatest things I love about Los Angeles is that you can go from the mountains, to the ocean, in less than an hour. For dinner we would swing by Janga by Derricks Jamaican restaurant in Culver City. On day three we would get up early to go Sport Fishing out of Long Beach. Cynthia and I fished together once (in Turks & Caicos) and it was more entertaining than either of us thought it would be. From there we’d stop by a few black owned beauty supplies so that Cynt can try on a few wigs. Creating new personalities through new hair is one of her super powers (lol). We would end the day by having dinner at Dulan’s in Los Angeles. Dulan’s soul food restaurant is one of the best I’ve ever had! Day four would be a little more adventurous. We would have lunch at Earle’s on Crenshaw in the Leimert Park area. I’ve heard that their food is delicious. Then we’d head to San Pedro for a helicopter ride to Catalina Island! We would site see a little and then go scuba diving. For the rest of the day we would take a jeep excursion tour of the island. Watching the sunset behind the Los Angeles backdrop would be spectacular. On the fifth day we would watch the sunrise from the east as we trout along Catalina’s shoreline on horseback. I remember us being in Mexico riding horseback through the desert once. Cynthia was so afraid of the strong willed horse she was riding that she kept trying to negotiate with it. I laughed until I nearly fell off of mine. Let’s see if she gets a friendlier horse this second time around. By midday we’d take in the sites on a boat ride back to the mainland. For dinner we would go to the restaurant Post & Beam. Their menu looks delightful. Day six would be for pampering and food trucks. The first thing we would do is swing by Billionaire Burger Boyz. This mobile eatery has amazing reviews. From there we would go to Spa Palace in downtown Los Angeles. This is a 24 hour establishment and their sugar scrub massages are AMAZING. Patrons can lounge in a ridiculous number of spaces for as long as they want, which is exactly what we both like. On our way home we would stop by the dessert truck, Fun Diggity for a five star funnel cake. After all that relaxing and eating I’m sure we’ll be ready to turn in early. For the seventh and final day we would just chill. One thing that I’ve enjoyed through these quarantine months has been my own backyard. I would invite a handful of masked friends and family to come and watch a poolside movie. I would have my husband set up the projector and pool lights, creating our own little theatre. I would order dinner from Marjoe’s Soul Food & Grill in Carson and for dessert I would order giant stuffed Banana Pudding and Red Velvet Cheesecake cupcakes from my daughter Nylah’s company. Cynthia has threatened my life over Nylah’s Red Velvet so I would be remised not to treat her. Yep, this is a good line up! This question may have just created our next adventure. I may need to let you all know when we complete it. Thanks for asking.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a special shot out to so many people but let me start with God! There is NOTHING I could do without His grace and Favor. Thank you Jesus. Second only to God, I would like to thank the king in my life, my husband, my “Big Tenda”, Shannon M. Angeletti. Babe, I know that I drive you bonkers at times and you still treat me like a queen. Thank you for lifting me up, and for encouraging me to spread my wings even wider! You will forever be my hero! To my kids Nylah, lil’ Shannon, Dheaven, Dhannon, and Halyn, thank you for allowing me to be me! Thank you for selflessly sharing me with the world as I’ve taken over so many spaces in our home. Thank you for trusting me with your dreams and for inspiring so many of mine. I pray that you always remember that you complete me in a way that only you can. Shine bright my babies, you are truly the stars. To my friends, you know who you are! Thank you for listening to my crazy ideas, for letting me lean on you when the tasks become heavy. Like oxygen, I wouldn’t be the same without you! To all of my mentors, business associated, programs, and collaborations, I tip my hat to you! You have sharpened me to become better every day because you are iron, and I thank you for lettn’ a sista roll!

Website: https://www.dreamcultivator.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamcultivator.ms.spivey
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsCultivator
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DreamCultivator.Ms.Spivey
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5K9DpjoOuB8HbmqxzTxn5w/

Image Credits
Aric Thompson Photography & Illustrated Power