Ijeoma Okoli | My Native Tree and Umu Igbo Unite (UIU)
| What’s the name of your business, nonprofit or project? |
| My Native Tree and Umu Igbo Unite (UIU) |
| What city and country is your business, nonprofit or project located in? |
| Houston, TX |
| Describe your business, nonprofit or project, and the products and/or services you offer? |
| My Native Tree is a user-friendly platform designed to help people create their family trees and privately preserve their memories such as family photos, stories, recipes and important documents. Umu Igbo Unite Corporation also known as UIU is a community-as-a-service non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The premiere network of Igbo Americans and an organization that positively impacts the diaspora, Nigeria, and the continent of Africa. This is accomplished through four pillars: Cultural Preservation, Connecting the Diaspora, Entrepreneurship, and Civic Engagement. |
| Are you Caribbean or African, or of Caribbean or African descent? If you are, please tell us details. |
| Yes, I am of Nigerian descent. Born in the United States, I moved to Nigeria shortly after birth and lived there for the first 10 years of my life. This experience ingrained a deep appreciation for my cultural heritage and has profoundly influenced my work, inspiring me to create platforms that connect and enrich communities by preserving their unique histories and legacies. |
| Do you think your Caribbean or African upbringing/heritage has impacted your work? If so, please explain how. |
| Absolutely, my African heritage profoundly influences my work. It instilled a deep respect for family and community, driving me to create My Native Tree, a platform that helps people document and preserve their familial and cultural histories. This connection to heritage is crucial for enriching our sense of identity and belonging. |
| How does your work positively impact culture + community? |
| My work positively impacts culture and community by providing platforms like My Native Tree, which empower individuals to explore, document, and preserve their family histories and cultural heritage. This not only strengthens familial bonds across generations but also deepens individuals’ connections to their cultural roots. By facilitating a better understanding of one’s heritage, it enhances community cohesion and fosters a sense of pride and belonging. Additionally, through Umu Igbo Unite (UIU), I help promote cultural preservation among the Igbo diaspora, supporting professional growth and cultural education which enriches the broader community. |
| What message of hope or inspiration would you like to share with other women in our community who are also pursuing their dreams? |
| Keep going. If it fuels you, brings you joy, and ignites your passion, persevere. Trust that God has your best interests at heart. Commit to your best effort, and let faith handle the rest. Remember, every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. Embrace your journey with confidence and purpose, and always look for opportunities to help others along the way. |
| Link to Your Website (if applicable) |
| http://www.mynativetree.com; http://www.umuigbounite.com |
| Links to Your Social Media Pages (if applicable) |
| @mynativetree; @umuigbounite |
| How should potential customers and persons interested in networking & partnerships contact you? |
| Via Email is preferred. |
| ijeoma@mynativetree.com |
