Betty Augustin of EDE YOUTH: 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Lead A Nonprofit Organization
You have to know your leadership style and how to effectively mobilize others to believe in your mission and work towards it. You have to get clear on why you want to start a nonprofit and your target audience. You have to know what your mission entails, and stay focused on your vision. Understand that money and financial resources are fueled by gratitude and recognition. No man is an island and you will need the support of your community. Create it. Harness the power of ecosystems. Develop sustainable relationships. And get comfortable asking for help and being gracious to receive it.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Betty Augustin of EDE YOUTH Inc.
Betty Augustin is the Founder and CEO of Ede Youth Inc, a community-based not-for-profit organization that has grown from its mission trip to Haiti over 12 years ago to an organization recognized by elected officials and local businesses for its role in addressing the ongoing need for social issues and financial disparity amongst youths, immigrants and Black Diaspora.
EdeYouth is a non-profit organization that enables young people to acquire functional skills through relevant training programs. We emphasize building self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-improvement among young adults aged 13–21 in the United States and abroad.
(Eh-day-Yooth = Help Youth) started after the 2010 Earthquake in Haiti returning from a mission trip. Six board members birthed the organization on June 24th, 2010. Poverty is a never-ending cycle leading to crime, violence, domestic abuse, drug trafficking, overpopulation, and illiteracy. Disengaged youths are more vulnerable to depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, and radicalization. Ede Youth strives to break this cycle of poverty and bring forth a generation of leaders and global citizens.
We started servicing the community in the United States on April 30th, 2016. Our goal is to enrich the youth’s lives by providing opportunities to build strong moral, and family values through job creation. Targeted groups are from foster care, shelters, rape victims, single mothers, and youth from our communities, creating an outlet for emotional healing. EdeYouth helps our youth to imagine new possibilities for their future and become models within their communities. In our organization we ask the constant question, how do we raise tomorrow’s leader today?
Thank you so much for doing this with us. Before we begin our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?
My name is Betty Aristide-Augustin, born and raised in Haiti. I came to the US at the age of 13 and lived with my father and my aunt. At the age of 16, I became a ward of the state. I aged out of foster care at the age of 21, lived with a friend, and became homeless, and I lived with another friend until I got my first apartment in Brooklyn. I moved to Queens to my second apartment, then bought my first home with my sister.
Can you tell us the story behind why you decided to start your non-nonprofit?
Growing up, I moved around a lot, and I had my share of abuse, mental, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. That experience was orientation/training for my calling. When you see a problem everywhere you go. It aches your heart, which means you have to do something about it. I can not stand to see any children or any youth going through what I went through. I did not have a voice. I did not have EdeYouth to help me understand or process the emotions that I felt. The emotions were scattered and I couldn’t make sense of them. Therapy and prayer helped me find myself, and get to know myself. I learned to love myself, and that was the beginning. Therapy and prayer helped discover Betty. Once I knew who I was, I made it a priority to know why I am here. Then I discovered my passion. My passion is to help young people become effective leaders TODAY. This passion is the fuel in my engine.
Can you describe how you or your organization aims to make a significant social impact?
We are building leaders through entrepreneurship/ scholarship (Empowering young people program)
Building self-esteem, self-awareness, and self-improvement encourage family therapy when needed, building a healthy home (YANA program)
c.Provide lifetime basic life skills and trades (Vocational Training, sewing, culinary)
d. In turn, decrease the rate of suicide, build healthy young people decrease the poverty rate, and youth to enter the workforce and start small businesses. They are able to transition and contribute to society. Better home, better committee, better world.
Without saying any names, can you share a story about an individual, who was helped by your idea?
Sure, for example, in the U.S., we saved five lives from suicidal ideation. These youths are now in college, thriving. We thank our partners The New Hope Counseling, ARA Emotional Wellness, Zoryn Lazarus-Theodore, LMSW, Damon V. Avinger, LMSW, and Lynette Green, LMSW. A young lady in Haiti used sewing class skills to sew nursing uniforms for her nursing school, and was able to use her skills to pay for her classes. She is now a registered nurse.
We thank our partner, Le Paradis Ecole Professionelle Janvier (PEP). One of our youths graduated from Brooklyn College this year. We were able to get her scholarship to pay her summer tuition from our donors Osei Rubie from National Standard Abstract and Nadine Monrency-Mohs. This youth graduated with a 4.0 average. Annette Runcie, the Founder of Alexander YES, and owner of PaNash Eurosoul, our lifetime partner who focuses on the social, professional, and dining etiquette for our youth. EdeYouth & Alexander YES partnered on our amazing event, raising funds for our youth programs. It’s their 8th Annual Youth Empowerment Gala hosted each year to help raise much-needed funds for various worthwhile programs. Sunday, November 13, 2022, at the Runway Cafe-JFK Airport from 4 pm-9 pm will be our first joint partnership. Therein, we will host a fabulous black-tie extravaganza. This event will recognize dynamic leaders such as Councilmember Farrah Louis, Hon. Pearnel Charles, and Consul General Alison Roach Wilson. Honestly, it truly takes a village to raise a child and the same is true for building a successful and impactful nonprofit. I am so blessed to have a community behind me. My board members, partners, church, friends, family, husband, and wonderful son. Edeyouth sits on the shoulders of a strong village. When we work together, we are stronger.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Funding.
Building Infrastructure.
Technologies & Equipment (computers, sewing machines, etc)
How do you define leadership? And can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is someone with a purpose. This purpose provides you with a specific assignment. The purpose is the key to our passion. Note that true leaders are selfless, they do not manipulate or seek power. The true product of leadership is inspiration.
Based on your experience, what are the five things a person should know before they decide to start a nonprofit?
If you are thinking about starting a nonprofit, understand what nonprofits already exist that are working on a similar topic or in a similar geographic area. Establishing a nonprofit is a costly and time-consuming process, and there is a great deal of groundwork required before you can ever begin to establish effective programs for your community. For example, when EdeYouth started we wanted to ensure we had success and gradually grew our footprint. Most recently we teamed up with one of our lifelong partners A.Y.E.S. also known as Alexander Yes planning their 8th Annual Gala. So I’d say if there is another nonprofit that you could partner with, that will save you time and money. Explore those options and lead with integrity. Make sure you are teaming up with like-minded partners where there are opportunities to explore different programs and implement a variety of complimentary services.
Be clear about your mission. What will you focus on, and equally important, what will you NOT focus on? In my experience, once you get agreement on that, many other things flow much more smoothly. Recently, Ede Youth sought out a consulting firm to help us with our mass communication and public persona. We clarified that our primary means of extending our brand while helping to attract sponsors, and secure funding for some of our upcoming programs such as financial literacy seminars, technical training and resume writing training, this opened up other opportunities for us — for example, partnering with the Catalyst Youth Summit producers via the School Construction Authority located in New York City (more on that below) to help provide real-time job opportunities for our youths.
Make sure you have the right people with you. And unfortunately, this is a continually changing challenge; a person who is right to lead an opportunity today, may not be the right person to lead that opportunity tomorrow. This topic is also related to being clear about your mission, always. As you gain more clarity, you may find that you need to make changes to the team.
Be prepared for the rollercoaster ride. No concrete plan has ever been implemented as it was first written. Things change. People change. Mission statements can also change as well. A prime example in the United States Covid did not affect us much. We were able to transition virtually and still help out in the shelters safely and in the schools. Every year we adopt a family for Christmas and for Thanksgiving. We partner with the local schools in the community that connects us with parents who are not able to provide food or gifts for their children doing the holidays. No children should go without when we have a great community that supports the organization. The list is growing from one to now two or three.
When the pandemic first hit, we had to cancel all our in-person training and programs. Instead of getting stuck in the challenges of the present, we quickly pivoted to remote training with creativity and a lot of hard work. We started new mentorship programs, established online communities where international colleagues could collaborate, and we even partnered with a fellow nonprofit, Alexander YES, to pilot a youth etiquette program helping teach valuable table manners and other functional skills. All of these teaching tools and technologies were available to us prior to the pandemic, but it took recognizing the possibilities of the present, and finding the silver lining, for us to fully embrace them.
So, I’d say definitely find your inner resources to keep you going for long-term success and sustainability. Leadership can be exciting and rewarding. It is rarely easy. If you are setting out to be a leader, study yourself first. In what ways are you resilient? How do you treat others when no one is watching? What gives you energy and how do you tap into that inner strength? How do you build community and mobilize others? Not only will this help you become a better leader, but it will also help you be better for yourself and everyone around you. In a nutshell, you should ask yourself these key questions:
What problem would your nonprofit solve?
Is there someone else already solving this problem?
Who is your audience, and what is the geographic location of the nonprofit?
What makes your non-profit unique or different from others?
Choosing effective board members. Bonus: How are you going to fund the nonprofit?
Can you share your favorite life lesson quote? How is that relevant to you in your life?
“Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing” -Miles Davis
My advice to others who seek to start their respective nonprofit’s time management is: when we don’t manage our time effectively, we lose opportunities. Time lost cannot be retrieved. Everyone has an expiration date. I don’t know when God will call me home, therefore I have no time to waste. I must complete the task he assigns me to complete.
Epi that’s it! (A keole statement).
In conclusion, honored to share my story and insights with you and your dedicated readers. On behalf of all of us at Ede Youth and A.Y.E.S, thank you. Special thank you to Ebk Events & Consulting Services, and everyone. We could not do what we do without your unwavering support — from our dedicated donors, sponsors, parents, affiliates, strategic partners, mentors, schools, and the entire Ede Youth tribe. To learn more about us and or how to get involved, become a mentor, partner, and or support the impactful work please visit us online and make a generous donation towards any of the mission trips, scholarships, and or mental health programs. It’s an honor to serve in this capacity. Thank you for your continued support.
Where can people follow you?
Official Website: www.edeyouth.org
Instagram @ ede_youth
Facebook, and Youtube @ede_youth on all social media platforms
Email us at: info@edeyouth.org
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your mission.
Betty Augustin of EDE YOUTH: 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Lead A Nonprofit… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.