Fe Noel Foundation
The one thing I have always lacked on my road to realizing my dream was a true mentor in fashion. I would have truly valued having someone to assure me that my non-traditional career goals were as possible and valuable as any other career.
When my dream eventually started to become a reality, I yearned to pay it forward and I wanted to find a way to use my business as a launching pad for others who had a spark but no outlet. In doing so, I’ve taken every opportunity that I could to visit local high schools and speak to young people who may experience the same trepidation I had before entering this industry. My biggest message to them has always been that they can be successful in anything that they decide to do as long as they work hard and commit to their craft.
In 2014, I met an exceptional young lady Jazzmin Santiago who was 16 at the time. Syreeta Gates, one of my good friends, asked if I could mentor her and have her work directly under me. She was creative, ambitious, and had the same drive that I did at her age. Fast-forward now - she is my right hand person and has even launched her own photography company, in the midst of us working together. That’s when a light bulb went off. What I have learned now, as a mentor, is that often times it takes more than one talk or one conversation for a message to inspire someone to take action. This gave birth to the idea of “Dream In Color” which represents bringing your dreams to life. Your dreams can become a foundation for future ambitions. I firmly believe that when you help young people realize the potential that lies within them that you are actively shaping a brighter tomorrow. My commitment is to provide opportunities to young people that will help them achieve their personal ambitions.