We had the good fortune of connecting with Janet Sherlip and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janet, can you talk to us about the impact the Covid-19 Crisis has had on your business.
Working as a nonprofit consultant, I have seen many changes take place during COVID-19. One that stands out the most is Trusted World. During COVID-19 Trusted World is here to keep the supply chain of essential items moving to people in need. Trusted World employees continue to report to work to ensure people in need living in North Texas can maintain some semblance of a typical life during this health crisis. As organizations everywhere are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by changing the way they operate, this is every day for Trusted World. They are focused on stopping situational poverty before it starts by providing food, clothing, and personal care items to people in need. Trusted World works with nonprofits, first responders, police departments, social workers, and school counselors who are on the front line and able to identify individuals and families slipping down the poverty line. Because of these partnerships, Trusted World can supply poverty food kits, personal care items, and clothing to individuals and families at the onset of situational poverty. The school doors might be closed, but the counselor and parent liaisons are not. Trusted World is working with the school districts to ensure families needing food, personal care, and clothing receive the essential items even if it means delivering the items to the individuals’ doorstep.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a Texas native who recently returned to Texas after living in Tampa, FL, for over 15 years. While in Tampa, I established myself as a pretty savvy charity event planner and fundraiser. Once I arrived in Allen, TX, I reopened my nonprofit consulting agency entitled, JKS by Design. My passion is nonprofit management. It brings me joy to teach small nonprofits and help them grow. I use the “teach a man to fish” model- training the nonprofit’s team to become nonprofit professionals. I specialize in filling the gaps for small to mid-size nonprofits, bringing my 20+ years of experience as I help with fundraising, strategic planning, board development, event execution & design, committee oversight, marketing, and more. At Trusted World, I am a consultant working under the title of Development Director. However, I do a whole lot more, including public relations, strategic marketing, social media oversight & management to fundraising and administration. The biggest lesson I have learned over the 20+ years of my career is passion isn’t enough. A nonprofit professional must have experience in a vast number of areas and know when it is right to express your passion and when it is best to show patience. Relationships are the key to being successful. Cooperation isn’t a weakness; it is necessary.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Plano, Allen and Frisco offer everything from sporting events to fine dining. I love living and working in Collin County. There is something for everyone, so narrowing down a great local spot is hard for me. Although I am going on three years since I returned to Texas, I still feel as if I am discovering new places to enjoy.

During the COVID-19 stay at home order, I discovered the most beautiful trails and parks and cannot wait to find the best kayaking spot. Before COVID-19, most of my friends who come to visit are coming from Florida. They want to see cowboy hats and boots. I usually take them on a short drive back to my hometown of Fort Worth and show off the stockyards. Then we run right back over to Dallas for the best city view in town at the top of Reunion Tower. And of course, everyone wants to visit the book depository. Dallas is filled with fascinating places and museums from the Holocaust Museum, to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden- one of my favorite places. Guests visiting over a weekend have enjoyed the Dallas Farmers Market and Third Monday Trade Days in McKinney. McKinney, in general, is a great place to take guests to stroll the town square. I love Texas; there are so many things to see and do. We are blessed to have such a beautiful state.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We’ve all heard the famous line from Fred Rogers, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helpers.” My dear friend Lawrence Mann from TOPACHIEVERS Plano is a helper.

Lawrence founded TOPACHIEVERS in 1996. TOPACHIEVERS is a non-profit Plano faith-based sports development, leadership and academic support organization. The non-profit TOPACHIEVERS Foundation collaborates with our schools and community to provide fitness, skills, team, and leadership programs for youth who would otherwise not have such an opportunity.

The TOPACHIEVERS Foundation provides financial sponsorships for deserving student-athletes to participate in their programs, which include – basketball, leadership, and an ESports program.

Their unique student-athlete curriculum includes science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in addition to athletic participation. The organization offers programs in basketball, leadership, and ESports for boys and girls from Middle School through High School.

In the past few years, the program offered students in the Full Basketball program the opportunity to visit and play in Trinidad/Tobago. Not only do they enjoy tournament play in another country, but the trips also include educational, historical tours and community service events.

All programs provide the opportunity for interaction and influence of positive adult role models and other youth promoting mutual respect, team respect, leadership skill development and celebrating our diversity.

Website: https://trustedworld.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trusted_world
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3654829
Twitter: https://twitter.com/trustedworld
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trustedworld/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/NM1HgzIsWZA
Other: Or to view my website jksbydesign.com

Image Credits
All photos were taken by the Trusted World team,