Meet Jaycina Almond: Atlanta Mama and Tender Founder

“Black mothers should be able to mother without stressing about just surviving.”

WHAT DO YOU DO AND WHAT LED YOU TO THIS CAREER?

I'm a signed model and I'm the founder of Tender, a nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance to single mamas living on the margins in Atlanta. Tender helps with rent, utilities, grocery store gift cards, and other everyday necessities like diapers and wipes.

I got pregnant when I was 20 and when my daughter was born, the sheer difficulty of being a new single mom was so overwhelming. Even with the access to resources that I had — it was still tough. And when I looked around me, the women who looked like me didn't at all have the resources I was afforded. I just knew somehow I wanted to change that. Black mothers should be able to mother without stressing about just surviving.

WHAT ARE THE NAMES AND AGES OF YOUR CHILDREN?

Syx Rose Valentine, [she’s] a month shy of 4.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT THUS FAR?

Distributing over $83,000 to our mamas in Tender's first year..

WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF BEING A MOTHER?

For me it's watching my daughter grow into herself and knowing that I'm able to break these generational cycles through my parenting choices.

AND WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?

In the same breath, it's probably breaking those generational cycles. Doing something different than what you know and trusting you're making the right decisions for your child.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR SOMEONE NEW TO YOUR INDUSTRY?

Don't be afraid to ask for help — whether help looks like money, insight, or something tangible. The worst answer you can get is no; if that's the case you can move on and ask the next person! But truly, folks want to help and will do their best if they see you believe in your work.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR A NEW MOTHER?

Give yourself grace and get outside whenever you can.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY EXCITING PROJECTS COMING UP?

Our team at Tender is working on building out a long-term, holistic program for our mamas that will allow them to decrease their debt, increase their savings, and hopefully act as a catalyst to financial self-sufficiency. We wholeheartedly believe that you cannot budget money you don't have, you cannot budget your way out of poverty, and with this program we are hoping to build a bridge — a way out — for our mamas.

Follow Jaycina at @jaycina.