Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Artisa Felder. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Artisa, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness, and well-being depend on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity can be attributed to my late grandfather, Frank Felder. He was a man of integrity, he was a flawed man, but a man with a pure heart, if he was able to help you then he would. When I was a young girl the elderly ladies in the neighborhood would pay me to clean their houses for them. When I told him about the money I made that day, he told me “You don’t have to charge someone for everything that you do for them” and that stuck with me. From then on my love for volunteering came and I’ve applied that saying to every area of my life. My grandfather was wise, and I carry his gems with me and I am passing those gems down to my daughter as well. She will never get to meet him, but she will know and carry his heart with her always.
Modeling after my grandfather’s good heart, I was inspired to start Catch My Heart Outreach, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, that was founded in 2015. Catch My Heart Outreach was created to supply a safe space, a voice, and a positive outlet to youths who do not have one. Catch My Heart Outreach has taken part in community cleanups, back-to-school giveaways, Christmas toy giveaways, feeding families for Thanksgiving, and sponsoring ACT Bootcamps, among other community projects. Girls With Vision, a girl mentoring group, was created in 2019 which focuses on mentoring teenage girls from ages 13-18. Girls With Vision promotes self-esteem building, naming, and breaking generational curses. The goal is to supply an environment that fosters growth, empowerment, and the ability to overcome negative influences.
Catch My Heart strives to uplift, empower, and encourage youth to be the best versions of themselves. A big believer in social change, Catch My Heart Outreach supports the movement of invoking change by giving back, uplifting the youth in the community, and being a part of something bigger. Catch My Heart Outreach inspires change by engaging in community events, mentoring, and volunteering with several change agents in the local community. The Founder’s background in social and human services provided the perfect foundation to invoke a positive outlook in the lives of disadvantaged youths.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Artisa Felder, a devoted mother, International Best-Selling Author, Business Owner, Speaker, and Advocate. Needing a way to channel my inner thoughts and feelings, I discovered journaling. After I saw how beneficial it was to my overall mental health, it inspired me to create You Are by Artisa Marie and Alonni Camille. The line of journals is centered around building self-esteem and self-confidence in women, men, and children with the use of affirmations, showing gratitude, journal prompts, and free thinking.
Our journals allow you to release the things you may not be able to release verbally, the journal prompts challenge you to dig deep, push past your comfort zone, and dive deep into how you are feeling physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. What sets us apart is that we are passionate about wanting others to heal and release the things that are holding them back from being the best versions of themselves. Knowing first-hand how journaling can change a person’s overall perspective online pushes us to continue to strive to make journals that are helpful, encouraging, and uplifting.
Our new journal for Alonni’s line is the My Words Have Power Journal. This journal is a captivating and empowering space designed exclusively for young girls to explore the incredible strength that lies within their words. This journal is a delightful companion for girls who want to express themselves, discover their unique voices, and unleash the magic that words can bring to their lives.
Wanting to do something good for the community and give back to the youth, Catch My Heart Outreach was formed. The goal is to supply an environment that fosters growth, empowerment, and the ability to overcome negative influences.
The thing that I am most proud of is creating a business that I can share with my legacy, my daughter can watch me create journals and workbooks that are helpful to people all over the world and she will one day be able to do the same. We want new customers and followers to know that they will be encouraged, and uplifted, and their cups will be filled. I can show her first-hand how rewarding it is to give back with pure intentions without seeking anything in return.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One skill that is most impactful to my journey is staying relevant but also remaining true to your why. It is important to remember why you started in the first place and that will carry you on during the low points. Staying authentic to who you are will draw the right people to you. You will gain and lose customers; it is all part of business but staying true to yourself will take you farther than trying to mold yourself to be like your peers.
Networking will open doors that would otherwise be opened. Meeting new people, and investing in yourself and your brand are imperative to scaling your business to where you have envisioned. There are many benefits to networking in business which include: expanding your professional network, meeting prospective clients, and meeting prospective business partners.
Remaining coachable is vital no matter your field. There is someone who knows areas where you are not as strong, and they can help catapult you to the next level. When you are not coachable you say that you know everything, and no one person knows everything. A coachable person is someone open to receiving feedback and applying that feedback to their business. When you are coachable you seek out feedback because you understand there is always room for improvement. Invest in yourself and your business, remain true to yourself, and remain coachable the possibilities are limitless.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge you need to be successful?
I have learned that having an accountability partner is essential. Latasha Ramsey-Cyprian has been my accountability partner since 2019 and the growth I have noticed in myself has been astronomical. Latasha pushes me in a way that I do not realize I am being pushed. She has become familiar with the things I struggle with and my fears over the years, so she knows how to word things in a way to lights a fire in me and pushes me beyond my fears. I have accomplished goals and overcome challenges since meeting her that I would not have dreamed of going after on my own. I have learned about imposter syndrome what it means to not feel worthy of the opportunities you are blessed with and how to move beyond the mindset of not feeling worthy. By having an accountability partner I have gained public speaking skills, and leadership skills, and started a business, just to name a few things.
Holding someone accountable is one of the greatest forms of love in my book. Surround yourself with people who want to see you elevate in both your personal and professional lives. You are the sum of your circle, so make sure that you are inspired when you look around at the members of your circle.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cmhoutreach.wixsite.com/website
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catchmyheartoutreach
- Other: Linktree: linktr.ee/artisamarie
Image Credits
Artisa Marie Felder
