Meet Porscha N. Dillard | CEO/Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Porscha N. Dillard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Porscha N., how does your business help the community?
Founded in July 2017, Off The Chain Alliance is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization within San Bernardino & Riverside County that assists disenfranchised minorities families with wraparound grieving services. Recognizing that individuals mourn differently during their psychological state of grief, Off The Chain Alliance wants to produce the deserved dignity and honor for all living and deceased person; in the means of providing funds for end of life services, continued healing with a resource to a grief counselor, and educating the families on ‘How to create a Holographic Will.’

Off The Chain Alliance is aware that tragedy strikes whenever it sees fit, but if its victims aren’t fully prepared to be laid to rest; then it will leave an overbearing stress on the family to take care of. In most cases, some families don’t have an economic advantage, because they are disenfranchised minority families. The event of death comes at a complete surprise to us all, but with the surprise of death, comes a price tag attached and grief.

So……Off The Chain Alliance wants to responsibly provide: one time financial assistance to disenfranchised minority families in San Bernardino & Riverside County who are in a temporary crisis, because they live at or just above the poverty status, and cannot fully finance the fatal event of death for a family member. In addition, Off The Chain Alliance wants to: lessen the burden for disenfranchised minority families in San Bernardino & Riverside County by doing everything in our aptitude to assist because of an unanticipated, emergency expense that exceeds disenfranchised minority families income levels

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more? What you are most proud of or excited about.

Off The Chain Alliance has designed our program to help disenfranchised minority families in San Bernardino County & Riverside, whose funds are non-existent or limited, to assist with funeral services funds, and additional grieving services. Our objective is to support the disenfranchised minority families, to prevent the families from losing everything, because of an abrupt crisis like death!

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy?

Tragedy struck my family from out of nowhere. I had an older brother named Kareem, who passed away on January 3, 1998 from an asthma attack. He was 19 years old, and what a disheartening day to have to experience. Truth be told, we were broke! My mother wasn’t working, because she was in school educating herself, but education in this instance wasn’t going to help pay for a funeral service. It was a struggle for us to make ends meet in general; and now we have to deal with the death of my brother. A few family members sent some support money to help, but it wasn’t enough to fully fund a funeral service. My sister was able to find a funeral home that would allow us to have a service with the money we had on hand as a down payment, but we still had a balance to pay off to receive my brother’s remains and death certificate. All of our money avenues were exhausted, so we reached out to my father, who would be in attendance, and asked if he could pay the balance off, and he said, “Yes!” Long story short! He never did, and my mother was never able to obtain an urn with her only son’s remains, and never received his death certificate. I know we are the not the only disenfranchised minority family in San Bernardino County to experience death, but I want us to be the last disenfranchised minority family in San Bernardino County to not have the funds to a proper funeral service or additional wraparound grieving services. I want every disenfranchised minority family in San Bernardino County to be helped; especially when it pertains to death and grief.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

Off The Chain Alliance wants to keep our word and good intentions; for the disenfranchised minority families in San Bernardino County & Riverside to assist with their funeral service needs, and additional wraparound grieving services. We will not deviate from the tradition of our mission, and while we would like to evolve to the capacity that we can reach more disenfranchised minority families in the entire state of California who need our help, we would rather be small-scaled and economical than broad and not economical.

How did you overcome the challenges?

Off The Chain Alliance believes the power to affect positive change rests, not within a few people giving a lot, but within all of us doing whatever we can to help reshape the lives of disenfranchised minority families in San Bernardino & riverside County.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Since disenfranchised minority families are least likely to have life insurance, or knowledge of creating a Holographic Will, those families face the most challenges in financing a proper funeral ceremony for their deceased family member. So, the people who choose to support Off The Chain Alliance will do so for intensely personal reasons – most often because they understand from personal experience the difficulties disenfranchised minority families face, and what the value of a momentary helping hand means.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

The 320 Premier Hall

Riverside Studios

The Urban Swapmeet Event

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It may seem off, but I first want to shoutout myself. It takes a lot to run or startup a non-profit or just have an idea, and at times you want to quit because of all the hardships that transpire, but I’m proud that I REFUSE TO LOSE!!!! Second, my daughter, J’vion S. Johnson. She inspires me to be even more impressive, driven, and superb. My fella, Mr. D Pearson, who I admire because he’s always focused on the prize and keeps me motivated to achieve my goals. My good friends who inject love, compassion, and understanding that is needed in my trying times; and all my naysayers, haters, blockers, and secret hater admirers, I LOVE YOU!!!!! You are the reason why I BLOOM!!!!!!

Website: www.offthechainalliance.org

Instagram: @offthechainalliance

Facebook: www.facebook.com/offthechainalliance

Other: offthechainalliance@gmail.com