From Banker to Nonprofit Founder
TONYA PERKINS-STOUDERMIRE AND BESSIE’S ANGELS OFFER HOPE AND HELP TO FOSTER CHILDREN
This story was written by Ed Watkins, Volunteer Writer
Tonya Perkins-Stoudermire credits the start of Bessie’s Angels, the nonprofit agency she leads, to God arranging a few things in her life. First and foremost: her grandmother, Bessie.
“My grandmother was a praying woman, and God blessed her with the gifts of prophecy and healing,” she says. “For a long time, I depended on her when things were going wrong. She was the person I could call, and she would pray for me.”
After her grandmother had a stroke and was unable to talk, Tonya knew she needed to take account of her own journey and future.
“Although I have always worked in the community in some form, I never felt as though I was doing enough,” she says. “At the time, BlackBerrys were the thing, so I put a reminder in mine to ask God what it is He would have me do. The reminder popped up every day until I realized what I needed to do.”
Second, her long career in banking. Tonya provided leadership in bank branches mostly located in less-affluent areas of the city. While working at one branch, she noticed a lot of young women coming in who had unique problems with the lack of housing and overall support. As she says, “They were just trying to make it in the world.” In 2015, Tonya founded Bessie’s Angels to provide hope and love to young women in the Cleveland area emerging from foster care.
“Young women who grew up in foster care often have unique problems—no housing, no family, and little support,” says Tonya. Bessie’s Angels provides a wide array of educational, inspirational, and practical assistance to young women leaving foster care. The group operates several facilities where women can gather to share experiences and receive services.
“At Bessie’s Place I, which was our first home, we have a free store and a laundry for the women,” says Tonya. “It’s all free for women between the ages of 16 and 24 who have been impacted by foster care.”
A mobile service delivers food several times a week to those in need. Once a month, a cooking class is broadcast via Zoom. The group provides the ingredients as well as cooking utensils and cookware for those who need them to participate. More directly, Bessie’s Angels provides important financial assistance to help the women with utility and housing costs.
The heart of Bessie’s Angels’ mission—and the group’s initial focus—is a series of workshops and mentorship programs to help participants get on their feet once they leave foster care. The workshops provide the women with inspiration as well as practical information on navigating life on their own.
Tonya and the group are also part of Building Hope in the City’s Leaders in Faith Together (LIFT) program, which offers no-cost consulting and coaching to faith-forward entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders.
“LIFT does exactly what it says. It has given me a tremendous lift,” says Tonya. She has participated in leadership and development courses through LIFT, as well as receiving encouragement and guidance. “LIFT continues to encourage me in my mission.”
Bessie’s Angels is about to launch a capital campaign to raise $1.5 million to support the purchase of additional facilities and expand its service offerings.
“My prayer is that Bessie’s Angels leaves a legacy of compassion, care, and love. The Bible speaks of love all the way through it, so I want our girls to always know how much they are loved.”
To learn more about Bessie’s Angels, visit them online at www.bessiesangels.org.
