Meet Tatierria Hayes | Nonprofit Founder

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

Hi Tatierria, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by many people, things, and places. However, one of my most important inspirations are Good Citizens and how they contribute to their communities. Good citizens truly make their communities a better place, they continuously fill the holes that our government fail to fill. Empowering others and making change in society is something I enjoy being a witness of. I am a firm believer in the power of one; that one person and one action can have a ripple effect that can make a difference in society.

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 started Cater to the Streets Foundation in 2020 during one of the most vulnerable times in the world with absolutely no clear mission, I just knew that I wanted to be part of the solution. I have always had a passion for giving back and changing narratives, but I never knew that would lead me into founding a nonprofit. C2S caters to those in need through community service while empowering them to overcome adversity. We aim to present impactful resources and programs to the community we serve (Compton, Los Angeles).

I am most proud of how far I have come, since the beginning I believed in myself and my foundation and because of that I have continued to put my all into it. The tenacity to never give up and the drive to take risk even if it meant there was a potential for failure as an outcome. Since the day I started C2S I have been committed to changing and impacting the lives of individuals in my community and because I never gave up I have made it thus far and I have so much further to go. This journey has not been easy but it has and will definitely be worth it in the end. I am passionate about making change in my community and that is what keeps me going, seeing results.

The lessons I have learned along the way are that things will not always go as planned and you must be prepared for the unknown. No matter what always have a backup plan and stay positive along the way because the storm will always pass. As long as you believe in yourself everything will work itself out, never stop grinding.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting for the week we would definitely start off with some self-care because this is my favorite. We will visit Dubunne Day Spa in Torrance for a facial and massage following brunch at A beautiful life Jamaica because they have some of the best authentic Jamaican food. I absolutely love eating and vibing. I definitely live for a good time. I absolutely love supporting back businesses so we would visit 1010 Wine in Inglewood which is a black owned winery with amazing food, the ambiance in this place is top tier with phenomenal service. I am a huge fan of nature and out door workouts so we would definitely go for a hike, if she is visiting during baseball season we will definitely have to go to a Dodgers game because they are definitely always a good time. There are so many places we could visit and enjoy, all in all we will have a great time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this to my mother, who has been the sun in every aspect of my life. If it was not for my mom and all of her support I honestly do not know where I would be. My mom has always been so hands on in my life and supportive in everything that I have done and she still continues to show up for me. She has always reminded me that I am capable of doing the (I’m)possible and I should never stop reaching for the stars. My mom is one of the strongest women I know and every obstacle she has faced she has overcame it by always keeping faith and for this reason I am always reminded of faith. I want to say thank you to my siblings for being motivation, especially my oldest brother Louis Leonard, who has been my lifelong mentor. I want to thank every person who has believed in me since the start of my foundation and even when it was only a vision. To all of my friends that have supported me and showed up for Cater to the Streets Foundation since the beginning you all are definitely appreciated.

Instagram: @catertothestreets