Meet Courtney Tell

We recently connected with Courtney Tell and have shared our conversation below.

Courtney , we can’t begin to explain how much we appreciate you sharing about your PPD experience, but we can say that so many in our community are suffering from or have suffered from postpartum issues including postpartum depression and so you sharing your story and how you overcame it might help someone who is going through it right now or in the future. What can you share with us about how you overcame PPD? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I honestly think I am actively working thru PPD and have been since 2020. In 2018 I had a surgery to remove my thymus gland. Between 2018 & 2019 my sister had gone missing a few times and in 2020 she transitioned in a very tragic car accident. In the midst of her disappearances my uncle passed away, I finally broke up with my high school sweetheart only to find out I’m pregnant! Then at the top of 2020 my favorite auntie dies. Then the pandemic hits and shifts the world as we knew it. Lastly, towards the end of 2020 I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy all while raising my oldest son. I was truly overwhelmed with so much grief , anxiety, anger, and all the things that these tragic events ignite. By the time I gave birth, I was numb. Nonetheless, I was a great mother to my children. I committed to breastfeeding my newborn, and did what was necessary to provide for both my children but, I was a shell of myself. I did not have time to cry, I had to get straight to it! Grief came crashing in about 2022-2023 and it all hit me like a ton of bricks. I finally realize all of what I survived. In 2021, I made a conscious effort to get moving and soak up as much sun as humanly possible alongside my ‘new’ family. Yearning to be outdoors translated into double dutch jump roping. Almost 4 years later I am still at it. I tell people most often that jump rope saved my life, because without it idk where I’d be?!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

What brings me the most joy is being a Mother to my sons (Youssou and Ambrose), I also work for LA County with aspirations of becoming an ASL interpreter, but something I never envisioned for myself is becoming Ithe CEO/President MJSLA, inc. (a.k.a. Melanated Jump Squad). We are an inner city non-profit organization that is rooted in preserving culture, gifting wellness, and being vital parts of our community. Double Dutch has introduced me to a world of possibilities and opportunities where I believe I am being used by God to orchestra his divination in and through me. What I understand now is that this movement is bigger than me. It is my legacy, it’s my purpose.
Our credits include the likes of The Getty Museum, LA 84 Foundation, Apple, PuffCo, Private School Village, IPSY and even LA Public Library. In 2025, I plan to roll out programming designed for kids that look like me and are from where I’m from.
If anyone is interested in booking us or just wants to hang out I would say check out our IG page @_MJSLA for all promo related things.

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?

Persistence, Patience and remaining Open-Minded.

I think if you are starting out on a new journey it is important to know who, what and why you are doing what it is you are doing. Everything in this life is a process. So with that, it is imperative to remain persistent, patient, and open-minded. Patient with yourself along the way and remaining persistent in the pursuit of your goals while being open-minded enough to flow with changing circumstances/disappointments/roadblocks. More often than not, things will work out in your favor and turn out to be a better situation for you and your organization.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I probably would have answered this question differently 2, 3, or maybe even 4 years ago. However, my current realization is this, it is absolutely necessary to center your focus and master something you are naturally gifted in. I have been a Jill of many trades throughout the years but narrowing my focus has garnered me much more success and gratification as a result. I also feel that once you master whatever avenue your strengths are in you will naturally create bridges to other areas that foster opportunities for you to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www. Melanatedjs.com
• Instagram: @_MJSLA
• Facebook: Melanated Jump Squad
• Youtube: Melanated Jump Squad

Image Credits

1. Private Scool Village
2. Village School
3. DD Reg
4. Jack & Jill Pasadena
5. (logo; collaborative effort by Debra Goode & Nkechi Odiliobi)
6. Angel City Football Club
7. LA 84 Foundation
8. Jump Flow Los Angeles