Venita Dell’s nonprofit empowers young mothers in Cincinnati

Venita Dell, founder and CEO of Helping Young Mothers Mentor Inc., is on a mission to empower young mothers through mentorship, life coaching and vital resources. With a deep-rooted faith and a personal journey of compassion, Venita has built an organization that uplifts young women and creates lasting change in their lives and communities.   

Her upcoming event, Be Intentionally You: Heart to Heart Women’s Conference Brunch Fundraiser, will be held on Saturday, February 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Financial Bank, 1 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati. Held during Heart Health Month, this event will inspire attendees with motivational talks, networking opportunities, and a delicious chicken and waffle brunch.

A faith inspired journey. When asked about the inspiration behind her nonprofit, Venita shared a powerful memory from her teenage years. “When I was 13, my friend got pregnant. At that tender age, her mother found out about the pregnancy, and I witnessed her mother brutally abusing her. I asked God to supply all my needs, including having a house to assist my friend with her baby.”

This pivotal moment planted the seeds for Helping Young Mothers Mentor Inc. Venita’s faith and compassion transformed a childhood dream into a reality, creating a safe space for young mothers to find guidance, support and a pathway to self-sufficiency.

There are challenges and triumphs in operating  a nonprofit. Venita identified one of her biggest hurdles as “recruiting mentors and retaining them. Our mothers are usually in crisis, and support is often short-lived. We have amazing community partners such as the Women Ministry of Mount Zion Woodlawn.

To address this, her organization is increasing visibility to recruit mentors and forming partnerships with key individuals like keynote speaker Anita Flagg and contributor Sharen Sierra King, who provided vital support, including writing press materials. Venita also secured an interview with Amber Jayarth of Fox 19 Now to raise awareness.

For 2025, the organization plans to enhance communication strategies, connecting young mothers with both emergency services and long-term resources. These efforts align with their motto, “Be Intentionally You,” which focuses on empowering mothers to achieve self-fulfillment and sufficiency.

Venita shared an inspiring success story of the mother in the photo with her two sons,”she is a participant in the program for the last 13 years. She explained: “She  came to us at her lowest point, a new mother living from house to house ‘couch surfing’, as well as struggling with mental health challenges. She had tried other social services but lacked a mentor to guide her through the process of shedding shame and hopelessness.

Through our incubator cocoon system, we worked with her to design a plan for self-sufficiency. Today, she has stable housing, and her two sons, now 10 and 13, are thriving in a loving, stable home. This is the vision and mission God gave me, and I am walking in it.”

Empowerment through our community is the focus. The Be Intentionally You, brunch fundraiser aligns with the mission of Helping Young Mothers Mentor Inc. Venita explained the event’s goals. “We want to empower women in their hearts with the hope they will become the next generation of mentors”

By bringing together community leaders, supporters, and young mothers, the event fosters connections, inspires hearts, and encourages women to uplift one another. Venita summed it up best. “We are creating self-sufficient mothers for a better tomorrow for their families and the community.”

A vision for sustainable change and continued growth in 2025 is the goal. As  our conversation ended, I reflected on the words of Cincinnati’s own Nikki Giovanni in her poem Ego-Tripping she wrote, “ I am so perfect, so divine, so ethereal, so surreal, I cannot be comprehended except by my permission. I mean…I can fly like a bird in the sky.”

Venita’s faith and determination, along with her husband Jeff coupled with the efforts of volunteers, tutors, donors, sponsors and young mothers themselves, have made Helping Young Mothers Mentor Inc. a beacon of hope for more than 130 young women.

If you’re in Cincinnati on February 8, don’t miss this inspiring gathering at First Financial Bank’s downtown branch. Together, we can support Venita’s vision and help young mothers build a brighter tomorrow while celebrating community, empowerment, and resilience.

Sponsored by: First Financial, Target, Humana, Huntington Bank, Sigma Gamma Rho  Sorority Inc EPSILON LAMBDA SIGMA Cincinnati Chapter, Cincinnati Section,  National Council of Negro Women, Inc.  AmeriHealth Caritas, and West End Sisters 4Life.  

For more  information on becoming a mentor, volunteering or donating, call 513-520-6960, or email hymminc@aol.com www.hymminc.com

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