We had the good fortune of connecting with Shonta Bradley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shonta, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of Because, Butterflies R’ Blue is our commitment to God’s vision and the calling he has over my life as it relates to pouring back into the lives of “at risk” girls in my community. We are authentic and genuine in our responsibility of building strong, independent young girls.
My team and I are deeply invested in our mission and have built a reputation that resonates with our girls because we truly believe in our mission and what it our objectives are.

We earn the trust of our girls, their parents, and the community by being genuine in our approach to meeting the needs of all the girls we encounter. We are committed with our time, and, in our efforts of showing up and being our unique selves so that the girls feel the love and authenticity. We feel that being authentic helps us to be more relatable and is instrumental in building trust and creating the bonds that we have with the girls.
My team’s consistent commitment to changing the mindset of the girls has been a priority. We understand how important it is that the girls believe they are both capable and worthy of being whatever they put their minds to. This has been very affective based on the feed back that we receive from our parents as well as how we able to physically see the changes ourselves. So exciting!

To me, our success is not measured in finances but how the tools we have provided and lessons we have taught are received and applied to the girls’ everyday lives. Our success is the changes that we see, and the positive feedback from both the parents and the community who share their love of seeing the growth in our girls and our program.
I am fully committed to the calling that God has given me when it comes to pouring into girls who looked like I did as a child and who come from the same backgrounds of trauma, poverty, crime, abuse, family addiction as I did. My success is measured by watching mindsets change. My success comes from those who see my work and support me. The Bible says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This is how I guide every interaction with our girls and the people I partner with to mentor and build partnerships.
My success comes from witnessing a girl(s) who have been broken begin to walk in her truth and identify who and whose she is. My success comes from being humble enough to understand that I serve a GOD that is impressive enough to turn a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been in child welfare for more than 8.5 years but that does not define who I am. I recently took a step back from the day to day of child welfare to figure out how I can help people outside the walls of where I was employed.
I felt confined to rules. For example, you can help this child, but only so much. Or you can help this mom, but after she checks these boxes. I no longer want to help people with restrictions, certainly not in my organization.
I want to increase my partnerships with others and become more knowledgeable of resources to help children in families in many ways. One of my goals is to be a liaison between my organization and the community providing resources for girls in need, boys in need, families in need.

To me, this makes me more authentic than anyone else in child welfare because, I, unlike so many others, care. I am motivated about decreasing statistics with people that look like me and come from where I come from.
I hope that Because, Butterflies R’ Blue stands out being for authentic. This is not just a fly by night organization. It is God given!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best friend and I have been besties since kindergarten. That is more than 40 years. When she and I are together, we just enjoy talking and laughing, but music is our thing.
For the last few birthdays of hers, we have made a day of driving and singing to different locations to eat and shop. Nothing spectacular, nothing fancy, no fancy dining or vacation spots, just two friends enjoying the value of friendship.

I owe her my life; literally. She saved me from dying many years ago while I was in the hospital and had given up on life. I allowed depression to take over my mind and the enemy had won. But God…. (me crying) sent my bestie to visit and she not only got me up from what was then my dying bed, but out of darkness.
She and I can sit on the phone for hours or stay up at night laughing. Our time together outweighs any luxury trip. For me, it is the value of friendship. I trust her with all of my secrets, my fears, my desires, and my goals, and for her, she has the same in me. We are like to souls forever connected in friendship. I love that for us. God did this….

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I would like to honor and contribute my love for God to my aunt in heaven, Mrs. Pamela Frank. She asked me early on in 2008 was I saved? My answer at the time was” I do not know”, and she began to tell me that if I did not know, then that meant no, and she prayed the prayer of salvation with me. For that, I owe her thanks for introducing me to the formidable God that I serve.

Before this, I attribute my dedication and perseverance to my Kindergarten Teacher, Mrs. Joyce Thompson. Mrs. Thompson was Caucasian, and I, was a young black girls from the projects. But Mrs. Thompson told me that I could be anything that I wanted to be and she urged me to believe that no matter my current circumstances were. She reminded me often that if I could see myself beyond the projects that I could be out of the projects.

My best friend, Dr. Jaime Huff. She has been my friend even before I knew who I was and what calling God had on my life. She has been my smile in sadness, and my laughter in pain. She and I met in kindergarten and have been best friends ever since. She is my favorite butterfly because of her love and friendship to me. I love her.

My forever love, my husband Jermaine Bradley. He brought love into my life when I stopped believing in it and I will always love him for loving me. He and I met when I my heart had been broken and I was seeking love. He came along, and filled my heart. And though our love and life has had its ups and downs, he’s my person that I want to forever share this life with.

My son Caleb. He is my greatest joy. I thank God for him daily because when I lost my babies before him, I felt empty. He came along and filled a void that I have always desired. “For this child I have prayed” and God answered. He is everything my heart desires.

My two angels in heaven; my aunt Brenda Copeland and my mother-in-Law, Rhodia Bradley. These two women taught me so much about myself. My aunt taught me to appreciate being my authentic crazy self and to always chase my dreams. Rhodia taught me the power of prayer and to listen to God’s voice and to be obedient.

My two angel babies that I lost through miscarriage. I carry them every day in my spirit. I am reminded of them everyday through butterflies.

To the butterfly… that gives me hope when I watch you fly and encourages me to keep going even when I do not understand, and I am afraid. The butterfly for me is a new life. The old one is gone. I am a new creature in Christ. I am a Butterfly.

Website: https://becausebutterfliesrblue.com

Facebook: Because, Butterflies R’ Blue

Image Credits
Shonta Bradley; Iphone images

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