Empowering Youth Through Dance and Sport: My Journey with Soul Drift and The Hoovers

Since December 2025,I’ve been working with an amazing group of kids at Children’s Garden Home & School. I’ve been teaching them hip-hop, breakdancing, Afro dance, and dancehall customized for different age groups, from as young as 7 all the way into their teenage years. Just a few weeks ago, Soul Drift, our dance team named to inspire them with a sense of purpose took first place in a major competition. At the same time, we also created a basketball team called The Hoovers a name we chose together to remind them they can set goals and aim high, whether in sports or dance.

More than just teaching moves or plays, though, I’ve been taking time to understand their stories why they’re in the children’s home, what hardships they’ve been through, and how each one is fighting to reach their dreams. Learning about their resilience has been a gift it grounds me and fuels my passion to keep going. Every time I step into the studio or onto the court, I’m reminded that this work is about so much more than just dance or sport it’s about lifting them up, giving them a voice, and reminding them that they have a future full of possibility. And as I mentor them, they also mentor me teaching me about strength, hope, and the power of connection.