Outreach was a staple in my childhood, something I will never forget. It helped me develop my learning skills, problem solving and critical thinking abilities. Outreach also helped me develop the family I have created today. I learned how to effectively communicate and problem solve and nurture meaningful relationships. I have had the blessing of keeping the same 4 friends going on 11 years with the help of Outreach. A lot of our first’s as friends were with Outreach and we still talk about them to this day. I attended Outreach from 2015-2018. The mentors helped shape me into the woman I am today, with their knowledge, wisdom and guidance; and I couldn’t be more grateful. Ten Years after ORD I am currently in my last year of college obtaining my business degree with a concentration in management. I have been running my business for the last 4 years and I’m obtaining the degree to back it as we speak! I wouldn’t be where I am today without the fundamentals I learned from Ms. D’Jella and all the amazing mentors in Outreach. There are not a lot of things out there for kids like this and it should be it makes all the difference. 

-Makayla Speight