In this episode, you’ll hear: 

• Cortney’s journey from social worker to founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Change 1
• How Change 1 works in the community to support children transitioning out of the Child Welfare system
• The unique challenges that entrepreneurs face when they’re founding a nonprofit organization
• Why it’s important for people working with Foster Youth to have lived experiences in the Child Welfare system
• The challenges that entrepreneurs of color face as a direct result of their race
• How you can help Change 1 manifest their goals to build a one-stop drop-in center for Foster Youth and young adults who have emancipated from the system

 

 

Cortney Jones, the founder Executive Director of the nonprofit, Change 1, is both a social worker and child welfare advocate. Jones entered the foster care system at age eight and emancipated out of it at 18. Making that transition on her own was challenging, and it was that lived experience that inspired her to found Change 1. 

Change 1 is an Austin-based nonprofit that provides support services for children and young adults who have gone through the child welfare system, as Jones did. The organization specifically focuses on helping new adults transition out of foster care, giving them the tools and support they need to survive and thrive in the adult world. 

“I wanted to start an organization to help kids not have to navigate adulthood by themselves,” Jones says. She further explains that while she was in the foster care system, she often felt like her voice wasn’t heard and her input wasn’t honored. That’s why it’s important to her to help kids in the child welfare system feel more empowered to have their voices heard.

Since she got her start as a social worker, a huge part of Jones’ career has been focused on education — of the youth in foster care, the community, and the legislators who pass laws that affect these kids. A large part of that is in debunking myths and stigmas surrounding the child welfare system.

Jones has a broad and deep understanding of the child welfare system, and is a true advocate for the kids still in and the young adults emancipating out of the system. 

Change 1 began as Jones’ brainchild in 2007, but it wasn’t until a decade later, in 2017, that Change 1 received a 501(c)3 status from the IRS. And there were many obstacles along that road. As a minority community leader, Jones faced unique challenges, especially in the difficulty in competing with established organizations for resources. Black entrepreneurs, who make up 6% of entrepreneurs nation-wide, generally receive less support than white entrepreneurs, who make up a staggering 70.9%. So, organizations like Change 1 need resources to become established, but they need to be established to secure the resources. It’s a vicious cycle.

But Jones is determined, hard-working, and passionate about her cause. Thanks to these qualities, Jones is affecting big changes in a lot of kids’ and young adults’ lives. 

To learn more about Jones’ journey, and the work Search & Convert is doing to help Change 1, listen to the full (and final) episode of Search & Convert’s Founder Spotlight series. Check out the accompanying feature article in foundingAUSTIN magazine.

If you enjoy this conversation as much as we did, be sure to share it with a friend or colleague! 

 

Hosts: Dan Dillard & PJ Christie

Guest: Cortney Jones

Find Cortney Jones on Facebook.

Learn more about Change 1. 

Learn more about Search & Convert. 

This blog was written in partnership with founding_media. 

This Founder Spotlight series is sponsored by Search and Convert, an Austin-based marketing agency that can help your business get more leads through your site.

 

Transcript:

Why don’t you tell us a little bit about who you are and what your business is, and a summary of your journey into becoming.

Yeah. So thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. Um, so I have a nonprofit called change a one it’s a local nonprofit that helps children that are transitioning out of the foster care system into adulthood. I started this nonprofit, um, because I have lived experience in the foster care.

Um, I entered, uh, care at age eight and emancipated out of care at 18 and, um, adulthood was hard to navigate. And so I, um, wanted to start an organization to help kids not have to navigate adulthood by themselves.

The organization is great. What you’ve done. Uh, can you tell us a little bit about your journey as, as far as what the passion was to get you to do.

Yeah. So, um, me starting the non-profit, um, just came from my own personal experience of wanting to make sure that young people had a voice and that they felt heard and understood, um, because. I, you know, I was once young and felt like everybody knew everything and they knew what was best for me. And I didn’t feel like I had a voice.

And so, um, when I started this journey, I just really wanted to help young people find their voice, to help them understand, um, you know, policies and procedures and how that impacts their life.

You, you mentioned we were chatting earlier, um, some positive impacts that you had while you were, um, in care. Can you talk a little bit more about that?

Yeah. So I had a very good, positive, um, role model while I was in foster care. And she was my last case manager and she, you know, didn’t give up on me when I really wanted to give up on myself. And, um, because of her, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Um, because you know, there are a lot of children in foster care and she could have.

You know, close my case and been done with it when I ran away from care, but she decided to go the extra mile and to really support me and help me, um, finish out high school strong and to help me, um, get into my adulthood as successful as she could.

Well, I love about that story. Um, as we were chatting about it, is that.

You had mentioned that the system itself is not perfect. It’s got lots of inefficiencies. Um, however, this one person can make a difference cause this one person went out of her way when, above and beyond to be your cheerleader and to help you, um, overcome some things that you were going through, which, which is the cause for change.

And, and I love that this person inspired you in, in. Why you are doing what you’re doing and the goals you are having for for change one.

Yeah. Um, that’s the one reason why our organization is called change one, mind change one life. Um, and we believe that like, if you can change the mindsets of, um, The community and their perception and how they perceive the foster care system.

Then we can increase our numbers of foster homes and adoptive homes. Also, if we can help young pupil, um, shift their mindsets and how they see themselves, then you know, we’re able to change. Their life that way as well. Um, so I think that it is a B fitting, um, name for an organization because we just want to be the change we want to see in the community.

And, um, it’s very important that our organization continues this work alongside, um, individuals with lived experience, um, because. They know what’s best in their lives. And we’re just here as a support to their 60.

I love that. You’re part of the mission is to, to have people work with you that have lived experience because that’s the root of that is empathy is being able to empathize with not only the people that have received.

But also the people that give care. Um, let’s talk a little bit about the numbers cause you, you, I was blown away by some of the numbers that you mentioned, how many, how many children are in care now. Um, as well as, and then how many.

Yeah. So nationally there are over 400,000 children in the foster care system and about 123,000 kids emancipate out of the foster care system without being adopted or reunified with their biological family. And that is a huge number of individuals.

One of the things that I loved about chatting with you earlier was, was that you, um, are not only a person that has lived through the system, but you’re also a foster.

Yeah. So, um, you know, my journey kind of began with, you know, just trying to elevate my voice. And then, you know, once I finished college, I had the pleasure of moving to Austin to work for DFEs and, um, try to understand policies and procedures and to kind of understand. Um, it makes sense of some of the things that I went through.

Um, and I, you know, always want to be the change I want to see in the community. So, um, when I found out that I had some relatives that were in the foster care system and needed support, um, I stepped up. Um, and it became a foster parent and I’m an adoptive parent. And so a lot of what I do in the lens that I come from is not only my lived experience, not only my professional experience, um, but also the experience of being a foster and adoptive parent.

And so I have more empathy and understanding, um, because of all the experiences that I’ve had.

The, the thing that struck me the most is, is a lot of times when you, you, or have one side of the coin experience is amazing, but then you don’t think about how invasive the other side of the coin is what is as well.

And so in, in becoming a foster parent, you had to go through the experience of becoming a foster parent, which isn’t easy, but as my.

Um, becoming a foster parent, I would most definitely say, um, was challenging but rewarding. Um, I do believe that there is a lot of front end work and a lot of work, um, to becoming a foster parent and maintaining your foster home.

But the beauty of it all is when you see a young person thriving, um, and that they have a chance in life because. Um, you invested and them, and you opened your heart and your home. And that is just the most beautiful thing is being able to, um, help all of those young people that are transitioning into adulthood.

Wonderful work. I love the story and. We honor the work that you’ve done and, and, and the mission it’s it’s, it’s just, wow. Completely amazing. So let’s talk about building a nonprofit. That’s not. Easy. Um, you first got the idea of building this nonprofit back in what year?

2007.

I actually started in 2014.

So in 2007, I was a senior in college and I wanted to start my own nonprofit. Um, but I was. I had a lot to learn, had a lot to learn, and I had to, you know, gain some experience and knowledge along the way. And so once I got my footing and was able to, you know, start my first professional job, and then I was able to be more focused on starting my own business, um, and starting my own business was extremely hard.

Um, because you have to get all of. Thoughts onto paper. And you had to kind of figure out the nuts and bolts of, you know, a business plan, operational plan, strategic plan, um, funding, you know, all of those things. And so when I first started in 2007 with the concept of starting a nonprofit, I didn’t know, it took all of that.

And so it was a struggle, um, trying to figure it out. Once I started in 2014, um, and it wasn’t until 2017 when I actually got my 5 0 1 C3 from the IRS. Um, so it took a lot of me, um, Failing and also learning along the way from 2014 and 17. But the beautiful thing about it is I didn’t let that stop me. I still did the work, even though I didn’t have the status and then community supported me, although I didn’t have the status.

And so that was the most beautiful thing. I really attribute that to my passion, my character, my hard work and that like I haven’t given up and people are like, I see that you haven’t given up. I see that like, you’re still fighting the good fight. So I’m going to support you, although you don’t have your status.

Um, and then once I got my status, that was a game changer. And so, um, I would most definitely say I was happy to get that status. And, um, I’m happy someone that was in my community helped me sat down with me and walk me through the process. Um, because unfortunately I didn’t have the funding to pay someone to, you know, start my nonprofit for me.

Um, and so everything that I have. Um, has really been on the backs of the community, supporting me about that story. I thought that was an interesting story of the person that helped you go from a 25 pager to a two.

Yes. Yes. So, um, I host a Thanksgiving event every year for children that are in foster care and those that have emancipated out of foster care.

And I literally. You know, doing this out of my own pocket. And I was trying to figure out ways to like raise money, um, because the number of kids that we were serving were increasing and on a social work salary, you, you know, I was needing to figure out how to. How to build more income to do, to keep serving.

And so one day I was listening to the radio on 88.7 and I heard that there was a lady, um, hosting a Thanksgiving event for the homeless. And I was like, oh my gosh, like I need to meet her because you know, It’s not most people, they focus on Christmas. And so it was very rare to hear that someone else was focusing on Thanksgiving for a marginalized populations.

I’m like, she’s doing, I need to figure out what she’s doing, who she’s partnering with, how she getting money. Like I need to do that. And so my plan was to set up a meeting and try to reach out to her. But I was working, um, for a private adoption agency and we were setting up a vendor booth at a college.

And, um, I was walking around to the different vendor booths and then I. Mission accomplished. And I was like, oh my gosh, like I wanted to reach out to you. I heard you on the radio. And um, so initially my whole reasoning of wanting to talk to her was because of the Thanksgiving event, but something asked me to ask her cause she was a person of color.

It started a non-profit. And so I was still trying to figure out how to start a nonprofit. And so I said, Hey, how did you start your nonprofit? And she told me that there is a two page application that you can do if you make under $50,000. And I was like, I have been trying to figure out how to fill out this 25 page application and try to figure out an imaginary budget that I, you know, that you have to submit and.

It was. So I was so thankful to meet with her because she sat down with me and she went through everything that she learned through the process of starting a nonprofit, the do’s and don’ts and the things that I needed to be successful. And I am so thankful to Ebony for, um, starting a nonprofit and being a leader in helping other leaders, you know, start their nonprofit.

Well,

that’s an amazing story. And it also just kind of shows how you put an intention out there and the stars will align. Whether you, you do anything about it or not. That happens, which brings me, cause we’re all about, it’s all about supporting the mission, right? And so that was one, one way of supporting the mission.

I want to learn. We’ve had PGA over here, science. I wanna, I wanna learn how you guys met and then, you know, how, how Peter has been able to help your.

Yeah. So I am just so thankful for PJ and searching, convert for supporting change one. Um, as I minority leader, um, it is hard to get access to supports and services in order for it.

To have an even playing field with our competitors. And so with PJ support, um, I have been educated, um, on how to make myself, um, have a better presence online. Um, and. It’s just a breath of fresh air for someone to pour into, um, my small nonprofit, um, and to do it with excellence and, um, and, and civility.

And I’m just so thankful because you know, um, it’s not like I have a budget to pay for. Um, You know things. And so just having the education, the support, um, has just been invaluable to change one. And so thank you so much. Searching, converting PJ for. Caring about, you know, leaders of color in the community.

A lot of non-profits, you know, they, they are aware of it, but, um, just as an example of the support that’s out there that helps them take advantage of every resource that’s available. Um, there’s companies like mine that offer pro bono services. Um, we don’t always do a great job at getting the word.

About it, but you know, the, uh, you know, I, I, I know that there are other companies doing what I do. Um, for example, Google has their Google grants program that offers $10,000 in free ads for qualifying non-profits of which a change certainly qualifies. And, um, you know, what we, what we try to do is we’re getting involved with nonprofits.

I worked with, uh, That builds a Wells in Kenya circle of health that brings maternity services to crisis zones around the world locally with the awesome freelance group and Garza high school. So what they all have in common is that in order for them to get to ladder up to the next level of, uh, of, uh, their organization is making clear that they’re using every available resource.

And so to me, if a nonprofit like change, one is able to say, we have, uh, we have pro bono services in this area. We are, we qualify for this Google grant, uh, that all of a sudden they become more than just, uh, they, well, they, they ladder up, you know, um, the, the, the most important things are the things that Courtney.

Day in and day out. I do very little, but compared to somebody who lives their life in this way. Uh, and, and that’s why I’m so grateful for, for the contributions I can give, because I know when I see change one and I see the need that’s out there, that, that as Courtney ladders up through, through, uh, you know, through the organization and it grows and grows and impact that it’s going to be positive for the world.

Awesome. Awesome. That’s great. It’s amazing that, that there’s those services out there is amazing that you’re doing that work because it is, it is very impactful as we heard 400,000 kids that are in service and, and just how, how do you help that? And so every, every, every little thing helps. So committable for sure.

You’ve got some really good stats on black entrepreneurship. We were talking about, um, Yeah. In terms of the, in terms of the breakdown, right?

Yeah, I do. And I I’ve found it to be quite interesting when I was, um, looking at, um, entrepreneurship and it said that, um, uh, white individuals are at 70.9% leading in entrepreneurship.

And then. Spanish or Latinos is 14.3%. And then Asian is 6.2% and then black or African-American is at 6% in entrepreneurship. And so as an entrepreneur myself, um, and not seeing other entrepreneurs that look like me, um, I want to be the change I want to see in the community. And that’s why it’s so important for me to continue to make sure that change one is a success and to continue to keep partnering with companies like yours, to make sure that we have visibility and that we’re impacting, um, the community the best way we know how and optimizing, like you said, all of the things that are currently already out there.

Yeah, that’s that? Well, definitely. There’s those unique challenges, the unique challenges that you’ve experienced as a person of color and an entrepreneur, especially in the nonprofit sector, even though 6% number is there, I bet it’s even much lower for a person that has been through what you’ve been and then an operating nonprofit.

I bet that’s even lower. So for getting out there and. Putting that stake in the ground. I know that so many people would say, well, why don’t you just join another nonprofit or this and that, but the unique experiences that you bring to the table, because you’ve lived through both sides of that coin. And you’re able to share that empathy to the kids that come through.

I want to talk about the vision for change one what’s your vision for change one in the next five.

Yeah. So currently with change one, we provide training to young people on how to utilize their voice, to impact policies and procedures and legislation to improve the child welfare system.

We also. A Thanksgiving celebration every year for children in foster care, because there is an over-representation of children of color in the foster care system. Um, and they’re placed in homes that don’t look like them. So sometimes they’re gripped from their culture, their traditions, um, unintentionally.

And so we want to make sure that if they don’t have a seat at anyone’s table, they always have a seat at change once table. Um, To make sure that, um, those that are in group homes and shelters and, um, not in family settings that they feel like they have a family, um, each and every year during the holidays.

And, um, we provide, um, case management services to young people that have transitioned out of the foster care system. And, you know, A lot of times, you know, if you don’t have a mom and a dad to go back too, during the Christmas holidays or spring break, you know, It’s kind of hard to navigate adulthood when you’re in college.

And so, you know, we provide support services around how to helping those that, you know, just need a place to go. You know, during those break times from college, we support young people, you know, they are new mothers that, you know, haven’t seen an example per se of how to be a mom and. You know, we want to make sure that they’re the best mother and father that they can be, you know, and providing that mentorship and guidance.

And so we really try to meet the needs of the young people and what they’re facing, um, right then and there, that can be social media. It feels that can be, um, even just life skills, like how to wash your clothes, how to cook a meal, how to grocery shop, you know, those basic things that sometimes people take for granted.

And so that’s what we currently do. Um, but it’s, we’re a team of. Two and a half. Um, and so, um, I’m so thankful, um, for our small team, but we need to build capacity, um, so that we can continue to meet those large numbers in our community. Um, and. Um, so we are wanting to find board members that have the time to roll up their sleeves and to help us with fundraising and help us with just building a sustainable capacity in our community.

Um, because we believe that young people are our future. So we have to invest in our young people and make sure that we have quality services. For them. And so the services that we ultimately want, like our five-year goal.

Yes. Our vision, our five-year goal is to have a one stop drop in center for young people. That one-stop drop-in center. We want it to feel like a home. We wanted it to feel like a safe Haven. We want it to be a place where they, um, We’re addressing food insecurities and, and they can come and get food from our food pantry that they could learn how to cook.

And we have cooking classes that they learn how to wash their clothes. And we have a laundry facility where they can learn those most basic skills because. Talk to someone in a class setting about it. Right. And it’s another thing to actually have hands-on experience. And so we need a one-stop shop where, you know, those young people can experience that with mentorship, from people in the community.

And so that is our vision for them to, you know, be able to. Have a computer lab where they could do job, searching, build a resume, understand what their strengths are and what they bring to the table. Um, and for us to be able to just build a community, just have, um, a place where they could go and feel safe.

Um, I think that as a young person, it’s hard. For them when they are homeless and transitioning from foster care to go to salvation army or the arch, like those are amazing organizations, but those are adult individuals dealing with homelessness and youth dealing with homelessness. Different from adults dealing with homelessness.

And so, you know, we want young people to be able to finish high school, finish college and, um, go into, you know, um, a trade or a full-time job and they need a place that they can go to for that. And so that’s what our vision. Is for us to have a one-stop shop for youth in our community, um, to meet their critical needs, um, so that they can be contributing members of our society.

How can the public support change? One? How can we make these dreams come true?

Well, um, thank you for just, you know, giving me the platform to even speak about change one. I think public awareness is the biggest thing is for people to spread the word that like we have a non-profit led by somebody with lived experience that.

To improve the lives of children, youth, and families. Um, and if you know, you know, someone that has the time and capacity to be a board member, um, please spread the word that we’re looking for board members. If you have the time to volunteer, um, we are looking for volunteers that understand marketing, understand development.

And, um, how to do events. We do the Thanksgiving event every year. So if you are, if you love party planning, you know, and want to help us with making sure we have the best Thanksgiving event every year, um, we need your help with that. Um, of course fundraising is going to be the biggest thing. So if you own a restaurant and want to have like a.

They in the month of April dedicated to change one, cause April is child abuse, neglect month and may as foster care awareness month. So if you’re a company, um, that wants to, you know, help us, that would be extremely helpful. Um, if people want to do. Like giving through their employer. Like that’s another way to help us build the capacity to help young people.

Um, but yeah, we need volunteers. Um, that Thanksgiving event is really exciting. Um, we provide holiday gifts every year for kids in foster care. And so it’s like a family activity. They do to put a gift together for a kid in foster care. Um, even. Family’s coming to volunteer to serve a meal to a child in foster care is another way to give back.

So there is plenty that we need support in services with, um, here at change one, I

love that. Well, sign me up. I’m going to chat with you afterwards and we’ll figure out all the things I can help with. Cause I I’m, I’m convinced and in certainly want to help. Um, I did want to ask you a question. I mean, you are so inspiring with all the work and all the things that you’re doing.

Do you have someone that you look up to, um, in the community or anybody?

Yes. Um, Ryan, now I really look up to judge Martinez Jones. She is a judge that presides over Travis county, CPS cases, and she is a leader, um, that is, um, strong and, um, trustworthy and a leader that, um, is of course. And young and, um, I’m, I just admire her for caring about, um, young people in, in, in our community.

She has started a pilot project called re-imagining foster care. And, um, she’s brought me on as someone who has lived experience to help, um, set up an advisory council of others with lived experience to, um, Help gear this pilot in the right direction and always keeping in the forefront, people with lived experience.

And I just, you know, when she told me her vision, like Mo many people talk about a vision, but you never see the results of their vision. And so in a short amount of time, like she has gotten community partners together has gotten funding together. And I just admire her just, um, Her character, um, her tenacity, um, just she’s really genuine.

And so, you know, I, I like those traits and I gravitate towards those traits and, um, I’m happy to be working with her and seeing her as, um, a leader, a mentor, um, Yeah.

Wonderful. It’s so nice to hear. Um, every day I think, you know, people get up and they turn on the news and it’s not positive things that they’re hearing.

So whenever we get a chance to, you know, spotlight or highlight some positive changes happening, I think it’s super important to talk about it because yeah, I mean, people, there’s humanity out there doing great things that we need to talk. Talk about more. So thank you for sharing that. That’s the question.

My last question. Uh, since you have been down this entrepreneurial journey and it continues, right, it’s not easy. Uh, um, what advice do you have for anybody that is thinking about starting a nonprofit or becoming an untrue.

Yeah, I would most definitely say for those that are thinking about starting a nonprofit or being an entrepreneur, um, the first things first, you had to get it out of your head and onto paper.

Like you have to have to have to, um, once it’s on paper, then, you know, try to seek out support from your community. Um, To like creating a business plan or creating a strategic plan, um, because the more organized you are with your thoughts. The better your, um, sustainability of your and your company will be, um, that was one thing that I was just passing passion, passion, and all that passion is great, but I had to work backwards and, and try to figure out, um, the nuts and bolts of everything.

And so that was a challenge for me. And I wish I would have known, okay, Courtney, you need to. Put all that knowledge on a paper and figure out a plan. Um, and so that would be the first thing. And I would say the second thing is don’t allow anyone to deter you from your dreams. I started my concept of my nonprofit in 2007, and I did not start working on it until 2014.

And I didn’t get my 5 0 1 C3 until 2017 and I didn’t hire my first employee until 2021. And so I would say, keep pushing, keep striving, keep, um, I keep thinking of ways to make your dreams come true. Um, and put in the work like you gotta work hard. Um, when people are sleeping, you need to be awake trying to work on your craft and, um, and, and read, read as much as you can find a mentor.

Um, And, and, and try to get as much knowledge as you can, and then apply the knowledge. Sometimes we get the knowledge, but we don’t apply the knowledge to apply the knowledge. If someone’s taking the time out of their schedule to mentor you apply what you learn. Um, So I hope those things are very helpful.

Um, I’m just gonna recap one more time. Get the information out of your head, put it onto paper. Make sure you have a strategic plan in place. Find a mentor. Educate yourself and read, read, read, and never let anyone deter you from your dreams and just know that it takes work. It takes time and you’ve got this

PJ any final thoughts?

Uh, no. I just, uh, really appreciate Courtney for what she’s, what she’s doing in her community and, uh, and what she brings to me in my life and, and my team. Thank you so much.

Y’all have a wonderful day.