Today we’d like to introduce you to Bless’d Friendzz (La’Tarsha & Rachel).
Hi Bless’d Friendzz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Rachel Dixon (Detroit Native) and LaTarsha Cook (California Native) met at Detroit Central High School. They shared many common interests and became inseparable very quickly. Throughout life’s trials and tribulations, they created a bond so deep and strong that many have deemed them as an anomaly amongst black women. Rachel and LaTarsha have created a sisterhood that has blessed them with 24 years of friendship.
In November of 2020, Rachel and LaTarsha founded Bless’d Friendzz, Inc. A Friendship Coaching Business that focuses on educating others on the art of building healthy long-lasting relationships as well as repairing them within the Black community and beyond. Rachel and LaTarsha saw that there was a lack of healthy black female friendship representation in the media, their community, and amongst their peer groups. Through several conversations with black women over the years, Rachel and LaTarsha noticed that many black women desired to have close relationships/friendships with other women, however, lacked the tools in order to formulate, repair and/or maintain those relationships/friendships. Through their sisterhood- using trust, transparency, love, healthy boundaries, a lack of judgement, accountability, forgiveness, and the vested knowledge that they have each other’s best interest in mind, has helped them create a foundation for a platform to share the love they feel and represent to the masses.
Through their Podcast “Blesstie Convos”, Rachel and LaTarsha, use their platform to educate, encourage and engage in positive, transparent, thought-provoking conversations with individuals from their community and beyond.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has had its challenges for sure. Organizing the business was challenging initially. As new entrepreneurs, without a business, coaching, and podcasting background, Rachel and LaTarsha endured the woes of learning as you go. In addition, they encountered individuals who were in position(s) they desired to be in and looked to them for mentorship, however, they were faced with individual’s taking their creative ideas and using them as their own. Rachel and LaTarsha had to learn quickly to protect themselves and content while maintaining who they are naturally- Givers. Furthermore, they noticed that other entrepreneurs were not as open to share their resources or experiences. They faced some challenges with friends and family not supporting the business or choosing to terminate their relationship with Bless’d Friendzz . Financial resources to help start or grow the business were scarce within the community. Bless’d Friendzz have invested a lot of their personal finances into their business which at times has caused a financial strain on their personal lives. More money going out and not enough money coming in.
Balancing full-time employment, motherhood, personal life, and their small business has been challenging at times.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Bless’d Friendzz are two women who decided to do life together and now share their experiences & resources with the world. As Friendship Coaches, it is our role to model and walk alongside individuals to help them assess their situation(s) individually and/or as a group, develop a plan of action to strengthen or repair the situation, provide resources and tools and hold them accountable in love as they implement. Bless’d Friendzz, set themselves apart from other coaches because they have 24 years of experience as black female friends and want to share their experiences, tools, and resources to help others experience the beautiful sisterhood they share and more!
Individually, LaTarsha is currently a Probation Officer with the City of Toledo, Ohio. She supervises individuals in the criminal justice system by linking them to resources needed to help them successfully complete the conditions ordered by the Court. In addition, she is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Community Health Worker that focuses on advocating for underrepresented groups as well as linking individuals to people and programs that focus on self-care, healing from trauma and financial literacy. La’Tarsha is most proud of working on herself and through her trauma, so that her life serves as a testimony to those that she serves. What sets her apart is that she’s not afraid to be transparent and share her life experiences and resources to help others.
Rachel currently is an Oakland 80 Navigator for Oakland County-Michigan Works, helping Oakland County residents ages 25 and above obtain financial assistance and community resources to enroll in school, stay in school, and complete school successfully. In addition, Rachel has 22 years of experience in education and focuses her energy on R.E.A.D.D, Rachel’s Education Art &Dance Daycare (Mobile). Rachel is most proud of changing the lives of young people. What sets Rachel apart from other educators is that she takes the time to get to know her students, meet them where they are, and develop a plan specifically to help them achieve their goals.
How do you define success?
Success is when you set a goal and you complete it, whether small or large.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Chris Lord Jones
Jeremy Hampton
