Meet Teresa A. Pitts | Public Speaker & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa A. Pitts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I believe that our communities are sometimes replicas of the world. The way we treat each other inside of our individual communities translates into how we treat people in the world. I have lived in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles in the same apartment for forty years, and the homeless dilemma has been ongoing.

Making a social impact is an essential piece for civic engagement, so I do not take what I do lightly. For over 30 years, I have been making gift baskets for the unhoused, children, men, and women who live on the streets of Los Angeles, or in transitional housing, domestic violence centers, community centers, the Union Rescue Mission, and the Downtown Womens Center. I also sponsor the Skid Row LAFD and donate gift baskets for their Sparks of Love campaigns. Currently, I make up to 200 gift baskets and care bags.

The reason why I make gift baskets for the homeless is because it is important for me to acknowledge and bring joyful moments to people who have faced more than their share of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Most of what I do, I post to social media, which means that anybody in the world can see it and that is the beauty of the Internet. Words are powerful, but when you see a picture of a homeless child, holding one of my gift baskets with a huge smile on her face, that does more than words can ever do, in my opinion.

My business helps the community because it expands the community’s reach and gives people the opportunity to be a part of something that helps others. I cannot do what I do without the help of my neighbors and friends. What we do in our communities impacts the world, so I want to make sure that that impact is a positive one that assists people in feeling valued and seen.

I also do a 100 hot-meals giveaway and with the help of donors who contributed to my gofundme, we fed over 1,000 homeless people. I started the meal giveaways during the pandemic. I wondered who were feeding the homeless if we were all locked inside. I asked some friends on Facebook for a caterer, and with some of my pandemic funds, I was able to set up the meals through Food Fetish Catering who work with The World Food Kitchen.

When I hand out the hot meals on the streets of LA, I look for those people who may be alone or in small groups because they may not always receive services. I have to actively look for them while I am driving which takes more effort, but it is worth it. Some of the people on the street start to recognize me and their smiling faces are beautiful, but their eyes show the depth of their gratitude.

I believe what I do helps people to remember that you don’t have to have an elaborate plan, or an army of people to make a difference in the world. There is no expiration date on acts of kindness, and every act of kindness counts. It just takes one person to get it started, and then if that person can inspire other people, that is how the world changes, one person at a time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I sing professionally. My latest project is my inclusion on the upcoming gospel soundtrack “Because of You” by Donny McCullough.

I’m a studio vocalist and also a former vocalist with the Angel City Chorale.

I have published two books: “The Music of a Poet’s Heart” and “Where Freedom Begins.“ The latter was awarded the distinction of “Best Poem” from the International Black Writers & Artists.

In 2021, I acted in my first role in an independent film, entitled TRY by Megan Ebor. I was also the set photographer and social media coordinator.

What sets me apart from others is who I am. There is a certain emotion that I bring to things that I create and it touches people. I can tell just by their responses.

I am proud of a few things in my life, but graduating from UCLA in 2012 with Honors at the age of 52 is at the top of my list. After I graduated from UCLA, the Huffington Post did a story on my accomplishments.

I’m also proud of the fact that while attending UCLA, I received the Thurgood Marshall / Gold Standard Scholarship Award. I was the female recipient selected from the city of Los Angeles. I was also the only undergrad who was chosen with the rest of the recipients earning their Masters and Doctorate degrees.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. I always say, “If it was easy, anybody could do it.” I sometimes battle with severe depression, so that has been a stumbling block, but I always get back up. I am proud that as I look back over my life, the times I have succeeded outnumber the times I have failed, and that is a blessing.

I overcame the challenges of my past by remaining “undaunted,” which is my favorite word. That is not to say that I wasn’t affected or hurt by the things that devastated me, it just means that I found a power inside of myself, and with the help of my relationship with God, was able to make it to this day. I am still here.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way from friends, family and life. I’ve learned not to compare myself to other people because there’s no one like me. I’ve learned that it’s OK to feel disappointed as long as I don’t let the disappointment linger. I have learned that what other people see in me can be encouraging and when it is not, I let it go. I have learned that things are not always as they seem, and as I get older that is proven to me. I’ve learned that it is true that hurt people hurt people and it is a lot easier for us to care for someone when we ask the right questions or when we ask them what they need instead of giving them what we think they need. I’ve learned that there is no greater joy than being present in the moment. I’ve learned that if I don’t forgive myself, then everything else seems futile because I am constantly going over mistakes that I’ve made. I’ve learned that I have to be kinder to myself and I have to learn to receive gifts as well as give them. I have to learn that I am not always right, because I am always right…lol. At the age of 63, I am constantly learning every day. When we don’t learn, it is impossible to thrive and I am here to thrive and not just survive.

I want people to know that my brand represents the best of me and what I have to offer. I want them to know that I don’t have to know them in order to understand them.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Every day would start with breakfast at CJ‘s. After breakfast, we would take a ride down Pacific Coast Highway and on the way back stop off at the Santa Monica Pier.

We would visit The Grove and go to the Griffith Park Observatory. One of the days, we would take a trip to Catalina via helicopter. Once on the island, we would go parasailing, ride the carts around the island, sing karaoke, go parasailing, and possibly scuba diving. Of course, we would not leave the island without enjoying a delicious seafood dinner.

We would walk down Hollywood Boulevard and look at the stars on the sidewalks while exploring the souvenir shops.

We would go to the La Brea Tar Pits and then have lunch at the restaurant in the newly built Academy Awards Museum next door.

To be honest, I am gradually coming out of my pandemic shell and just getting back to attending large gatherings.

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 not be doing this interview if it was not for my friend Emily, who referred me. She is an educator and a strong advocate of ideas and action. I’m immensely grateful for having her in my life and for the advice, and the insight that she constantly gives me.

I am also a member of a group on Facebook called Buy Nothing – Mid Wilshire Los Angeles. I joined in November 2021 and they donated over 350 stuffed animals to my gift baskets giveaway along with sweaters, socks, food, toys and lots of encouragement.

Website: tapintothepossibilities.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.a.p._into_the_possibilities/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-a-pitts-432b22153

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undaunted4ever

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=CVsOr3V-vr1PyP-7-VS1EA&utm_source=ishare

Other: IG (personal) https://www.instagram.com/only1tap/

Image Credits
Emily Sanders, Sara Whithead, Teresa A. Pitts