Heeding the Call: Public Service &Entrepreneurship
Donation protected
Dear Supporters,
I invite you on a journey as I share my life where passion, purpose, love, and humanity intersect to create a tapestry of resilience and hope. The decision to seek help publicly was not easy for me, however, I recognize there is strength in numbers. The fact that you are reading this speaks to your selfless desire to support me during a critical moment in my life. Your and care means the world to me, and I am deeply touched by your kindness and generosity.
I begin my journey as a college student in 2002, one year after my September 11, 2001 baby was born. Prior to me starting school, the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon devastated the US economy severely and the airline industry was hit the hardest. This impacted my small family more than we could imagine. While we were naturally happy to welcome our babygirl I to our family unit, my significant was laid off from American Airlines with no insight as to when he would be returning to work. Things hit really tough- so much so, the Washington Post newspaper reported on our story a few days after our daughter’s birthday and 6 months later in the Washington Post Magazine.
I wanted to give my daughter every chance to succeed at life. Even with the recent attacks I was determined to do something that would better our lives. That’s when I took a part time job and headed back to school to further my education. Over time life didn’t get any easier, driving me to work full time. This meant I had to put school on the back burner until I could afford to pay my tuition. I cycled through this pattern of starting and stopping for the next decade, attending community college to keep school affordable and within arms reach. Over the next couple of decades I would have to choose between being a mom, having a career and attending school when I could afford it.
In 2017 after more than a decade of working, with the support of my husband, I decided to take a leap of faith and leave public service to start a business. This life changing decision would afford me the opportunity to strengthen my marriage, dedicate more time and care to my children, and financially support my family- at least for a while it did.
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for business, but I had no idea how or when I would start. Let me add here that fear of the unknown and failure was a constant thought in my mind. However, this wouldn’t prevent me from moving forward and using my keen ability to discover and act on untapped business opportunities through problem solving.
As with most businesses, there was a bit of a discovery phase. Research, business development and operations were all new to me. I had no idea what to charge, who I would hire or how I would acquire new business. After all, I had no formal business education or experience. I was definitely winging it. Yet, somehow people needed my services enough that they trusted me with their business and paid me to work. Referrals were my greatest source of business. Many of the businesses who partnered with me for deliveries knew another business who needed my services just as much, if not more. Things were looking up and in my mind we were on track to scale up in advance of my initial projections. My focus was to hire locally- returning-citizens, single mothers, veterans, and other marginalized groups- and pay them a livable wage. I wanted to provide equity and fairness in business. I wanted to ensure my staff, contractors, and business partners knew I was a businessperson operating with integrity and transparency. No amount of money or status could have caused me to lose my faith. This benefited my company greatly.
Business begin to grow steadily and then Covid hit. Nothing could have prepared me for the looming effects of a pandemic on my small business. By all accords, delivery businesses were expected to thrive in the current market. However, larger businesses had the capital and resources to withstand unexpected losses challenges. Staffing shortages, supply chain issues and inflation begin to take effect. Many in the food and beverage market were forced to close- including some of my business partners. The pandemic not only affected my business, but at home my marriage was been tested. Most of what I had spent my formidable years to nurture and grow was slipping away from me. How could this be? I had worked so hard to build a life that seemed so promising. Yet, I was determined not to allow the stress and anxiety of my current circumstances to overtake me.
So, in January of 2023 I decided in the midst of a separation and a failing business to refocus my attention towards finally attaining my degree. My children were now older and I had been out of work for five plus years pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. What better time was it for me to re-enroll? I was a few credits shy of being a senior however, some of my credits were too old to transfer and my major in International Affairs was not being offered at Catholic University where I was accepted. Therefore, I switched my major to International Business and added an additional year towards my degree. Spring semester went by quickly and I was off to a good start. Making new friends and building new relationships with faculty and students. As a nontraditional student, I attended class with students half my age. It was very rewarding, because these young adults offered a new perspective and I in-turn offered experience they could glean from.
The opportunity presented itself for me to study abroad in Rome for the summer semester (a requirement for my degree). I was able to get a couple of scholarships and pay some money out of pocket. However, it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of my full summer tuition and fees. Unbeknownst to me I had exhausted all of my loans and grants the previous semester leaving me with a balance well over $10,000.00. Luckily I was able to register for the fall semester before a hold was placed on my account. Making payments towards my debt wasn’t enough to bring the balance down. With late fees and interest the balance continued to grow. Needless to say, my balance finally caught up with me and after much effort and many attempts I was unable to find the money to pay off my balance. After attending school for weeks hoping something would come through, I was told by administration I needed to take academic leave. This left me saddened and embarrassed. Even with all that was happening at home, I managed to make the Dean’s list and become involved with school. I have been unsuccessful with finding gap funding to pay off this small debt. Personally, I’m in no position to take out a loan to cover it.
It’s difficult going through a tumultuous divorce after being married for over 15 years, with three children who depend on me for financial and moral support, direction, love, and stability.
Now that I’m separated, I’ve had no choice but to max out the loans available to me. I’m receiving grants through the school and city government, but it’s not enough. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m coming or going. But what I do know is, it has taken me more than 20 years to get this far. There is no turning back.
Last year was very difficult. At times I didn’t know how I would feed my children or make ends meet, but God made a way. I am a giver at heart and love to see others through their situations every chance I have. Now, I’m asking for your compassion and generosity to clear my student debt and start my senior year with a clean slate.
As a public servant, my passion lies in helping others discover their purpose and reach their full potential. It is a calling that drives me every day and fuels my desire to make a positive impact in the lives of those around me.
Education has always been my beacon of hope, my guiding light in the darkest of times. And now, more than ever, I am determined to earn my bachelor's degree from the Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business. It is not just a piece of paper; it is a testament to my resilience, my strength, and my unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives.
Your generous contributions will not only help me clear the outstanding balance from a previous semester, but also enable me to register as a senior for the upcoming semester. With each donation, you are not just investing in my future; you are investing in the future of countless others who will benefit from the ripple effects of your kindness and compassion, particularly my three children.
Your support bridges that gap, ensuring that I can continue on this journey without hesitation or uncertainty. It is a gift that I will forever cherish, a beacon of hope that guides me through the darkest of nights.
Thank you for standing by me, for believing in me, and for helping me turn my dreams into reality. Together, we can make a difference and inspire others to never give up on their dreams. Every donation, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to my goal. I am incredibly grateful for your support and encouragement on this journey.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Larelle Clarke
I invite you on a journey as I share my life where passion, purpose, love, and humanity intersect to create a tapestry of resilience and hope. The decision to seek help publicly was not easy for me, however, I recognize there is strength in numbers. The fact that you are reading this speaks to your selfless desire to support me during a critical moment in my life. Your and care means the world to me, and I am deeply touched by your kindness and generosity.
I begin my journey as a college student in 2002, one year after my September 11, 2001 baby was born. Prior to me starting school, the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon devastated the US economy severely and the airline industry was hit the hardest. This impacted my small family more than we could imagine. While we were naturally happy to welcome our babygirl I to our family unit, my significant was laid off from American Airlines with no insight as to when he would be returning to work. Things hit really tough- so much so, the Washington Post newspaper reported on our story a few days after our daughter’s birthday and 6 months later in the Washington Post Magazine.
I wanted to give my daughter every chance to succeed at life. Even with the recent attacks I was determined to do something that would better our lives. That’s when I took a part time job and headed back to school to further my education. Over time life didn’t get any easier, driving me to work full time. This meant I had to put school on the back burner until I could afford to pay my tuition. I cycled through this pattern of starting and stopping for the next decade, attending community college to keep school affordable and within arms reach. Over the next couple of decades I would have to choose between being a mom, having a career and attending school when I could afford it.
In 2017 after more than a decade of working, with the support of my husband, I decided to take a leap of faith and leave public service to start a business. This life changing decision would afford me the opportunity to strengthen my marriage, dedicate more time and care to my children, and financially support my family- at least for a while it did.
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for business, but I had no idea how or when I would start. Let me add here that fear of the unknown and failure was a constant thought in my mind. However, this wouldn’t prevent me from moving forward and using my keen ability to discover and act on untapped business opportunities through problem solving.
As with most businesses, there was a bit of a discovery phase. Research, business development and operations were all new to me. I had no idea what to charge, who I would hire or how I would acquire new business. After all, I had no formal business education or experience. I was definitely winging it. Yet, somehow people needed my services enough that they trusted me with their business and paid me to work. Referrals were my greatest source of business. Many of the businesses who partnered with me for deliveries knew another business who needed my services just as much, if not more. Things were looking up and in my mind we were on track to scale up in advance of my initial projections. My focus was to hire locally- returning-citizens, single mothers, veterans, and other marginalized groups- and pay them a livable wage. I wanted to provide equity and fairness in business. I wanted to ensure my staff, contractors, and business partners knew I was a businessperson operating with integrity and transparency. No amount of money or status could have caused me to lose my faith. This benefited my company greatly.
Business begin to grow steadily and then Covid hit. Nothing could have prepared me for the looming effects of a pandemic on my small business. By all accords, delivery businesses were expected to thrive in the current market. However, larger businesses had the capital and resources to withstand unexpected losses challenges. Staffing shortages, supply chain issues and inflation begin to take effect. Many in the food and beverage market were forced to close- including some of my business partners. The pandemic not only affected my business, but at home my marriage was been tested. Most of what I had spent my formidable years to nurture and grow was slipping away from me. How could this be? I had worked so hard to build a life that seemed so promising. Yet, I was determined not to allow the stress and anxiety of my current circumstances to overtake me.
So, in January of 2023 I decided in the midst of a separation and a failing business to refocus my attention towards finally attaining my degree. My children were now older and I had been out of work for five plus years pursuing a career in entrepreneurship. What better time was it for me to re-enroll? I was a few credits shy of being a senior however, some of my credits were too old to transfer and my major in International Affairs was not being offered at Catholic University where I was accepted. Therefore, I switched my major to International Business and added an additional year towards my degree. Spring semester went by quickly and I was off to a good start. Making new friends and building new relationships with faculty and students. As a nontraditional student, I attended class with students half my age. It was very rewarding, because these young adults offered a new perspective and I in-turn offered experience they could glean from.
The opportunity presented itself for me to study abroad in Rome for the summer semester (a requirement for my degree). I was able to get a couple of scholarships and pay some money out of pocket. However, it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of my full summer tuition and fees. Unbeknownst to me I had exhausted all of my loans and grants the previous semester leaving me with a balance well over $10,000.00. Luckily I was able to register for the fall semester before a hold was placed on my account. Making payments towards my debt wasn’t enough to bring the balance down. With late fees and interest the balance continued to grow. Needless to say, my balance finally caught up with me and after much effort and many attempts I was unable to find the money to pay off my balance. After attending school for weeks hoping something would come through, I was told by administration I needed to take academic leave. This left me saddened and embarrassed. Even with all that was happening at home, I managed to make the Dean’s list and become involved with school. I have been unsuccessful with finding gap funding to pay off this small debt. Personally, I’m in no position to take out a loan to cover it.
It’s difficult going through a tumultuous divorce after being married for over 15 years, with three children who depend on me for financial and moral support, direction, love, and stability.
Now that I’m separated, I’ve had no choice but to max out the loans available to me. I’m receiving grants through the school and city government, but it’s not enough. Sometimes I don’t know if I’m coming or going. But what I do know is, it has taken me more than 20 years to get this far. There is no turning back.
Last year was very difficult. At times I didn’t know how I would feed my children or make ends meet, but God made a way. I am a giver at heart and love to see others through their situations every chance I have. Now, I’m asking for your compassion and generosity to clear my student debt and start my senior year with a clean slate.
As a public servant, my passion lies in helping others discover their purpose and reach their full potential. It is a calling that drives me every day and fuels my desire to make a positive impact in the lives of those around me.
Education has always been my beacon of hope, my guiding light in the darkest of times. And now, more than ever, I am determined to earn my bachelor's degree from the Catholic University of America’s Busch School of Business. It is not just a piece of paper; it is a testament to my resilience, my strength, and my unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives.
Your generous contributions will not only help me clear the outstanding balance from a previous semester, but also enable me to register as a senior for the upcoming semester. With each donation, you are not just investing in my future; you are investing in the future of countless others who will benefit from the ripple effects of your kindness and compassion, particularly my three children.
Your support bridges that gap, ensuring that I can continue on this journey without hesitation or uncertainty. It is a gift that I will forever cherish, a beacon of hope that guides me through the darkest of nights.
Thank you for standing by me, for believing in me, and for helping me turn my dreams into reality. Together, we can make a difference and inspire others to never give up on their dreams. Every donation, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to my goal. I am incredibly grateful for your support and encouragement on this journey.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Larelle Clarke
Organizer
Larelle Clarke
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC