Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiana Uribe.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tiana. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Our story has humble beginnings with two best friends growing up in a small town, walking through life together. We met in high-school and attended college at San Diego State University with the same major, Comparative Literature. As voracious readers, our discussions spanned various literary genres and forms that we passionately explored in our coursework. Our 22-year friendship was filled with genuine love and kindness and like sisters, I felt my authentic self with Jenny. Her passing from a debilitating illness at 36, left those close to her devastated.
The Wildflower Initiative was revealed while traveling through Italy on the Amalfi Coast where we had dreamed of visiting as girls. It is a tribute to the beauty and pain of love and loss and a source of healing through new beginnings. The Wildflower Initiative has delivered a $5,000 scholarship to a deserving student in Women’s Studies at SDSU, partnered with women’s groups such as MOPS North County to deliver much-needed toiletries and personal items to women in transitional housing seeking self-sufficiency and established the first dedicated children’s reading areas in a YWCA San Diego Shelter, all within our first few years as a non-profit.
Our program, Jenny’s Jungle provides reading spaces for women and children in shelters to give comfort and reprieve to explore, imagine and dream big with a book. We are hopeful these special places bring joy, curiosity, and growth.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting something where there was nothing takes perseverance, patience and a willingness to fail and try again and again. Getting comfortable with uncertainty has been a journey. It has taken many hands and hearts volunteering for book drives, donating their time for events, and helping us connect with other non-profits that continue to drive our growth.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Wildflower Initiative – what should we know?
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit that creates reading spaces in homeless and transitional shelters for women and children to empower self-sufficiency. We are proud to have created the first dedicated reading areas with our program, Jenny’s Jungle in several San Diego shelters. We are filling a real need in the community.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The credit goes to the amazing women and mothers that donate time, energy and effort into our growth. Women helping women. Our brand advocates work for schools and donate books, moms that organize mom night outs to craft and create special items for the reading spaces, the women that continue to connect us with other non-profits, share us on social media and organize fundraising events. These are the heroes of our story. We would not be here without you!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2305 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92106
- Website: www.thewildflowerinitiative.com
- Phone: 619-520-8810
- Email: info@thewildflowerinitiative.com
- Instagram: thewildflowerinitiative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewildflowerinitiative/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-wildflower-initiative/
Image Credit:
YWCA San Diego
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