Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherri Roberts Lumpkin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story began at the Anacostia Community Museum in Washington, DC, where I volunteered as a docent. One of the exhibits featured the work of one of my former college art teachers, who knew that I made dolls. She encouraged me to teach a doll-making class at the museum and that suggestion ended up changing my career.
During the class, I noticed that many of the children, especially Black and Brown kids, were creating dolls that looked like the people they saw on TV or in movies, but not like themselves. I gently asked a few if I could help them make their dolls look more like them. I wanted to create their skin tones, hairstyles, and unique features. At first, they were hesitant, but once they saw the finished dolls, something shifted. They giggled, hugged their dolls, and smiled in a way that told me they were seeing themselves, and their beauty for the first time.
That moment stayed with me. I realized that doll-making could be more than just an art form — it could be a powerful tool for helping children and adults see their own beauty inside and out, and for changing the narrative around what beauty looks like.
That insight inspired me to create The Ragbaby Exchange, an organization that uses doll-making as a pathway to self-discovery and self-esteem. My first workshop, Your Inner Doll, combined art and guided self-reflection. I began teaching it in schools, juvenile detention centers, churches, and community spaces.
When I received my first grant, I partnered with a fiscal agent who helped me organize my work and apply for nonprofit status. Becoming a 501(c)(3) allowed me to grow the program, reach more communities, and form new partnerships.
When COVID hit, I had to pivot. I created the Self-Love Box Kit, which included everything participants needed to make their doll at home, along with exercises to build self-esteem. I mailed the kits and led workshops via Zoom. It that even on zoom the impact was just as beautiful as before.
After the pandemic, I introduced another workshop called Raising a Superhero, designed for grade-school children. It helps them see themselves as their own heroes and to imagine what kind of positive impact they want to have on the world, and then create a doll or action figure that embodies that vision.
In recent years, like many small nonprofits, I’ve faced challenges with funding, but I’ve used this time to reorganize and refocus the mission. The heart of The Ragbaby Exchange remains the same: helping people of all ages and backgrounds rediscover their worth, celebrate their uniqueness, and reimagine what beauty truly looks like.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. In the beginning, it was challenging to get schools and community facilities to recognize the value of what I was offering. Some people didn’t immediately understand how something as simple as doll-making could have such a deep emotional and educational impact.
Fortunately, I had a few mentors and advocates who believed in the vision and opened doors for me. Once Program Managers, Social Workers, and Teachers saw the workshops in action, they understood how powerful they could be and that’s when things began to grow.
Another challenge was learning the world of grants and funding. I had to really study the language of grant writing and figure out what funders were looking for. With the guidance of a few generous people, I learned how to tell the story of my work in a way that connected, and that allowed me to begin receiving grants to support and expand the program.
One of the biggest ongoing challenges has been doing much of the work on my own. As the organization grew, I reached a point where I truly needed help — not just volunteers, but paid staff to keep things running smoothly. I’ve been blessed to have interns and volunteers who share the vision, but having consistent funding to build a small team would make an incredible difference in helping The Ragbaby Exchange reach its full potential.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Before founding The Ragbaby Exchange, my professional career was in publishing, where I worked as a production manager and graphic designer for magazines. I’ve always loved being creative and telling stories through design. That background taught me the power of images and representation. I learned through media how what we see can shape how we feel about ourselves and the world around us.
That understanding plays a big role in what I do today. Through the Ragbaby Exchange I use doll-making as a creative and healing tool for self-expression and self-discovery. Our workshops blend art with personal reflection, helping participants, both children and adults explore identity, celebrate their uniqueness, and build self-esteem from the inside out.
I’m probably best known for my signature workshop, Your Inner Doll, where participants create a doll that reflects their true selves, not just how they look, but who they are and aspire to be. Watching people light up as they see themselves reflected in something they’ve created is so rewarding.
I’m also proud of our Raising a Superhero program, which helps children think of themselves as heroes in their own stories, they identify their strengths, dreams, and the qualities they need to make a difference in the world.
What sets The Ragbaby Exchange apart is that it’s not just about making dolls, it’s about transformation. It’s about changing how people see themselves, challenging narrow definitions of beauty, and building confidence through creativity and community.
I’m very proud when I see the joy and pride on participants’ faces, like when a child hugs their doll and says, “She looks like me,” or when an adult realizes they’ve reconnected with a part of themselves they hadn’t seen in years. Those moments remind me why this work matters.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is whenI received my very first sewing machine. It came in a pretty case that even had wallpaper and space for a Barbie doll and her clothes. I was fascinated by it. I taught myself how to sew doll clothes on it.
I started sewing my own clothes and even making handmade dolls as gifts for my mother and grandmother. I think that little sewing machine sparked something bigger, it planted the seed for everything I do today — creating, designing, and using art as a way to connect with people and express love.
Pricing:
- Doll kits – $50 (custom is available for additional fee)
- Please contact me for workshop scheduling and prices
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ragbabyexchange
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RagbabyExch
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn @Sherri Roberts Lumpkin
- Youtube: Youtube Ragbaby Exchange
