Hidden Gems: Meet Porsche Seals of Caring for Kids Network

Today we’d like to introduce you to Porsche Seals.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Well, I am a native of Kansas City, MO. I was born to wonderful, young, and ambitious parents and surrounded by a loving family as a child. As a young girl, I have attended public and private schools, both large and small in various city areas. In a way, the exposure to various communities, cultures, and areas of the city helped shape how I see the city, its people, and the world.

As a young lady, I took my first attempt at college at Central Missouri State University, now the University of Central Missouri. I sought a degree in Journalism with a minor in Women’s Studies. While in college, I married the man of my dreams, Steven Seals, and we soon welcomed our first daughter. With a desire to eventually return to college, I took a leave of absence from my education to focus on my new marriage, motherhood, and settling into my new way of life. While adjusting to life, we soon welcomed another daughter, then a third- solidifying my decision to be a full-time homemaker.

While the girls were in the early stages of life, I expressed my passion for community through my church involvement and community engagement. I also took to hobbies like cake baking and in-home childcare to help support my family. When my oldest started elementary school, and we welcomed our son, I began volunteering with the Parent and Teacher Association(PTA). This is where I grew my interest in advocacy for school children and their families. I was simply fascinated with the idea that I could truly make a difference in the lives of not just my children, but others through volunteerism and parent engagement. This is also where I first learned of the Caring for Kids Network.

While being a homemaker and serving at the school, I had the pleasure of returning to school. Proudly after 13 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a degree in Applied Organizational Leadership. Upon graduating, I contacted the Caring for Kids Network seeking employment despite there being no job posting. I believe you have to go after the things God has placed in your heart, and I did just that. My ambition afforded me a position.

Once hired, I began learning more about the challenges of schools, principals, teachers, and most importantly, the children and the families they serve every day. I immersed myself in the changes of the schools in our communities, sometimes crippled by the underbelly of inequity, racism, and the disinvestment of our most valued gems. It burdened my heart and caused me only to work harder to advocate for education and the little and big round faces that we see each day.

Through this position at CFKN, I learned about compassionate educators and community champions who serve them. People desire to get involved, we have sparked the fire in their hearts and give them a clear pathway to engage. It has become my life’s work to help the community see school partnerships as a vital role of any organization that seeks to stand the test of time. We must invest in our children.

In 2020, I was named the Caring for Kids Network’s successor and new executive director. It was a challenging time to come into leadership, but I have learned that I perform well under pressure. Three years into the directorship, we have grown, learned, and continue to prioritize hope and opportunity for children.

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well, the road has not been easy, but it has been doable. Managing a good work-life balance is always challenging when you have a spouse and four children. However, one of my most significant challenges has been overcoming imposter syndrome. After being a homemaker for 13 years, I have often had a hard time believing that I deserved to be in the spaces I have been in as an executive director. Unfortunately, racism and sexism are sometimes a challenge. Through all these things, my faith sustains me, and my family supports me, so I lean into those strengths to keep me going.

We’ve been impressed with Caring for Kids Network, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
We share a dream at Caring for Kids Network to see all children have hope and opportunity to reach their highest potential. The challenge is that children and families face significant obstacles that make growing and learning challenging. So, we developed a 4-step engagement process to create a bridge from school to community. This bridge allows us to invite faith, business, nonprofit, and civic organizations to come together and build relationships, collaborate, and set measurable goals to help support schools in our city. We have well over 400 community partners citywide, serving over 120 schools in our town, which serves over 42,000 students. We are constantly looking to engage more organizations in the powerful work of school partnerships. What sets CFKN apart from other organizations is our deep desire to collaborate. Collaboration is the key component of our network. When people work alone, their resources do not go as far, and they can not serve as many children. Still, when you witness partners tackling a challenge together, you witness the power of brainstorming, accessibility to resources, and dreaming in a way that we can not do in silos. It’s remarkable. This, when done well, allows us to serve an entire school. Our brand focuses on bringing the community together. We have remained true and consistent with who we are and are proud of that. When you are a part of our network, you can expect friendly, kind, and exciting servants every time. Our people are our brand, and they are lovely!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First, my faith in Jesus; I have had some rough moments, but my faith keeps me grounded. Then there is my loving husband. My husband and I have been married for 20 years now, and he has been my champion every step of the way. My children are my inspiration. My support system is my parents, brother, extended family, and friends. You need a support system when working hard in the community to have a safe place to land. Aside from that, my predecessor, Nancy Mitchell, has been a dynamic mentor to me through my journey in learning the nonprofit space. Our board members are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. Finally, our CFKN team members are the real stars. They tirelessly train, coach, plan, advocate for schools, and encourage healthy partnerships.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.caringforkidskc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caringforkidskc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caringforkidskc/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caringforkidsnetwork1095