Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natalie Clark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Natalie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
In the journey of life we go through so many things. Sometimes you feel like things are going well and then a challenge comes your way. Life is going to life and there isn’t anything that we can do about that. Listen God doesn’t give you a challenge that he is not prepared to get you through. I am a true example of that. Some of the challenges that you go through is not directly for you but instead an opportunity for you to motivate and encourage someone else. As a motivational speaker I strive to empower you to keep going, stay encouraged, and don’t give up. My purpose is to empower everyone to realize the power of their story to do be the reason that they live, thrive, and work to make a difference in the world around them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I Am Natalie Clark. I am an educator and founder of I Am S.T.R.O.N.G. I Am Striving to Reach Our Next Generation is dedicated to reaching as many people as we can in the community. We are creating opportunities to bring the community together one event at a time. We focus on community, empowerment, scholarships, youth camps, mentorship programs and volunteering. We understand the importance of giving back and supporting each other. We are doing our part to help our next generation chase their dreams and become the best version of themselves. I have T shirts that support my brand. I have a girl’s mentorship program for kids ages 11-17 years old and meet with them 1-2 times a month to focus on different skills to help build confidence, prioritize mental health, and learn the importance of serving others. I also host monthly themed dinners to help bring boss babes, entrepreneurs and other professionals together to see how we can support each other. I travel and host conferences to share how our purpose help empower others. My next big event that is coming up is An Evening of Black Culture. Each culture has something that makes each of us unique. In the black culture we love to celebrate through dance and music. This event will consist of different performances showcasing aspects of the black culture.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My 3 areas of focus that are most impactful on my journey is mentorship, empowerment and community. We all are who we are due to mentorship or lack there of. Empowerment is a liberating word! The word empower means to realize that you have the power to do what you want and will do what you put your mind to. As a result you carry yourself in a way that allows you to motivate others to realize that they have the freedom to do the same. Community is important to work together to make people aware of what is going on around them and be mindful that we each have strengths and weaknesses but we are stronger and can achieve more when we work together.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
I am so use to doing things on my own to make things happen. In the past due to lack of support or being let down it is hard to depend on people. Over the last 12 months I have opened up and decided to trust people that I have met. I have had some situations where people where just trying to be a part of what I was doing and seeing how they could benefit. However, I have met some incredible people that genuinely support me, are willing to put in the work to see how we can help each other, and also reach out to me with suggestions and great ideas to help me reach more people and grow even more during my journey. So my biggest area of growth is that there are genuine people and it is okay to trust and not let past experiences keep me from working with others. The key is communication and to make sure that both parties are involved to truly support each other!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/natalie_clark07?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077704462583&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://linktr.ee/s.t.r.o.n.g
