Why We Exist
DNNC Steps to Success, created by Delane Sims, is an organization designed to empower women, that is informed by Delane's own life experience as a previous single mother of four children. DNNC Steps to Success started organically in 2000 and was formalized in 2016. This program primarily helps African American low-income single mothers alleviate employment and health hardships while providing them with a vocation as a manicurist to encourage a living wage and provide social skills support.
In 2005, Delane was the Death Penalty Outreach Coordinator for the ACLU of Northern California. While educating the public about the broken death penalty system, Delane met and spoke to many serving time in prison. She noticed one thing that most prisoners had in common - a single-parent upbringing complicated with the weight of poverty and dysfunction. Delane saw these men as often being at the bottom of the cliff where the ambulance was trying to pick up the pieces and wondered how to help people to not get close to the cliff in the first place. Delane realized that if mothers who are raising children alone could get the help they needed, this would be one way to stop people from getting anywhere near the edge of dispair. Of course, being a single-parent is not a pathology, after all, many great people are products of single-parent households, however, helping mothers thrive financially who are struggling to make ends met can set a families path in the right direction - away from the cliff.
Our innovative approach is unlike any other program. We use a nail care salon as an entrepreneurial incubator that also allows women to help other women. We are especially proud of our dynamic “women-helping-women” model where both staff and clients of our teaching salon provide mentoring and support. Our nail clients represent a range of successful professions and positive life experiences. Salon clients get to interact and receive services from program participants and, if they choose, can become a part of a community of role models for our program. These enthusiastic salon client mentors introduce our participants to various new experiences, such as a chance to attending social and civic community events, introduce and share new literature on various topics, or shadowing professional experiences.
By connecting program participants to clients mentors who role model productive life outcomes, participants become greatly inspired and receive specific advice to make social and economic changes in their lives. This means a manicure takes on an entirely new meaning in the salon where one not only receives quality services but also has the chance to change the lives of single mothers and their children.
Therefore, Steps To Success provides a one-stop comprehensive and coordinated program with personalized mentoring and social skills support in a real world work environment. We find this to be an effective alternative to ‘a la cart’ programming because we help participants easily connect with resources that would otherwise prove too overwhelming to locate while juggling family and work responsibilities.
Once largely limited to poor women and minorities, single motherhood is now becoming the new “norm”.
This prevalence is due in part to the growing trend of children born outside marriage — a societal trend that was virtually unheard of decades ago.
1. About 4 out 10 children were born to unwed mothers.
2. Nearly two-thirds were born to mothers under the age of 30.
3. Today 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 — a total of about 17.2 million — are being raised without a father.
4. Of all single-parent families in the U.S., single mothers make up the majority.
In 2005, Delane was the Death Penalty Outreach Coordinator for the ACLU of Northern California. While educating the public about the broken death penalty system, Delane met and spoke to many serving time in prison. She noticed one thing that most prisoners had in common - a single-parent upbringing complicated with the weight of poverty and dysfunction. Delane saw these men as often being at the bottom of the cliff where the ambulance was trying to pick up the pieces and wondered how to help people to not get close to the cliff in the first place. Delane realized that if mothers who are raising children alone could get the help they needed, this would be one way to stop people from getting anywhere near the edge of dispair. Of course, being a single-parent is not a pathology, after all, many great people are products of single-parent households, however, helping mothers thrive financially who are struggling to make ends met can set a families path in the right direction - away from the cliff.
Our innovative approach is unlike any other program. We use a nail care salon as an entrepreneurial incubator that also allows women to help other women. We are especially proud of our dynamic “women-helping-women” model where both staff and clients of our teaching salon provide mentoring and support. Our nail clients represent a range of successful professions and positive life experiences. Salon clients get to interact and receive services from program participants and, if they choose, can become a part of a community of role models for our program. These enthusiastic salon client mentors introduce our participants to various new experiences, such as a chance to attending social and civic community events, introduce and share new literature on various topics, or shadowing professional experiences.
By connecting program participants to clients mentors who role model productive life outcomes, participants become greatly inspired and receive specific advice to make social and economic changes in their lives. This means a manicure takes on an entirely new meaning in the salon where one not only receives quality services but also has the chance to change the lives of single mothers and their children.
Therefore, Steps To Success provides a one-stop comprehensive and coordinated program with personalized mentoring and social skills support in a real world work environment. We find this to be an effective alternative to ‘a la cart’ programming because we help participants easily connect with resources that would otherwise prove too overwhelming to locate while juggling family and work responsibilities.
Once largely limited to poor women and minorities, single motherhood is now becoming the new “norm”.
This prevalence is due in part to the growing trend of children born outside marriage — a societal trend that was virtually unheard of decades ago.
1. About 4 out 10 children were born to unwed mothers.
2. Nearly two-thirds were born to mothers under the age of 30.
3. Today 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 — a total of about 17.2 million — are being raised without a father.
4. Of all single-parent families in the U.S., single mothers make up the majority.
Bio's
Founder and Executive Director
Delane Sims, an Oakland, California native, is the founder and executive director of two
programs that address community needs. In addition to DNNC Steps to Success, Delane conceptualized
a program called Senior Moments in 2005 which operates as an elder outreach arm of the
local chamber of commerce to support older residents by providing them with various vetted resources.
Senior Moments acts as a bridge to resources that often allow seniors to age safely at home. Enriching the lives of
hundreds of older citizens, especially those who are homebound and disabled, garnered Senior
Moments as a Jefferson award recipient in California, 2011.
Additionally, Sims business, Delane's
Natural Nail Care (DNNC) is rated as a 5 star nail salon on every rating platform including but
not limited to YELP, Facebook, Google, and Genbook. DNNC has also been named
2017 business of the year by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
programs that address community needs. In addition to DNNC Steps to Success, Delane conceptualized
a program called Senior Moments in 2005 which operates as an elder outreach arm of the
local chamber of commerce to support older residents by providing them with various vetted resources.
Senior Moments acts as a bridge to resources that often allow seniors to age safely at home. Enriching the lives of
hundreds of older citizens, especially those who are homebound and disabled, garnered Senior
Moments as a Jefferson award recipient in California, 2011.
Additionally, Sims business, Delane's
Natural Nail Care (DNNC) is rated as a 5 star nail salon on every rating platform including but
not limited to YELP, Facebook, Google, and Genbook. DNNC has also been named
2017 business of the year by the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce.
Assistant Executive Director
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Myeshia Jefferson became the co-owner of a 5-Star nail salon and assistant director of a community-based program because of her hard work and acceptance into the DNNC Steps to Success program. Prior to being a part of the DNNC Steps to Success program, Myeshia graduated from Cal State East Bay, Hayward, CA 2010 with a BA in Criminal Justice and received a 2-year certification from New York University for Business and Wellness in 2012 through a program called the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
For over 10 years, Myeshia' s passion has been teaching other young women how to make a consistent income to become a sustainable business owners in the beauty industry so shortly upon graduation in 2012 she formed a consulting company, Beauty Means Business LLC., to provide direction and guidance to those seeking a career in the beauty industry. As a dedicated and diligent participant in the DNNC Steps To Success Program, Myeshia obtained her manicure license and more. In a committed effort to advance her skills, Myeshia also acquired a medical manicure certification and currently partners with podiatrist to ensure the health and wellness of her clients. Myeshia continues to thrive in both the DNNC Steps to Success program and as a growing business owner, as she is fully invested in the standards and principles of both the nail care business and its correlating community outreach program. In addition to always working on behalf of helping others, you can find Myeshia reading inspirational books, attending church and coloring with her 7-year-old son. |