Today we’d like to introduce you to Maryah Sullivan Sanders.
Maryah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am who I am because of my community. As an alumni of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and a recipient of the BGCA National Youth of the Year scholarship, I am an example of what can happen when a community pours into a young person. As a child, the Boys & Girls Club poured into me and provided me with the tools needed to successfully navigate through school. Whether I needed tutoring, therapy, mentorship, food for dinner, or gifts under the Christmas tree, the Boys & Girls Club provided that for me. The Club invested many resources into ensuring that I was prepared to succeed at obtaining an education. My background and experience with the Boys & Girls Club is the reason I am so passionate about helping others. It is my purpose in life to use my gifts and talents to be a solution to as many problems as I can. One of those problems being the lack of support available to young adults ages 18-29. This is a unique group of people. As we are no longer children, but we haven’t quite become accustomed to adulthood. We are in this weird space where we are trying to discover our purpose, achieve our goals, and obtain success – however that may look. Let’s Link Inc. began as The Link. There were so many talented young people in Orlando, FL, without access to the resources or skills needed to grow their businesses.
As a solution to the problem, I hosted a networking event called “The Link”. I wanted to provide a space where young adults could come together comfortably and exchange ideas, business cards, and advice. After a successful networking event, I knew the community needed more. There was a clear gap in the resources and support available to young people ages 18-29. Once sent off to college, we’re mostly expected to just “figure it out”. I wanted Let’s Link to be the organization that would meet the needs of all young adults. Our mission is to help young adults build personal, professional, and spiritual relationships through workshops and events. It is our vision to create a community wherein every young person is firm in their faith, goals, and relationships. We aim to be “the link” that connects young adults to success and society. We believe in the power of community and sharing knowledge. While we are a fairly new nonprofit organization, we have big plans to implement programs that focus on career readiness, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, money management, faith, and relationship building. We believe that once young adults experience and participate in Let’s Link’s programming, they will leave stronger in their faith, goals, and relationships.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to starting a nonprofit organization hasn’t been the easiest. I am the first person in my family to attend college as well as the first person in my family to start a business. As a result, I had very little prior knowledge of what was needed to do so. Pulling together the documents needed to become a nonprofit, building a website, marketing, and obtaining financial support from the community have all been great challenges during this journey. But, I am determined to persevere and continue building. I know that the benefit of an organization like Let’s Link will largely outweigh the challenges it takes to get started. After all, it’s harder to build momentum than to maintain it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In addition to being the Founder and CEO of Let’s Link Inc. I am also an IT Systems Analyst for Tupperware Brands Corporation. I graduated from the University of South Florida in 2018 with a B.S. degree in Information Studies with a concentration in Information Science and Technology. I specialize in project management, IT support, quality assurance, and user acceptance testing. Prior to my entry into the workforce, I was the 2014 National Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). I served as the National Spokesperson for Boys & Girls Club of America and represented over four million youth across the country and around the world on military bases. I traveled as an advocate for BGCA to engage with leaders like former President Barack Obama, LeBron James, and Queen Latifah. Something that sets me apart from others is my willingness to learn and my ability to leave an impact. It is my life’s goal to make a difference in every environment that I am introduced to. I am a contributor. I enjoy learning and taking the initiative to influence positive change in the spaces I share.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is fulfilling my purpose. I want my time here on earth to be impactful. At the end of my life, I want to know that I did everything that I was created to do. I want to rest peacefully, knowing that I gave the world all that I had to offer.
Pricing:
- Sweatshirts – $25 to $28
- Hoodies – $28
Contact Info:
- Email: info@letslinkinc.org
- Website: letslinkinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letslinkinc/
Image Credits:
Benjamin Altidor
