Today we’d like to introduce you to Taneka Irvin.
Hi Taneka, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Shield of Colors was founded as my father fought his last battle with colon cancer. My mother passed of lung cancer in 2009, and as with her, I wanted to make sure I was there through every intricate detail of his caregiving process. At the time, I was also a recently divorced single mother of two young boys, with the youngest having multiple special needs. My youngest son, who we affectionately call Autistic Soljah, has Autism, Hydrocephalus, and Epilepsy.
There were times when it became very overwhelming. I was caring for a terminally ill parent, and my youngest son was dealing with complications due to hydrocephalus and was diagnosed with epilepsy as well. As the saying goes, you don’t know how strong you are until you are placed in the fire. All of life’s trials made me realize I can’t be the only person going through, or who has experienced this. So I wanted to start an organization where I advocate for these causes and provide a caring community, support group, and resources offered to those who have and/or care for someone with Cancer, Autism, Epilepsy, and Hydrocephalus. It also inspired me to share my story with those who may feel alone in similar situations. In May of 2022, I became a first-time published author in the analogy book Girl Get Up and Move, You Are Enough! This too, introduced me to some amazing women with stories of how they’ve persevered through life’s hardest trials.
Founding this organization has allowed me to meet and help some amazing warriors, mothers, and caregivers as we donate quarterly care packages to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for families with children in the hospital with serious illnesses such as cancer. Also, wigs for cancer patients, resources for those new to this journey, and toy drives for children in the hospital during the holidays, and we look forward to beginning our quarterly Soljah Sunday Funday next year.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It most definitely could have been a smoother road. Having lost my father at the beginning of this journey and finding a team that has the same passion for advocacy as I do. Starting an organization that’s mission is based on advocacy and helping others takes a compassionate and dedicated team. Sometimes, I was a team of one. But I didn’t want to give up as I knew this was a need within the special needs community, especially for those of us within the black community. As with most trials in life, I just took it one day at a time. It was worth it if I could help just one patient, caregiver, or family.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shield of Colors was founded to create an informative and caring network for those within the Autism, Cancer, Hydrocephalus, and Epilepsy communities, including their caregivers. We do this by advocating for these causes by providing researched information, resources, direct referrals, personal experiences, and advocacy apparel. Our firsthand experience and passion for advocacy are a few attributes that set us apart. Through our initiative donations, we are so proud of what we’ve accomplished this year within the special needs communities. Also, the launch of our advocacy apparel line includes shirts, other various apparel items, and miscellaneous items such as backpacks, etc. Also, the partnerships we’ve obtained by doing so. We want everyone to know that whether patient or caregiver, you are not alone! So many of us share the same, and some different, experiences while enduring these causes. Surround yourself with those who understand what you’re going through. It may help you navigate your experience more clearly and encourage you to achieve outcomes you didn’t believe were possible. If you would like to learn more about these causes, need resources/referral services, or purchase awareness apparel for these causes, visit our website at www.shieldofcolorsawareness.org. You can also follow us on Instagram at _ShieldofColors, Facebook at ShieldofColors, and TikTok at socmsn_mom.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Find a mentor passionate about advocating for similar causes and with a business or organization that has a proven track record in advocacy. You need someone who has been where you are and whose business is at your desired level. In advocacy, what has helped me is networking with those within the medical industry and those who obtained their knowledge via personal experiences, like myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shieldofcolorsawareness.org
- Instagram: _Shieldofcolors
- Facebook: ShieldofColors
- TikTok: socmsn_mom
