Dr. Shanna Carter knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed with lots of obstacles, today, she’s keying into her experience to make life better for the youth, more specifically incarcerated males.
Dubbed “The Purpose Resuscitator,” Dr. Carter, through her organization, Krumpin 4 Success, Inc, a youth organization is encouraging equiping, empowering and enhancing youths’ foundation for life while promoting both college and career.
Her organisation aims to decrease risk-taking behavior in our youth 16-2 while promoting academic success, financial stability, economic sufficiency, and positive mental health.
Krumpin 4 Success, Inc. caters to youth between the ages of 13-24.
Recalling how the journey started, she says:
“I have overcome many obstacles in my life but the reward of empowering and encouraging people, especially Jacksonville’s youth and women, to use every gift, talent, and skills they have to be great, was worth the struggle. I was raised by her grandmother mostly due to her mother being 15 at the time of birth. There were so many tragic events in my childhood that I wanted a fresh new start when I turned 18. I left the small town of Albany, Georgia that did not have many opportunities. I always tell people that I would probably be unemployed and hanging out if I would have stayed in our town. I moved to Florida at 18 and lived in Eureka Gardens Apartments; which was considered to be one of Jacksonville’s worst crime, drug, and violence infested neighborhoods. While living there, I suffered extreme domestic violence from my ex-husband and gave birth to a daughter that would later feel the effects of the bad relationship and broken home.”
“There had to be a way out of this life. I moved out of Eureka Gardens and away from my ex-husband then became a Habitat for Humanity homeowner in the process, which was the foundation of this new life. I knew that I was not one to always take a hand out so I went to college and obtained an Associates of Arts in Elementary Education, then Bachelor’s Degree in Business Supervision and Management and most recently a Juris Doctor with focus areas of family, juvenile, entertainment, and business law” Dr. Carter adds.
In 2015, Dr. Carter, driven by her passion to touch lives started the “No More Boxes” youth entrepreneur program – it was the first entrepreneur summer camp in Jacksonville, FL. From then, inspired to do more, she started a program for incarcerated youth in 2016 in two juvenile facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, Black News reports.
In two years, over 50 youth were provided training and opportunities to launch businesses before they were released. One group was notably able to pitch at FedEx Youth Business Event during golf tournament with celebrity judges.
Dr. Carter thought to extend her entrepreneur program which was of great benefits to incarcerated juveniles to jails and prisons, in order to remind them they are valued. This she did through her Breaking Da Cycle Entrepreneur Program and iMOVE Inventor’s Think Tank. Through the program, she encourages and motivates them to see themselves as great people regardless of their circumstances and backgrounds.
Dr. Carter is staying true to her name as the “The Purpose Resuscitator”. “Turning obstacles into opportunities. Helping people reach their greater purpose.”
Through her “Breaking Da Cycle” 10-week Entrepreneur Program, “Power Moves Partners”, participants get all necessary tools to launch a business with little to no money.
“I want opportunities and resources for them to have successful and quality lives to meet them at the gate so that they can turn down the opportunities to re-offend.” She said.
Dr. Carter is working tirelessly behind the scenes, reaching out to people in prisons and jails across the state of Florida and Georgia with great ideas.
Dr. Carter has been working on the process for building The K4S Entrepreneur and Innovation Center with SWAG (high school diploma or GED) Business Academy for at-risk males as an extension of the entrepreneur program. She aims to take our young men from “Jail Cells to Board Rooms, From Hand Cuffs to Briefcases, From Rags to Riches.”
“It’s Not Personal, It’s Purpose.” Dr. Carter believes.
Krumpin 4 Success, Inc., so far has assisted over 80 youth with initial business start-up, 40 youth obtaining food handler’s certificates, one youth receiving manager’s certification, 5 youth entrepreneurs in becoming patent-pending inventors, opened a youth ran Rock n’ Roll Café in a food desert, assisted 3 youth entrepreneurs in receiving an investment from local angel investor and preparing to open the first all-male middle/high school business academy for youth going from at-risk to at-purpose.
