Operation SEED INC

10/14/2026

OPERATION: SEED, INC. enjoyed our time today (10.13.2026) at the James B. Dudley High School! We are so appreciative of the warm welcome we always receive from the Administration, Front Office, Teachers, Staff, and Students! Many thanks to Mrs. Joyce Washington, CTE Marketing Teacher, for sharing her twenty-seven amazing students with us for a Sow What You Know Career Readiness Life Skills Munch & Learn session!

We are extremely grateful for our dynamic guest speaker, Ms. Chase Clark, Founder of Chase's Chance,Inc., Wake Forest University Class of 2026 Graduate, Entrepreneur, and so much, much more!

The students stayed locked in as Ms. Clark engaged them in sharing their goals, challenges, and strengths. We heard from future lawyers, streamers, realtors, and entrepreneurs! She kept them thinking, writing, conversing, and acknowledging the values (such as…creativity, job security, confidence, understanding, community, and faith) that they hold dear. Ms. Clark reminded them of the value that they bring to their school, families, and communities in the right now. She informed them straight out that she believes in them!

It was easy to see that Ms. Clark’s teaching style of interactivity was met with appreciation from the students. She gave them a “temp job” as “Hiring Recruiters” and assigned each group the task of reviewing résumés to identify the best candidate for a marketing position that required a creative thinker. It was a joy to watch these young people collaborate so easily.

Ms. Clark spoke about the importance of having a professional email account; keeping their résumé updated; being able to effectively articulate their applicable experience, preparation, qualifications, and interests during an interview; ensuring that their résumé reflects position requirements; being organized; and having references ready.

She explained how vital it is to prepare your personal introduction so that networking conversations result in offers of support and opportunities. The students were given time to write out their introduction with guidance from the template that Ms. Clark provided in her media presentation.

Additionally, she encouraged the students to create a LinkedIn profile to enhance their professional connections as they seek careers, mentors, and internships.

We are excited about hearing from several students who expressed interest in our SEEDS FOR SUCCESS Entrepreneurship Development Assistance program!

We applaud Ms. Chase Clark for serving with such intentional excellence and joy! Her passion for youth is unmistakable! We look forward to having her with us again real soon!

Thank you to all of our individual and corporate supporters for helping us carry out our vision and mission!

Revity Federal Credit Union, Sheetz, Skyla Credit Union, Enterprise Mobility, Cone Health Foundation, Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, 4imprint, Target, Cover the City Project

Thank you to Jennifer and her team at Bojangles in Oak Ridge for your generosity in extending such a liberal discount for the Cajun Chicken Biscuits that the students thoroughly enjoy!
🌱🌱🌱

Sincerely,
The Servant Leaders of OPERATION: SEED, INC.:
Teresa Gilliard, Board Chair
Denise Little, Treasurer
Karen Moore, Assistant Treasurer
Ebony Gilliard, Secretary
Chandler Price, Educational System SME
Bernadette Potts, Executive Director/Founder
🌱🌱🌱

10/13/2026

10/03/2026

What a great first-time session at Eastern Guilford High School! “Thank you!” to Mr. Christopher Snead, CTE Career and College Manager; and Mr. John Melton, CTE Business Teacher for inviting OPERATION: SEED, INC. to join the twenty-one amazing students in Mr. Melton’s Entrepreneurship Class! These young people were astute, attentive, and made us feel welcome! And, to Dr. Darrell Harris, Principal, for opening your doors to us… “Thank you!”

We are extremely grateful to one of our greatest supporters, Salina Barksdale-Clark, for serving as our Sow What You Know Life Skill Session guest speaker! She is a business leader, entrepreneur, author, and community advocate from Greensboro, North Carolina. She has more than 27 years of experience in finance and customer service and is the founder and CEO of Salina At-Your-Service, LLC, a consulting and coaching business that helps people and businesses turn their ideas into action. Salina is also a published author and serves as President of Chase's Chance,Inc., a nonprofit that helps young people access resources and opportunities to pursue their dreams.

Today’s focus: The Realities of Entrepreneurship. Ms. Barksdale-Clark’s presentation: Entrepreneurship is A Different World!

She connected with the students through her authentic passion for youth everywhere! She used culture, thought-provoking questions, an interactive activity, personal anecdotes, a picture that spoke a thousand words, humor, wisdom from her lived experiences, and so much more to engage students and all of the rest of us who were in the room!

As Ms. Barksdale-Clark shared on “…the hard work, lessons, setbacks, and rewards that come with building something that’s your own”…it was easy to see how what she taught not only applied to entrepreneurship…but to all aspects of life - whether business or personal.

A special “Thank You!” to Ms. Chase Clark (Salina’s daughter) for all of her assistance! Chase is the Founder and Vice President of the 501c3 NPO ~ Chase’s Chance, a Class of 2026 Wake Forest graduate, an entrepreneur, podcaster, and so much more! Definitely a phenom! We are looking forward to welcoming Chase as our Sow What You Know guest speaker in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

Much appreciation to our individual and corporate supporters! You make us better and we are glad to be on mission together!

Revity Federal Credit Union, Enterprise Mobility, Skyla Credit Union, Sheetz, Cone Health Foundation, Guilford Nonprofit Consortium, 4imprint
🌱🌱🌱
Sincerely,
The Servant Leaders of OPERATION: SEED, INC.:
Teresa Gilliard, Board Chair
Denise Little, Treasurer
Karen Moore, Assistant Treasurer
Ebony Gilliard, Secretary
Chandler Price, Educational System SME
Bernadette Potts, Executive Director/Founder
🌱🌱🌱

09/15/2026

A 3️⃣-peat!!! And the JOY continues! This morning marked the beginning of our THIRD year serving at the James B. Dudley High School! Thank you for continuing to open your doors to us!

Our Financial Fitness guest speaker for this morning’s session was Ms. Heather Lyons, CUDE/CUCME, Marketing Manager, Revity Federal Credit Union! As always, she did an awesome job with the interactive Needs and Wants game! The students had ten minutes to discuss and determine which sixteen essential items they needed to take with them to an unknown planet. And just when they had determined their sixteen items and the ten minute time limit was about to run out, Ms. Lyons switched up on them and gave them five minutes to reduce the number of items to eight! The students really engaged in the activity through their collaborative and critical thinking skills! And they came up with some pretty good decisions for their list. It was a fun and interactive learning session! And it was very challenging even for those of us who were only observing!

This group of thirty-two students, from Ms. Wooden’s class and Ms. Washington’s class, are energetic…smart…helpful…and delightful! It is our pleasure to serve them!

We also appreciate the opportunity to provide a mini meal for the twenty members of Ms. Wooden’s FBLA club, which is meeting this afternoon! And, we look forward to hearing from the student who already has her LLC and is interested in learning more about our SEEDS FOR SUCCESS Entrepreneurship Development Assistance program!

We thank Jennifer and her team at Bojangles in Oak Ridge for their hospitality and the generous Cajun Chicken Biscuits discount!

Many thanks to our individual and corporate supporters! We could not do this without you!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Sheetz, Enterprise Mobility, Skyla Credit Union

🌱🌱🌱
Sincerely,
The Servant Leaders of OPERATION: SEED, INC.:
Teresa Gilliard, Board Chair
Denise Little, Treasurer
Karen Moore, Assistant Treasurer
Ebony Gilliard, Secretary
Chandler Price, Educational System SME
Bernadette Potts, Executive Director/Founder
🌱🌱🌱

07/23/2026

On Tuesday, July, 21st, 2026, OPERATION: SEED, INC. had the honor of spending time with a very impressive group of young adults for a Sow What You Know Life Skill Munch and Learn session at the Youth Focus Inc TLP HEARTH Program in High Point! The Career Readiness session was led by Mr. Chandler Price, who serves as our Educational System Subject Matter Expert.

Mr. Price is an Educator in the Guilford County Schools System, an Afterschool Program CEO serving Brightwood Elementary School, and a Licensed Early Childcare Educator! The information and wisdom that he shared included…Resume Building, Professionalism, Networking, Personal Appearance, Job vs Career, Interview Etiquette, Internships, Mentorship, Job Shadowing, Relationships, Certifications, and much, much more! Mr. Price was amazing!

These young adults were tuned in, well-versed, and goal-oriented! Their career interests include: Nursing, Forensics, Aeronautics, Therapy/Counseling, Art/Graphic Design, Anime, and Content Creator/Influencer Marketing.

Two challenges that the young adults shared: Time Management and How to Get Started in a Desired Career.

Connections and conversations continued after the session; and we look forward to returning in a few weeks for Part 2!

Our sincere “Thanks!” to Ms. Niya (Case Manager), the young adults, and Ms. Maggie Cook, Development Manager, for this wonderful opportunity and their kindness!

Much appreciation to Joanne (Marketing Manager) at Chick fil A on John Gordon Pkwy. in High Point (https://www.chick-fil-a.com/locations/nc/eastchester) for the meal discount; and to our corporate and individual supporters! Your investments are crucial to our vision and mission. We do not take your support for granted. Thank you!
Skyla Credit Union, Enterprise Mobility, Chick-fil-A, 4imprint

Sincerely,
The Servant Leaders/Board Members of OPERATION: SEED, INC.:

Teresa Gilliard, Board Chair
Denise Little, Treasurer
Karen Moore, Assistant Treasurer
Ebony Gilliard, Secretary
Chandler Price, Educational System SME
Bernadette Potts, Executive Director/Founder
🌱🌱🌱

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From the Youth Focus website:

“The HEARTH Transitional Living Program provides supervised housing for male and female youth ages 18-21 for up to 18 months.

During their stay in the program, all of a youth’s living expenses are taken care of so they can focus on accomplishing goals that will ensure success in their future. Each youth sets goals specific to their situation to transition from the program to stable housing, obtain their high school diploma and/or college degree, receive needed vocational training to gain and maintain employment, develop permanent connections with caring adults, and improve their social-emotional well-being. During their stay in the program, they gain life skills such as conflict resolution, money management, meal planning and preparation, goal setting, and more.

This program is designed to be similar to dormitory-style housing with clustered apartments leased by Youth Focus. Two youth share a two-bedroom apartment, and one apartment serves as the staff office and a common gathering space for program participants.

Located in High Point, NC, this program allows youth some independence while still having staff support nearby as they learn and practice independent living skills. Youth who have benefited greatly from this program include homeless youth and young people who have aged out of the foster care system without the needed support to live successfully on their own.”
https://www.youthfocus.org

07/17/2026

OPERATION: SEED, INC. is extremely grateful to be selected by the SKYLA CARES Committee of SKYLA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION as a recipient of a tremendously generous SKYLA CARES grant!

We are honored to be entrusted with stewarding SKYLA’s investment in teens and young adults through our engagement programs: SEEDS FOR SUCCESS Entrepreneurship Development Assistance; SOW WHAT YOU KNOW Life Skills Munch & Learn Sessions; and T.A.M.E. Hunger ~ “That All May Eat” Food Security Initiative🌱🌱🌱!

Serving young people is our “work of heart ❤️”!

Skyla Credit Union

07/16/2026

OPERATION: SEED, INC. is honored and excited to be a participating community organization in this amazing event!!!

Calling all rising Juniors and Seniors to join us!

THIS IS FOR YOU❤️❤️❤️!!!

06/05/2026

We truly appreciate the encouragement, partnership, support, trust, and funding generosity that Revity Federal Credit Union continues to sow into the vision, mission, and work of OPERATION: SEED, INC.! Thank you, Heather, for your kindness! 🌱🌱🌱
~~~
With an Attitude of Gratitude,
The Servant Leaders of OPERATION: SEED, INC.:
Teresa Gilliard, Board Chair
Denise Little, Treasurer
Karen Moore, Assistant Treasurer
Ebony Gilliard, Secretary
Chandler Price, Educational System SME
Bernadette Potts, Executive Director/Founder
🌱🌱