Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Addison
Hi Shannon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a devoted mother, mentor, writer, and entrepreneur, I am passionate about empowering young girls with the tools to navigate the complexities of social and emotional issues. That’s why I created The Breadcrumbz, a platform that offers valuable lessons for girls and parents alike. My mother, a highly qualified educator and counselor, was instrumental in helping me develop this program. Before she passed away, she urged me to continue this mission because of the value of the content and the growing need for it. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter’s chronic medical condition forced me to step back and care for her shortly after embarking on this journey. This experience opened my eyes to the devastating effects of continual cruelty on young girls. I saw firsthand how my daughter’s dreams of attending her graduation ceremony were shattered by the constant threat of three bullies in her class. As a mother, this was a heartbreaking experience that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. That’s why I am committed to changing the course of the cruelty between girls. I want to spare other parents of this kind of pain. Together, we can empower our young girls and provide them with the tools to combat these behaviors and build a brighter future for all.
After taking some time off work to care for my daughter, I started a brand called My Crumby World in 2022. “The Breadcrumbz Present” is a series of interactive books that aim to teach young girls about resilience, friendship, communication, and acceptance. The second book in the series is entitled, “My Crumby Guide to Baking and Friendship Making,” which teaches girls how to bake all the breads represented in my brand and the social skills listed above. The book is thoughtfully designed with stories and messages in addition to recipes that facilitate necessary conversations between adults and kids about issues that might be difficult to approach otherwise. Last year, I was fortunate enough to raise funds for this book through a Kickstarter campaign successfully. In addition to the book, I also created a set of color-coded coordinating measuring cups and spoons to help younger bakers with precise measurements. I have been thrilled to see that my baking boxes, which contain the book, the measuring cups and spoons, and a hat and apron set, have been a hit at vendor events such as Pinners in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to my books and baking boxes, I’ve created problem-solving packets that include finger puppet versions of my characters and “Story Starters” that provide a dilemma for girls to solve by acting it out with the puppets. Girls can share their solutions to these dilemmas on my website. By showcasing how well young girls can solve their potential friendship problems we can help girls build the confidence needed to make decisions independently, and ultimately develop autonomy, another tool they will need to rely on as they mature.
My mission is to safeguard pre-adolescent girls as they face the challenges of growing up. I strive to raise awareness about the potential dangers they might encounter and provide parents with the knowledge and resources to form stronger bonds with their daughters. In addition to creating tools for parents and caregivers, I have also developed a speaking platform to educate parents about these risks and encourage them to establish these connections at crucial times, helping girls develop into strong, compassionate, and caring individuals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Dealing with my daughter’s chronic medical condition shortly after I launched my business was a huge obstacle. Not knowing how to deal with the myriad of symptoms she had at the time and her inability to attend school made it impossible for me to continue at the rate I was. I was forced to take a step back and care for her. I wasn’t aware at the time how much the whole experience would impact my journey. Watching her go through the tribulations of dealing with a complex medical problem, compounded with the scrutiny placed on her by her female peers who did not understand her illness, was excruciating to witness.
I now speak about this experience and the effect that it had on my daughter and me. Knowing what kind of cruelty girls exhibit toward one another during preadolescence and beyond has shaped the message I deliver to parents and the tools I am creating to help build connection between girls and their caregivers.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I see myself as a creative individual rather than a business-oriented one. I am passionate about the creative aspect of my work. I enjoy creating unique characters that represent different cultures and personalities. Developing their stories comes naturally as each character has distinct qualities. Although I am shifting towards speaking to broader audiences about the significance of building connections, both at home and in the workplace, I still dedicate a significant amount of time to creating educational materials using my characters. These materials aim to teach important lessons and problem-solving skills to help girls gain confidence and become more independent.
I am incredibly proud of this brand and what it represents. The Breadcrumbz were created to teach girls to value what makes them different, how to better connect with others, and to become more resilient in the face of adversity.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
To grow my brand, I need to focus on two key industries. Firstly, I will concentrate on speaking to large audiences about the importance of my tools in helping parents and caregivers build stronger connections with their children. Secondly, I will need to capitalize on the opportunity to create a strong animation channel to deliver positive messaging directly to the end user (young children) through YouTube.
AI will have a significant impact on animation in the next 5-10 years. This technology has the potential to simplify the creation of animated short videos for young viewers. Animation production can be expensive, and AI could be a game changer for up-and-coming artists looking to bring their ideas to fruition.
Pricing:
- $40.00 Breadcrumbz Baking Boxes
- $20 My Crumby Guide to Baking and Friendship Making Book
- $7.99 My Crumby Guide to Failing Book
- $10.00 Problem Solving Packets
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mycrumbyworld.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycrumbyworld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycrumbyworld
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-addison/
- Twitter: https://x.com/mycrumbyworld
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MyCrumbyWorld
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mycrumbyworld
