24 SEP 2019 // By: Talalima Mobley.
Throughout ones life they may have a dream to form a non-profit in order to give back to the community they benefitted from. It’s surprising to know how it’s a goal for majority of people with that desire to establish a charity before they reach their 30’s and I’m not entirely sure why that age is the goal but it may seem that I’ve accomplished that goal unintentionally. It wasn’t until I was talking to a friend of mine that mentioned how I’m just barely making it with being 29 for a few more months.
After my stunning mothers untimely death from major mental-health disorders I stumbled upon her personal journals. And packets that she completed whilst in a few programs that educated her on how to cope with some of her symptoms. Out of many written thoughts she expressed how she had plans to form a non-profit herself and to give back to the battered women and family homeless shelters she survived through as a young adult and during her time raising her family. It was at that very moment that I dedicated myself to seeing that her dream will still come true beyond the grave.
From what I read it seemed like her goal was to focus primarily on the community that she emerged from; which having a Pacific Islander heritage - being part of the first generation born in America - growing up with immigrant parents from both American Sāmoa and Western Sāmoa. All of her 8 children are considered Afatasi (mixed racial backgrounds) born as half-Sāmoan and half-Black. As she grew up in San Francisco she navigated life and benefited mainly from her Pasifika culture and was definitely considered and often mistaken as being Black - which both her surviving parents are Samoan, to white America that’s Black no if’s and’s or but’s.
Since both communities are constantly underrepresented with barely any organisations that maintains a focus on the betterment of our people; is why So Fit Sofia Fund will cater to uplifting those families into forming better mental-health habits. Mainly to ensure dialog is shared to eliminate the silence behind never openly discussing the harm that unstable environments won’t positively uplift the minds of our people.
Once my stunning mother was diagnosed she often discussed it with her children and with those around her. As a child, I remember her efforts in trying to dispel the rumours and negative stigma towards having unstable mood swings but I also remember how majority of those that she wanted to share with wasn’t open in receiving that knowledge only because Pacific Islanders are taught that it doesn’t exist or the Black communities weren’t wanting to unbox the trauma from white supremacy.
Which is why So Fit Sofia Fund’s entire goal is to educate those that are ready to accept the need for change so that the entire village can heal together.
Please take the time to find ways to contribute to our mission and efforts by donating what you can, whether it be monetary support or your volunteered time that will carry-out blessings to those that receive our love and guidance to a better livelihood.
Xxoo.
Developing
Your
Natural
Abilities
Simply
Telling
Your
Story.
Sofia wanted to tell HER story and now her story continues with your voice being added to every donation received.
DYNASTYS@sofitsofia.org