Meet Myra John

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Myra John. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Myra below.

Hi Myra , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My mother instilled in me the unwavering confidence to tackle any challenge, no matter how daunting. From a young age, she taught me that adversity is not an obstacle but an opportunity to grow and prove my resilience. Her belief in my abilities became the foundation upon which I learned to thrive amidst difficulties, viewing each setback as a steppingstone to success. When I embarked on the journey of developing and running Myra’s Angels Foundation, there were doubts and fear, but it was her lessons of perseverance, courage and fortitude that served as my compass. Guiding me forward, encouraging me to never look back and leave those fears behind. My mother’s wisdom empowered me to navigate the complexities of leadership and inspired me to have a meaningful impact in the world. These lessons in life allowed me to face challenges head-on, turn obstacles into opportunities for growth and helped me to facilitate creative solutions to complex problems. In moments of doubt or difficulty, her words kept me focused on my mission, enabling me to push forward when others might have given up. This unwavering determination not only strengthened my resolve but also inspires my team to continuously work toward positive change in our community.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am the Founder, President and CEO of the non-profit Myra’s Angels Foundation (MAF). Every day many children transition through homelessness and the foster care system. Often transitioning with a trash bag of scant items and little or nothing to call their own. As a pediatric nurse, I witnessed first-hand the immediate and long-lasting psychological trauma and emotional stress experienced by these children and felt something had to be done. Thus, in 2017, I created MAF, who mission is to minimize the psychological and emotional stress experienced through the provision of “Angel Care Bags.” These bags are filled with age-appropriate basic essential care items, full-sized toiletries, pajamas, undergarments, socks, blanket, pillowcases, journals, coloring books, toys, stuffed animals, school supplies, personalized gifts and so much more. Creating a bag that is unique and personalized to each child.

There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the joy on a child’s face, or hearing the shrieks of laughter fill the air, when an Angel Care Bag is presented. Listening to the stories from our community partners on how a child and family’s life was changed through the impact of MAF is truly inspiring. Daily we tireless seek to fulfill our motto of “One bag full of love creates a child full of hope”

We are quite elated to celebrate our 7th year of MAF. It has been quite a ride. As we continue to grow and meet the needs of the children we serve, this could not be done without the generous support of the community. We truly believe that it takes a village.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Absolute Perseverance
Perseverance has been a pivotal driving force behind my success in life and with my nonprofit organization. It has taught me that success is not always immediate but requires sustained effort and an unwavering commitment to my goals. I have learned there will be many highs and many lows, much of which we have no control over. What we can control is how we react to those highs and lows.
Through countless challenges and setbacks, my determination to keep pushing forward has enabled me to turn the vision of MAF into reality. In a non-profit world similar to other businesses the obstacles are often abundant, and the hurdles ever present. Finding pragmatic and creative solutions to navigate those obstacles and jump over those hurdles is what will set you apart from others. This commitment to excellence and desire to support the children in my community has allowed me to overcome funding challenges, build strong relationships, and create lasting sustainable impact.

Learn to be a Leadership
Learning to become a good leader has been a factor in my ability to excel in life and business. Taking time to observe, listen, communicate, exert patience, accept countering opinions and engaging in continual self-improvement and personal development are essential leadership qualities. By embracing the responsibilities and challenges that come with leading others, I’ve developed a strong sense of direction, purpose and humility. Leadership has taught me the importance of empathy, transparency and active listening to inspire and motivate those around me. It has also allowed me to cultivate a vision and rally others to work towards a common goal, whether in personal endeavors or within my nonprofit. Through leadership, I’ve learned to navigate complex situations, make tough decisions, and guide teams through adversity. This has not only contributed to my personal growth but has also enabled me to create meaningful and lasting impact in every area of my life.

Gratitude
Gratitude has been a profound influence on my success in life and business, shaping my perspective and fueling my drive. By focusing on the positives and appreciating every opportunity, every win, every small step forward helps to keep the dream and vision going. I have learned to approach challenges with a mindset of growth rather than frustration. This attitude of thankfulness has strengthened my relationships, fostering trust and collaboration with others, which are key elements in both personal and professional achievements. Gratitude has kept me grounded, reminding me of the importance of giving back and staying connected to the core values that drive MAF. By acknowledging the contributions, sacrifice and commitment of others, gratitude has become a powerful force that propels me forward and keeps me grounded. When MAF is successful this creates a cycle of success, fulfillment and joy. All necessary elements for ongoing change in our community.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The number one challenge we as most nonprofits face is sustainable funding. Developing strategic partnerships and securing sustainable funding are crucial elements in providing ongoing support to the homeless and foster children that MAF serves. By cultivating strong alliances with forward thinking, philanthropic organizations, businesses, community partners and collaborators MAF will continue to expand and fulfill its purpose. These partnerships enable us to expand our reach, magnify our impact and ensure the children and families we serve have access to Angel Care Bags they so desperately need. Together, strategic partnerships, sustainable funding and key alliances form the backbone of our efforts to uplift and empower the children we serve. As we continue to grow and expand our footprint we hope to continuously provide a bag full of love to create a child full of hope.

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