Meet Sheree Rome | Founder & Creative Director

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

Hi Sheree, how does your business help the community?
Moving Purpose was created to fill in the gaps of interactive programming in underserved communities. Moving Purpose impacts the youth and families in this communities because it provides youth with new skills, and an experience that may not have been accessible to them in their own communities. Underserved communities are overlooked when it comes to sports, activities and programs because they tend to lack the resources to implement them. As a Social Worker and CEO of Moving Purpose, we understand that every individual should be provided with an opportunity to express themselves regardless of their age, race gender and socio-economic status. Moving Purpose provides the youth with a safe space to tell the world who they are through the art of dance and an alternative for staying out of trouble.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a creative, I believe what sets me apart is the way I implement my professional skill set and my 20 plus years of dance experience into my business and creative projects. I feel as though the reason Moving Purpose has been successful when working with underprivileged communities is because I implement my social work experience, for the foundation and instruction of my classes. Being a social worker has shed a lot of light on the way socioeconomic factors can have a significant impact on individuals and the different ways they choose to cope, both good and bad. With this in mind, I have also been trained to work with individuals from different walks of life and knowing that has help me discover creative ways to support them. As far as dance and creative project go, I have studied and performed the art of dance and what looks good to an audience from a visual standpoint. What sets me a part is that I know how to perform, create, direct and teach dance. Not everyone is capable of being able to do all of that and have the success to prove it. Combining my passion for dance and social work into my business is not easy and it can be very challenging. Trying to come up with choreography that simulates your vision and captures the positive attention of an audience can be very difficult because sometimes it does not always turn out the way you want it to. The second hardest thing about being a creative is being consistent at times when you have no motivation. One of the biggest challenges that I have faced is my current circumstance, which is being injured. I was injured towards to end of 2021 and had to undergo ACL reconstructive surgery. As a result of that, I had to make the tough decision to put Moving Purpose on hold until I recover. Thankfully, I am towards the end of my recovery, but now I have to start over, get back into the swing of things and make up for lost time. However, the benefit to this is that the downtime gave me an opportunity to explore other avenues for my business and really think about the goals I want to achieve for it. To be honest, if I did not have that downtime I probably would still be stuck trying to determine my next move. Placing a pause on my business has taught me the beauty of patience and not rushing the process. I am finally content with doing things on my own time and when I am ready. I learned that in order for me to be a better boss, I have to take care of myself, mentally, spiritually and physically first. How can I teach someone else going through a difficult time how to cope, if I am not taking the time out to utilize that process for myself? This experience has elevated a new way of being able to relate to my clients and the different ways I can be a support to them. Moving Purpose is all about moving your purpose and taking this time out for myself will allow me to better serve my community and do just that. I want the world to know Moving Purpose as the experience that shaped the way they take care of themselves physically and emotionally. Moving Purpose is about more than just the art of dance, it is a lifestyle and a journey to discover who we are as individuals and how we can tell that story through the power of movement.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I don’t have specific places but I would take them to a great brunch spot that has unlimited mimosas and music. Dinner at a fancy restaurant, a night out on the town that has a nice ambiance or rooftop, and an event that plays live music such as a concert or a day party.

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 dedicate the first shoutout to Cook County Juvenile Probation, in Chicago, IL. The reason for this is because they were the first ones who believed in me and allowed me to facilitate a dance program for their young ladies on probation. They believed in my skillset and experience so much so, that they paved the way for me to execute my idea. The facilitation of that program is actually the hallmark and foundation for Moving Purpose, and the reason I found my “WHY” in social service. In addition to this, I would like to take the time out give a special thank you to my videographers and photographers who have captured special moments because they helped showcase the brand of Moving Purpose on and off camera. Most importantly, I would like to shoutout every single participant and supporter who has ever participated in a Moving Purpose dance class, workshop, purchased clothing or even made efforts promote our brand through social media and word of mouth. Moving Purpose would be nothing without these individuals and we will be forever grateful to them.

Website: movingpurpose.org

Instagram: @movingpurpose

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUnFznx9HRn1DGY-jjfg4sg

Image Credits
Brandon Boyles Reggie Lang Ronnie Mitchell