A Call to Serve
Terri J. Brown, 33, came out of a troubled past involving drugs and truancy and developed a desire to not only give back to her community, but reach back. “I wanted to go back to the heart of North Philadelphia where I grew up and show the youth that there are alternatives,†says Brown, who went on to become a college graduate and successful professional. Founder of We Are S.E.E.D.S. Inc. Brown’s nonprofit organization—whose acronym stands for Sisters Empowering Excellence, Determination, and Success—sends mentors into the community to work with girls between the ages of 11 and 18 to help them increase their self-esteem, discourage promiscuity, and make responsible choices. Mentors present workshops, take girls on field trips, and expose them to educational and career options.
