#StrongHer! Thank You!

Thank you to the City of Birmingham and Mayor Woodfin for the recognition. #StrongHer!

Tamika Holmes grew up in a dysfunctional household, where drugs and alcohol were prevalent among adults. She dropped out of high school at 15. She got married at 16. She became a mother at 17. And she was later tapped to be a long-term caregiver for her father.

But she did not shrink from her situations. Instead, she grew and used her past to build a future for today’s young people. In June 2014, she founded the Community Care Development Network to serve girls experiencing the same things she faced as a child. She started out mentoring two students. By summer’s end, she had 30 girls in the program, ranging in age from 11 to 18.

The organization has since expanded its services and partnered with various community organizations to include even more mentoring programs for females; offer mentoring opportunities for males and parents; and provide GED counseling, support for the elderly and assistance for people facing issues with rent and utilities bills. Between June and December 2020, her organization served about 3,600 households by offering food boxes, mentoring, clothes and more. In February 2021, the organization closed on a building in Huffman to serve those in need.

"God put it on my heart that all the trials and tribulations I went through in my life were not for me," said Holmes, 42, of Roebuck. "There were other young ladies who were going through the same thing. And there were other young mothers who had experienced what I had experienced as a young mother. So, I did what I needed to do."

Today, she has restored relationships with her parents. In June 2021, she’ll celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary. This fall, she plans to pursue her doctorate in education. And down the road, she plans on partnering with an Alabama HBCU to offer a trade school.

So how does she do it all? "With a wing and a prayer and the good Lord," Holmes said. "I wake up in the morning and say, ‘What will the new adventure be today?’ I truly love what I do." #StrongHER #WomensHistoryMonth