Crystal Clark-Chatman Created the Beautiful Spirited Women Mentoring Program as a Unique Safe Haven for Girls Living in Poverty
Every time Crystal Clark-Chatman did what she wanted to do, things continued to fail, but when she started doing what God wanted her to do, everything shifted for the better. Crystal is the business owner of Coach CC’s Tribe, where she serves and constantly strives for women and young adults passionate about nonprofits and making a difference in their community. She is also the founder & CEO of the Beautiful Spirited Women Girls Mentoring program founded in Memphis, Tennessee.
Beautiful Spirited Women (B.S.W.) is a unique safe-haven program for girls who live in poverty ages 4-19. The program specializes in free workshops and volunteering assignments that help build girls’ entrepreneurial and leadership development skills. The primary focus is on academic, life enrichment, and basic life skills through structured but fun and interactive lessons and activities to help the participants develop and mature into positive-minded and productive young individuals in life, education, and community.
“In 12 years, we have yet to have a teen pregnancy,” she says. “We provide all-year-round programming in Math, Reading, Self-Esteem, Self-Image, Self-Confidence, S.T.E.M., Hygiene, Leadership Skills, Life Skills, Presentation Skills, Communication Skills, Bullying Awareness, Etiquette, Health and Fitness, Community Service, and so much more.”
Crystal shares that God gave her this assignment because she did not want other girls to go through the things she went through as a child. “Everything I went through as a young girl was not what a young girl should experience,” she says. “Not having outreach programs, outside mentors, or positive influencers consistently besides your immediate family, can cause a lot of damage for ones’ s future.” This is why Crystal is passionate about making a difference in the low-income areas where girls do not receive the most exciting opportunities as other girls throughout the cities in which they live. She is also passionate about making a difference in women who want to create a positive change in their everyday lives.
Crystal’s heart is filled with joy when making a change in the next generation. “It truly takes dedication to do community work, such as working with youth,” she says. Crystals shares that after ten years with no mental break, she had to step back for an entire year for a sabbatical to hear from the Lord in 2021. “Did I really take a sabbatical? Mmmhhh not really, but it was indeed a fantastic journey to step back behind the scenes to see what God needed me to see,” she says. “As a leader, many things happen because you allow them to happen. There is no one to blame but you. I have been creating this space for a long time, and I am willing to work towards rebuilding the right way and assisting others to do the same.”
So how does Crystal handle challenging times as a leader?
“I look to the hills which cometh my help.”
“I can honestly say that God sent so many earthly angels to cover me here on earth when it comes to his assignment and me being able to carry out his mission. Indeed, only I heard the voice of GOD when it came to this assignment. Still, I honestly noticed over the years that God must have spoken to my husband (Head Security) Troy, My brother Demetrius (Head Security), Our Creative Writer Cynthia and our amazing Executive Director LaKeisha. In nonprofits, so much has to take place on many different levels. We have made so many significant mistakes in these last 12 years, but we never get stuck in our mistakes. We find solutions and make the impact that needs to happen for our girls.”
Crystal understands the importance of being surrounded by those who understand their role’s broader purpose, think of ways to improve their position, and treat your business as if it is their own. “Daily, I pray that God sends individuals who have initiative skills in them because it means they’ll strive to do their job better by thinking of new and creative approaches that will serve the purpose. These fantastic individuals truly lift my spirits during those challenging times and keep me thriving through it all.”
This year, Crystal says they have great things coming up in their program, and she wants all the girls you know to be a part. “Keep in mind, our program does not have a government or city grant. Our donations come from amazing community sponsors from all over the world who love what we do consistently.” When asked what is the most rewarding about what she does. She says, “The most rewarding moment is hearing the feedback from the program participants and how Beautiful Spirited Women has made a major impact on their lives for the years to come.”
Readers can connect with Beautiful Spirited Women on all social media platforms. Facebook: Beautiful Spirited Women (@bswblessings) Instagram: @beautifulspiritedwomen, Twitter: @bswblessings, TikTok: #2010WECANBSW. Also, visit their website at www.beautifulspiritedwomen.org
