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Meet Robin McCoy

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin McCoy.

Robin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Gary, Indiana the youngest of four children. My parents migrated from the south (Mississippi) to Gary, In because of job opportunities with the steel mills. My parents were able to acquire a three flat apartment building and became landlords as we occupied the lower level apartment. My father did find work at the steel mills but soon after was diagnosed with cancer and died at the age of 39.

This left my mother widowed at the age of 37 raising four children the oldest 11 and the youngest (me) five. My mother soon began working as a cook in several kitchens which assisted her in sustaining the household. My mother with a 3rd-grade education was actively working, managing a building with tenants and later became a small business owner opening up her very own restaurant in Gary, In 17th and Madison. My mother operated the restaurant until she herself began having health challenges and eventually passed away at the age of 62.

I did not know at the time that I was being mentored by her work ethics and her determination to succeed with massive odds against her.

I never imagine that I would pick up a trade such as baking or owning a business. I was an average student with little support to push me further in achieving higher level grades and provide the training of good study habits. Around my junior year, I began to get a little more serious about my grades as I thought of the possibility of going off to college.

My first attempt I enroll at Indiana State University and failed my very first year. I then enrolled in a community college achieve receiving my associate’s degree which became a self-esteem booster to achieve receiving my Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. I started working in the field of accounting over 30 years ago and later received an MBA in Public Administration.

All of these life events propelled me into becoming a small business owner opening Robin’s Nest Desserts and Catering in Oldtown Temecula in 2011 and establishing the 501C3 for Women Organizing Women, Inc 2013.

My faith in God, Jesus Christ my savior and the Holy Spirit was the catalyst in which I persevered. I believe that each generation should go further in life than the previous generation.

My mother setting the example of Community and Commerce as she operated her business daily, showed me that community was important not only as customers but also for providing support. I still remember an elderly woman who was a regular customer became one of our tenants in the building and another time when my mother opened her home to a large family, providing shelter for a woman with children who had nowhere to live.

I began to model what I knew. It was easy, It felt like riding a bike. I began teaching culinary-baking at a local school. Oak Grove Center, in Murrieta, Ca. in 2013. We started in the home ed classroom, graduated to the kitchen in the cafeteria and then just recently we open in January 2019 our very own bakery in Old Town Temecula at the Truax Building. The progression of the program is a testimony of the hearts dedicated to changing the lives of foster care and at-risk youth.

My current business Robin’s Nest Desserts and Catering is now contracted with Oak Grove Center- Culinary Creations this to me brings bonus purpose. My current position of Culinary Director of Programs and Executive Pastry Chef for Oak Grove Culinary Creations is so thrilling to me, to say the least.

I also continue to actively work as the visionary and founding member of Women Organizing Women, Inc. my other love is supporting women in underserved communities. I believe as women business owners especially, we should utilize other platform to assist other women who have the desire to become entrepreneurs. Especially those women who are less fortunate.

Women Organizing Women provide tools, training, resources through our annual women outreach and through the Lydia Market Place Coffee and Devotion providing a platform for women to build relationship, Women Organizing Women have expand this outreach to Africa and India.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way
No, some of the struggles include fear, doubt, pulling down thoughts that say you can’t achieve your dream.

Alright – so let’s talk business. What else should we know about your work?
I think I mention most of this in the first segment and email.

Robin’s Nest Desserts and Catering open its doors in Old Town Temecula in 2011.. since then we are contracted with Oak Grove Culinary Creations. My current position is Director of Culinary Programs and Executive Pastry Chef. We specialize in all baked items, including special diet baked items like gluten-free, vegan, low sugar, etc.

What I’m most proud of is that this bakery is a workability program for foster care and at-risk youth… and we are training these youths in the hospitality industry also Visionary and founding member of Women Organizing Women, Inc most proud that we are assisting women in our underserved communities, locally and internationally… we will be traveling to India Dec. 29th to pass out sewing machines to women who have completed a nine-month training and are awaiting these machines to help them achieve sustaining their households… we are asking 150 women to give $150 for a sewing machine

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Tammy Wilson, CEO of Oak Grove Center… her leadership is why we are here today making a difference in foster care and at-risk youth’s lives.

So many mentors… I don’t want to start calling names and miss someone… but all the founding members of Women Organizing Women, Inc.

My husband, Moses and my sisters, Pamela and Patricia. The community of Gary, In, Mont Carmel, USA and Africa for praying my journey through…

Tina Batten for thinking of me as a hidden gem, and all my sisters and brothers in Christ!

The community of Temecula and Riverside County many supporters to help us achieve

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