We were lucky to catch up with Lauren Brazile recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
Discernment!! As much as I love community and love to help, I’ve had to learn that every job/ project/ partnership is NOT for me, my clients, or my brands. I believe that God has placed purpose on our lives, and there are assignments that come with that purpose. We have to be ready and available for those assignments, which means we can’t be distracted by the rat race. I also believe that burnout takes place when our work is not a true reflection of our purpose. When aligned with purpose and attaining long term goals, the work feels energizing! Ten hours of purpose work is a lot less tiring than only one hour of work that you aren’t aligned with.
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 have a deep passion for helping others, which led me to the decision to leave the corporate world and start We Grow LA. The journey has been filled with ups and downs, but I am truly amazed by the impact we’ve achieved in just one year.
For the past eight years, I’ve worked and consulted for various non-profits and service-oriented organizations, and in 2023, I took the bold step to launch my own initiative. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible companies, including Honda North American Headquarters, LA Sentinel, Taste of Soul, JLL, and more. Along the way, I’ve also explored various odd jobs and side hustles, all of which contributed to a wealth of knowledge that I now leverage to support others.
At We Grow LA, our mission is beautifully simple: to GROW LA! I cherish the creative freedom I have in building both the brand and the community in a holistic manner, addressing needs and evolving alongside the people we serve.
Interestingly, our Grocery Giveaways weren’t part of the original plan. They began as a temporary initiative to provide food and health screenings in collaboration with our healthcare partner, Providence. After the initial events, I received calls from security at the Slauson Super Mall informing me that people continued to show up for free food. Responding to that need, I quickly arranged for more food, and we’ve been running strong ever since—transitioning from monthly distributions to bi-weekly and now weekly, with an additional distribution in Inglewood every second Saturday of the month.
We are also dedicated to supporting the growth of minority-owned businesses. With the assistance of JP Morgan Chase, we’ve educated and provided resources to over 100 Black and Brown businesses, helping them scale for success. Additionally, we’ve partnered with local organizations to create interactive curricula and programming for students, focusing on personal growth and authentic purpose.
Beyond my non-profit work, I founded The Grow Group, which focuses on our for-profit initiatives. This includes consulting services, event planning, and talent management, representing notable figures like world-renowned choreographer Storm DeBarge, comedian Watts Homie Quan, and rising star JD.
Both We Grow LA and The Grow Group are built on the foundation of helping individuals and companies achieve their goals without compromising their core values.
Sign up to volunteer and come grow with us!
EVERY Friday at the Slauson Super Mall
EVERY 2nd Saturday at Frank D. Parent Elementary
Stay tuned for our holiday and special event roll out!
Sign up and check us out @ Wegrowla.com and @wegrowla on Instagram.
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?
1. Embrace Change: It’s important to recognize that not everything will go as planned, both professionally and personally, and that’s perfectly okay! The key is to keep moving forward, just like the mantra says, “just keep swimming.” Often, it’s in these moments of uncertainty that we find God rearranging things in our lives to make space for better opportunities. Remember, the ending of one chapter can be just as rewarding as the beginning.
2. Stay Committed to Your Vision: When you have a vision, hold onto it firmly! In the early stages, most people may not understand your plan, and letting their skepticism influence you can kill your dreams. Be boldly fearless and trust that your purpose isn’t defined by others’ opinions or understanding.
3. Prioritize Your Spiritual Connection: While it may sound cliché, I pray as if my life depends on it—because it truly does! Strengthening my relationship with God is crucial. I’ve learned to bring my thoughts, ideas, and challenges to Him first. Humbling myself to acknowledge that, even if I could achieve things on my own, it’s always better when I have God and a supportive community of like-minded individuals by my side.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My friends and family have been extremely supportive and influential. I’ve had the privilege of working with my friends and family over the years and those tend to be my favorite times.
My family encourages me to be strategic and to lead with humility. Both of my parents were teachers. My grandmother was a teacher. My aunts, uncles, and cousins are amazingly brilliant business moguls, Emmy award winners, real estate developers, educators, and change makers. The bar has been set SO high that I will spend my life trying to make them proud.
My friends encourage me to be bold and take risks. Our group chat is called ‘Million Dollar Babies’… but it’s not about the money, it’s because that’s how much we value each other. Our relationships are worth millions and life would not be this satisfying without them.
My long-time friends Cassie, Jade, April, and Mark are my anchor. They’ve been by my side since my early days, long before I discovered my path in life. It’s always a joy to reconnect with them, as we uplift and motivate each other to keep reaching for our dreams.
Last but not least, my volunteers… man… I can’t even explain how amazing it feels to know that the We Grow LA Tribe will show up and show out for the community every time! I love each of my volunteers and I try my best to make sure they know how appreciated they are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Wegrowla.com
- Instagram: @laurenbrazile // @wegrowla // @wegrowinglewood
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-brazile-b6743478
Image Credits
Sunlit Photography, Chris in 4k, Sheopatra Jones
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
