Hidden Gems: Meet Leanna Braun of She Is Incorporated

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leanna Braun.

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?
I started a nonprofit organization titled “She Is Incorporated” to give a safe place for teen mothers and children. She Is Inc. was established in February 2020.

After fighting through many hardships as early as my adolescent years, I always wanted to give back to the community with relatable troubles. Becoming a mother at 17, having my second at 19, dropping out of college, brought many trials and struggles.

Prior to having my own children, I raised my 6 other siblings after having absent parents in the household due to drug abuse, my biological father was sentenced to prison when I was six months old.

I was out on my own raising my son at just 17. I used my voice and life story to build a platform that touches people who understand me, my vision, and my purpose. I give it all to God for helping me overcome depression, mental and physical abuse, severe anxiety, and more. Being scarred behind my childhood molded me to push to be open about my experiences and turn my tragedy into triumph.

Today, my nonprofit has had multiple recognitions behind the City of Annapolis, another recognition from the County Executive, Leadership Anne Arundel Alumni, partnership with Annapolis Senior High, multiple newspaper article highlights, and more.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been easy. Once I mapped out the audience and mission, I knew that I needed to execute perfectly.

After getting involved with the community via social media, attending programs and meetings involving a change in the community, She Is Inc started to get more noticed. Within due time, I started doing my “Teen Mom OG brunches” and that turned out to be great. For the most part, the biggest struggle with establishing my business was getting it going and figuring out how to be unique.

I wanted to make sure that I always had signatures to everything I did. I wanted to be sure that my logo and my name instantly reminded people of a successful teen mom.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
She Is Incorporated is a nonprofit organization established to teach, influence, and support teen mothers with basic life skills, parenting techniques, and support. She Is Inc also focuses on the children of teen mothers and a lot of women empowerment movements. One amazing thing about She Is Inc is that it was established during the pandemic, which gave me so much time to make it so amazing.

Specializing in teen mothers, we focus on making sure that every teen mom is given that “safe space” to be themselves. A group where no one is judged, left behind, or unheard. I would say that it’s best known for its events and the amazing energy, decor, and turnout behind each one. I sure do put together some great events!

I’m most proud of EVERY event, award, recognition. There is nothing that I love about She Is Inc. any less or more. Each time that I help someone who reminds me of where I have been, where I am NOW, heading, it just melts my heart. When it’s genuine and from the heart, you want nothing in return but to complete your mission.

I want people to know that She Is Inc. was built to help others. While I was struggling and reevaluating some things within myself, giving to She Is Inc and the people associated with it was helping me grow while I was watering people to grow in front of me. It has truly molded me into a rose from concrete and I am so thankful for the impact it has made on myself, my city, and the people in it.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is the moment that I graduated high school at 17 while 8 1/2 months pregnant.

I graduated with a great GPA, 3.62. So many people expected me to drop out and stop there, but I knew that THAT was not the end of my journey. Having my son only molded me to keep going. I was so afraid of being 1 of the 3 in my class to be pregnant and graduate, but I pushed through.

Now, my son looks at me as the best mother in the world with the massive hustle and so much accomplished in just 10 years of his life. I’m so honored.

Contact Info:

• Email: SheisincorporatedL@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sheisincorporated?utm_medium=copy_link
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lVqvnV_Ql1M&feature=youtu.be

Image Credits
Melanin Woman’s Month Shoot,  Joe DeAsia She Is Inc.’s, and Nyia Curtis