Should Have Listened To My Mother is very happy to have Shaun Banks as our guest this week. Shaun, is also know as 'SF', which stands for "Shaun's Free." This moniker came about when he was a young boy and would visit his dad in the San Francisco Bay area. "One of my goals at this time was to have a sense of freedom, be able to work for myself and dance to my own tune," Shaun proudly remarks. Shaun is an entrepreneur and has founded several businesses, all geared to lifting kids expectations up and helping them believe in themselves and become inspired. He lives with his family in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Sharon, Shaun's mom had 2 kids and was living in subsidized housing when she started her janitorial business in the CD, central district of Seattle, WA. People laughed and were critical of her because she was 'cleaning houses' but mother knew best. Lots of drugs and crime hit their neighborhood in the 1980's and she knew she had to make a living to get her kids out of that neighborhood.
Mom's dream was greater than her pride" says her son. "Mom had a dream and she didn't want my sister and I living in this neighborhood," Shaun says with such high esteem for his mother.
The 'drugs in the neighborhood' conversation was a regular occurrence. Shaun and his sister regularly had the 'safety' conversation with their mother. Mom told us , "once the street lights go on, you have to be off the streets. It's not safe."
Mom was unstoppable and Shaun has a very special story to tell about his mom and a prominent drug dealer in the community. It's a very touching and ironic story of trust.
1991-1992 Sharon and her son Shaun picked up moved to the Atlanta, Georgia area. Mom and dad had never married and they realized it wasn't going to work out long term, so Sharon was determined to relocate with Shaun and join her daughter in Georgia attending college. Miss Mayweather, their guardian angel, helped them get set up in her home after their rental property was roach infested.
Shaun speaks so highly of his mom. Throughout so much adversity, Shaun says "they never lacked anything", we were always covered and protected." "My mother was so resourceful, she never gave up" continues her son.
"Mom is the cook at Camp Warrior King, the camp that Shaun and his mom started for kids in the Atlanta metro area. The kids loved the food because Sharon was the cook. These kids love all of these 'all you can eat' meals, often the only meal they have all day. Some of the favorites are fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, green beans or breakfast for dinner or Italian day, the list goes on and on.
Shaun is an entrepreneur, just like his mother. The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. Because of Sharon's education background, she was an ideal partner for Shaun to start up this wonderful camp.
"Honeybee" is Shaun's nickname for his mother. "She reminds me of a bee-always buzzing around." Shaun lovingly brags "the kitchen at camp is called "Honeybee's Kitchen."
*CAMP WARRIOR KING-Youth development program to expose kids to things they'd never experience throughout the year
*THE I AM DEFENSE INSTITUTE
*TEAM HOTT SAWCE
*THE YOUTH CONFERENCE
All of the above motivational programs are in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
https://linktr.ee/Sfdreamsbig?utm_source=linktree_profile_share
Shaun is the author of the book: "Persevere Overcome Win: SuperPOWers That Will Give Your Child The EDGE In Life"