The Mustard Seed Entreprises

The Mustard Seed Entreprises is a family support service organization committed to strengthening families connections and serving people in need in underserved communities. Our partnerships, collaborations and relationships are established with like minded individuals and organizations who have been leading successfully with integrity and their giving strategies and values align with our goals.

We want our actions and service to others to be as a viable, sustainable business concept for social enterprise. Recognizing that our actions be the expression of our values, a source of encouragement and the motivation or inspiration that moves one towards the positive change needed to rebuild trust, healing, and restoration for those experiencing challenge, loss, and transition.

Our programs are designed to make valuable contributions to the social and emotional development of our participants as well as addressing the physical needs as well. Beginning first in our community, city, state, country then globally. It's our "Community Idea with A Global Vision."

How We Began:

September of 2000, our first program was created, Advocates Committed Together in Service. This program was being established to be a community-based program that ACTS as a point-of-contact for collaborative partnerships and programs in support of children, youth and families; ideally, family reunification whenever possible. A few weeks later, my family and I were displaced due to a fire in our home. We were rendered homeless and left with only the clothing on our backs. At the time, I couldn't afford rental insurance, so we lost everything and the assistance we received was very minimal. The savings I had was used to pay for us to 'stay together' in motel rooms and when the money I held onto was depleted we slept in our car. It wasn't until a friend found us and offered us a room to stay at her place until I was able to get my head together emotionally and financially to secure my own place.

This was just the beginning of our trials & transition from having a home to homelessness. I'll forever be grateful for my first responders, the angels encamped and supporters who helped us and guided me and my family when I was at my lowest mentally, emotionally & financially. We were traumatized, left emotionally bankrupt but I remember promising myself that whenever possible, I would find a way to ACT on the behalf of someone else going through transition doing their best to keep their family together. I knew firsthand what that felt like and remembered the nights I silently cried myself to sleep; not knowing how I was going to make it, secure food let alone what I was supposed to do next for myself. It wasn't until I started helping others I found my strength to find the resources, referrals and opportunities needed to get back to self sufficiency.

Organizational Goals:

- To secure contracts with the Department of Social Services or like organizations help to restore/rebuild our vulnerable children, youth and families to offer Life Skills, Personal Development, and Financial Literacy Training to families affected by poverty. Our families also challenged with accompanied limiting pathological behaviors, generational curses and modeled bad behaviors.

- To secure properties such as duplexes/triplexes or motels to establish transitional housing for families in transition back to self-sufficiency.

- To provide a "safe" place and ongoing support groups for adults who have been sexually and/or physically abused as children. We support them in dealing with unaddressed issues that have halted them from becoming their best self and fulfilling their life purpose.

Testimonials

"Tonight was our first night in the shared living facility. We are fortunate to have a roof over our heads. The kids are snuggled up with their Covers With Love. I don't believe I took the time to tell you how extremely happy and honored I am to have such a wonderful person as yourself in my life, I am so thankful and grateful for all of your assistance. I really mean it. " ~ Tanika W.

"My joy was unspeakable receiving my 'Cover with Love' from Ms. Ida Marie Briggs. 2003, 2012, and 2014 were times when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 3 times and a mild congestive heart failure. To go through those trials were tough however, Ms. Marie honoring me with my 'Cover With Love' lit up my life, my bedroom, and brought joy and comfort to me while recuperating in my bed. Just glancing at this beautiful creation, only for me, renewed my spirits and gave me hope for tomorrow - reminding me just to take it one day at a time. it was very timely. This time was the beginning of several new health challenges and today my beautiful 'Cover with Love' still lays atop of my bed, giving me glimpses of encouragement ❤️ God Bless you Sis."
~ Geniverteria T. , honored because of the strength she continues to exhibit in the face of ongoing health challenges