I Succeeded Because I Never Gave Up - Dolmecia Fleming

Dolmecia Fleming is the Founder of Angels of Destiny, Inc. She motivates, empowers, and inspires girls in her community. Her mentorship and outreach program improves the self-esteem of girls between the ages of 8 of 21 years old.

Empowering Lives Business Magazine with Angels of Destiny, Inc.

Photo Courtesy of Dolmecia Fleming

So let’s just jump right into it. Tell us about Angels of Destiny, Inc.

Angels of Destiny, Inc. was founded in 2014 by myself and my late cousin Angela Hogan. Angela passed away in 2015 from a rare disease. I was very discouraged and no longer wanted to run on with the vision. Until I was reminded that He who has begun a great work in you will finish it. I knew I had to run on and continue with what we started. We started by servicing only five girls a year in our local community. In 2019, it has grown to where we can serve hundreds of girls each and every year with back to school supplies, uniforms, and hairstyles. Our overarching goal is to be a beacon of hope in the lives of young girls in communities; not only in our community, but across the border.

Some of the most significant results that we are seeing are the girls coming in and really being empowered. Their self esteem is truly being increased. They are learning to know, and come into who they really are, which is one of our primary goals. We have a session that we call “Hour of Empowerment,” and in this session, we are setting our girls up and preparing our girls to excel. We are seeing a tremendous outcome with these girls. One of the most prominent changes that we see is they walk in boldly with their heads up, knowing who they are, and whose they are.

I came from a very disadvantaged background and when I say disadvantaged I mean I grew up in a broken household. My parents suffered from drug addictions. I have experienced many disadvantages from being homeless, hungry and not having my basic needs met. I can remember when I was only 10 years old, I would always say, “Oh I can’t wait until I get grown because I never want another young girl to experience what I am going through.” I would always say, “When I get older, I am going to be rich, and I am going to be able to help other young girls.” I did not know that it did not take me to be rich, to be able to pour into and empower young girls. Being a young teenage mother at the age of 15 years old, not having guidance, and not knowing which way to go, it was very challenging for me.

But I chose to take the disadvantages and turn them into advantages so I can ensure young girls do not have to suffer and experience the hardships that I had to endure

We are a faith-based nonprofit organization, where donors can make tax-deductible donations. We also accept in-kind donations.

We are always looking for volunteers and sponsors. We are launching a new program now within the organization called - H.O.P.E., which stands for Helping Other Peers Excel, and we are looking for sponsors to partner with us. We want community partners and sponsors who believe in the vision and what we are doing with these girls. My goal is to help these girls experience something outside of Polk County, which is why I am planning college tours for them.

For other women that want to start a nonprofit organization or just start a business in general, and don’t know where to start, what would you tell them?

I would tell them to first start by writing the vision and make it plain

Angels of Destiny, Inc. - Dolmecia Fleming, CEO

Permission granted to Empowering Lives Magazine by Dolmecia Fleming

Read the entire article on Empowering Lives Business Magazine for Women Entrepreneurs with Sandra R. Harris

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