Today we’d like to introduce you to Camika Jerido.
Hi Camika, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My success comes from my childhood experience. I grew up in a home with my biological mother, father, and three siblings. Though we did not live in the most lavish neighborhood and were not the wealthiest family financially, all our needs were provided for. We were taken care of mentally, physically, and spiritually. My parents were involved in our academics, sports, and volunteer activities. They ensured we understood the importance of giving back to the community and helping others.
As a young girl and through my adulthood, I helped. Sometimes, I even helped too much, so I became overwhelmed. As if I have superpowers, I have always been the type to suppress my emotions; I never really ask for help. I just put my best foot forward. That’s just who I am. It’s how I have always been. I felt everyone needed me and did not want to let anyone down. I was the “go-to” person for family, friends, and even for the friends and family of my family and friends. It did not matter if they needed tutoring for their kids, a pizza ordered for their family, or help to understand important mail. I was your girl! I have left my hometown of Jacksonville, FL, a few times to attend college. There have been times when I have lived out of the country. Still, that did not stop the calls asking for help. My decision to prioritize service often meant that I would be up late, working on different things between classes, on breaks, or through the weekends.
During my teen and later college years, I mentored and tutored local and international students at elementary and middle schools and youth organizations. When tutoring, I worked with students who struggled with specific academic subjects and assisted with behavior issues, among other things. When working with children through the judicial system, I assigned behavior-based punishment. My experience taught me that a disconnect is causing the lack of comprehension and behaviors which labels our youth as at-risk and dysfunctional. Although the exact factors are unknown and beyond my control, it is evident that we learn from our environment, our parents, our neighborhood, our family, our friends, etc. We teach our children what we know. We cannot teach what we do not know. The things our children learn and observe in their early years greatly impact their academics and how they will behave and succeed in the future.
In multiple moments, I wondered how I can help our community. What can I do to break the generational cycles? Everywhere I visited, I worked with young children doing the same things I had done in Jacksonville, FL. Even when I left the country, I worked with young children. That’s when I drafted a business plan and put in an application to start a non-profit organization that provides awareness, education, inspiration, and support to disadvantaged communities.
My journey began in 2014 when the IRS approved the organization as tax-exempt under 501(c)(3). The organization has been actively working in the community with our youth throughout the years, yet it was going differently than I originally envisioned. At times, I felt defeated, lost, and overwhelmed. My goal was to form partnerships with local businesses and organizations while continuing to travel outside the country, but this was unfolding differently than I envisioned it. I was certain that this was what I was supposed to be doing, but I needed to understand how to properly go about executing my vision. Holding Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D. degrees did not prepare me for what I needed to say or how I should make needed connections. I was experiencing life during this time, pouring most of my additional finances into the organization and hoping for the expected outcome. I was trying and doing all I could. However, similar to what I stated above, I needed more in what I knew. I could only do what I was taught by the environment that I grew up in.
I did not know anyone in my community with a degree higher than an associate’s degree. In my immediate family, I was the first college graduate. Despite my education, I still lacked knowledge of adequately operating the organization. I was so accustomed to being the go-to person that I felt no one else could help me. Mentally, I was stuck, and I did not realize it. I always wanted to give back to the community, so I continued my education to return to my community and let others know that we can obtain whatever we want or be whomever we want. At the beginning of 2022, I was determined to make the changes I wanted to see in the organization. I got tired of feeling defeated, lost, and overwhelmed. I worked on myself and shifted my mindset to grow in the areas I lacked. I was no longer afraid to fail, step outside my comfort zone, or worry about what others felt or thought. Immediately, I started investing in myself, not just the organization. I took business coaching classes, obtained a mentor, and started asking for donations, volunteers, sponsors, etc. Since then, I have received those donations, sponsorships, and, most importantly, members with the same vision willing to join in and partner with the organization. I even resigned from my primary position to operate the organization full-time. Now, we as an organization is winning. Our goal is to shift mindsets to Win!
Overall, I am grateful for my experiences. My experience helped me shift my mindset and realize that no one is more powerful than me in moving my organization forward. By staying consistent, continuing to learn, and sticking to the process, I got all the help I needed. Everything I need is already within me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was not smooth at all, but I am grateful for the experience, knowledge, and wisdom I gained along the way. The journey set the tone for the outcomes I see now; it put me in the shoes of those I desire to serve. Although my heart desired to help the community, I realized I needed more time to be ready to WIN in 2014, the year the organization was created. No matter your education, wealth, or status, you can always learn from others, even a small child. It is essential to set boundaries and focus on yourself and your goals while balancing time for business and your personal life.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The organization’s name is USA Unlimited, Inc. because my vision is to partner and travel with our youth outside the United States. Within the organization, we have three programs. Our Resource for Disease program works with families with children with medical illnesses like seizures, autism, etc. Our women’s empowerment programming regularly gathers women for brunch, game night, and panel discussion. The Boys 2 Win mentorship program, which is our current focus where we work with young boys ages 4-12 to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to adopt a winning mindset. A boy’s youth program for this age group sets us apart. We are proud to work with young boys and instill the ability to tolerate failure, learn from the situation, and identify their failings. We praise their performance, not their outcome.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, USA Unlimited will be connected to many local and out-of-state partners. We will also have partnerships internationally. We will have multiple locations for our community resource center, a school, and a group home. We will have an unlimited number of grants and sponsorships with big organizations to execute any plan we envision. Our programs will be one that will be new to the industry.
Contact Info:
- Website: usaunlimited.org
- Instagram: usaunlimited2013
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/camikajerido2020
