I have to say after interviewing her I have even more respect and admiration for you Pam!! Kudos to you, Pam for making a difference in our community and being an Everyday Shero!!

S: Please tell us what inspired you to begin your non-profit organization, Living Advantage?

PC:  In September, 1993 Living Advantage, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit organization. Bernice W. Clay, the founder, established the organization to further carry out her mission to help underprivileged youth in areas of special education, severe emotional and behavioral problems, and speech impediments. The other founding members have diversified backgrounds. Together they opened the first (6) bed group home in 1996.

I was suppose to just be the silent financial partner, but my Mom got sick, I had to make the decision if I wanted to continue her mission or loose about a $4,000 investment. It was not a huge lost however; I had never lost any money in an investment. So…… the business woman I am, I needed to make that money work and that’s what pretty much inspired me to begin the work of the non-profit.

Now what inspired me to take it to another level…………the kids not having anyone, I mean NOBODY that supported them. They would walk through our group home doors with barely shoes on their feet. There was nobody that was there for them, whether having a good day or bad day.  They really have no foundation of love and support that is consistent and unconditional. THAT IS WHAT INSPIRES ME TO RUN LIVING ADVANTAGE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION!!!

S:What were you doing before you began Living Advantage?

PC: I have been an entrepreneur for over 30 years and have established relationships with organizations and businesses throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County areas.  My background includes over 25 years of Real Estate finance and business management.  While having purchased Real Estate throughout Los Angles that is how we started investing in group homes.

S:It seems like you have a very supportive team, how did you go about acquiring these individuals and who are they?

PC:Honestly, these people come to me because of their need to want to help these children.  Foster youth/children are very special and require people of the heart.  God places my team with me by belief and faith that we are making a difference and will impact thousands of children, but in the long run a community, city, state, nation of people. It is not me doing this. This is a calling….

S:What does Living Advantage do for our community?

PC:Living Advantage sends out an E-news-letters to over 35,000 people a week.  We have a strong viewership on social networks like FaceBook, Twitter, U tube, MySpace; we do blogging, several public service announcements/non-profit commercials on TV, radio and cable. We spend a lot of time in the community that showcase our works at school, events, conferences, Red carpets and public official Town Halls, just to mention a few. We use press releases, print news articles and magazine articles to inform and educate our community about the issues of youth in foster care and ways they can support and show their love.

S:Does Living Advantage help youth in Los Angeles only or do you service other cites as well. If not, do you plan on expanding?

PC:For now we centralize our efforts in Los Angeles City/County.  The reason for that is because there are nearly 40,000 foster youth living in the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — THE LARGEST POPULATION IN THE NATION! This year alone over 1,400 young adults will have to leave the support of the foster care system forever with little or no financial support and/or life skills. Now they are vulnerable and exposed to committing theft, prostitution and drug abuse for survival.  Together we will help reduce the plight of homelessness, incarceration, Gangs, alcoholism and drug addiction against these young adults. In order to make a larger impact we had to focus our attempt that better empowers them and we are more effective and efficient.  Yes, when sustainable funding is in place we will expand.

S:What other projects/businesses are you involved in?

PC:February 27, 2009 we have impacted institutional and governmental policies by introducing Assembly Bill#1148, The VALE Program into legislation. April, 2009 Student Worker Training Site for Youth in Los Angeles City, AADAP and City of Los Angeles Summer Youth Employment Program. We just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LA Unified School District #7 Manual Arts High School to Partner and start the Virtual Assistant Living and Educational Program, VALE Program – Were we provide access to online data storage to provide a secure portal to maintain personal and vital life documents for youth. Introduce foster youth to the computer technology and e-educational resources available via the internet, to achieve a higher rate of educational success. Community Support – To expose foster youth to positive role models for the purpose of higher self esteem and to engage youth at events and activities that are hosted by Living Advantage and expose them to our on-line community Mentors/Supporters.

S:How does someone go about contributing and/or becoming a sponsor of LA?

PC:www.LivingAdvantageInc.org the donate now button or go to the link “OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT” Gives you a host of different formats to get involve, volunteer, shop at Ralphs, etc.

S:What is your most rewarding experience thus far?

PC:Knowing that the VALE Program works – TRUE LIFE TESTIMONIAL…….. Ubaldo D. was a young man who lived in one of the Living Advantage foster homes and aged out of the system 5 years ago. He recently contacted Living Advantage because he lost his social security card and needed it to renew his driver’s license.  He has a family of 5 to support and without a valid driver’s license he was in jeopardy of losing his job.   Living Advantage easily retrieved Ubaldo’s information and he was able to get his license and keep his job. He has since been promoted and has a better quality of life.

S:What are some of the challenges of running Living Advantage?

PC:MONEY…..MONEY…..MONEY!!!! Sustainable revenue to implement the VALE Program and pay the bills.  It is a challenge……..

S:Where do you see Living Advantage in 5 years, 10 years?

PC:Servicing thousands of youth that need our work all over the country

S:Are there ways for people to get involved with Living Advantage on a volunteer basis if they can’t necessarily contribute monetarily?

PC:Yes, of course.  We love volunteers.

S:Do you find it difficult to keep a nonprofit afloat in these economic times?

PC:IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BUT THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD AND FOLKS THAT GIVE A LITTLE, IT GOES A LONGGGGG WAY!!

S:You work so hard for these kids, do you ever get your Pam time? What does Pam time consist of?

PC:You know what??? I do work hard for my kids.  I honestly love their butts, but as hard as I work for the kids, I do play hard. It consist of being at home, I’m a great cook.  I have a phenomenal 23 year old daughter, the majority of my family in LA are in convalescent homes, so I am there about 1-2 a week. I do a lot of hospital visits.  I am also a restaurant connoisseur. I receive at least 3-5 invitations a day to a party, club, movie premier, etc. I travel, snow ski, Jet ski, roller skate, swim and PPPPAAARRRTTTYYYY!!!!

Learn Living Advantage

Have  you ever felt 100% sure of what your  purpose is in life, yet, there seems to be something in the way of fullfilling your purpose driven life? Well, that was me around this time last year.  I came to the realization that I needed a helping hand, clearly there was something I was missing in terms of getting to the next level of my acting career.  While perusing the net, I was lead to Dallas Travers site and I knew this was exactly what I needed. I attended her FREE workshop, followed by The Actors Business Blueprint, and I can truly say that it took me to a whole new level in terms of how to utilize my business skills. Dallas enlightened me of my strengths and destructive behavior as well as provided me with the essential tools that has changed my life on so many levels.  There are a plethora of other encouraging stories I have been privy to…such as a good friend of mine has now partnered with a colleague she met in the Blueprint Course to develop a successful business endeavor.

I say kudos to you, Dallas Travers, for being such amazing inspiration and motivational coach with an infectious positive energy!!! Okay, I will stop  babbling so you can see what Dallas had to say to us:

S: What is your background & how did you get started?
DT: I have a bachelors degree from the University of Washington in Speech Communication.  I also have a master-level certification from the Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching.  Though I’ve always considered myself to be a creative person, I’m not an actor.  This helps me bring a fresh perspective to the entertainment industry.

S: How long have you been coaching actors & what made you choose actors?

DT: My biz started in 2001 and I’ve been coaching actors and other creative people since.  When I moved to LA in 1999, I bounced around in the industry working for a modeling agency & a showcase service.  I kept meeting actors who were well trained in their craft, but who didn’t have any business skills to truly navigate the biz.  This lead many of them to feel uninspired, dis-empowered, and stuck.  So, I set out to educate and inspire actors to be their own representation.  I wanted these creative, purpose driven artists to feel as confident in their marketing as they do in their craft.

I really admired anyone who knows their purpose and strives to impact the world by sharing their gifts.  Actors do this everyday.  Many of them sacrifice a lot of short term comforts in order to pursue their dreams.  I’m just grateful to be surrounded by people like that.

S: If an actor can’t afford to take your courses, is there a way for them to utilize your tools?
DT: Absolutely!  My group coaching program starts at only ten bucks per month.  I designed The Thriving Artist Circle to serve actors at every stage in their career regardless of their budget.  Also, my blog is chock full of great info, videos, and inspiration.

S: What is your most rewarding experience thus far?
DT: I get to help creative people accomplish their dreams.  It doesn’t get better than that!

S: What challenges do you come across?
DT: Being brave.  I am a big thinker, a trailblazer in my peer group and family.  Sometimes living big can feel a little lonely.  So, I have to remind myself that my purpose is bigger than I am.  When I’m afraid, I know I’m growing.
Early on, I struggled financially to get my business off the ground.  Then I realized that I expected to struggle, therefore, I STRUGGLED.  As soon as I truly began to expect – insist – that success was inevitable, my business turned around.  Your money is just a reflection of your mindset.

S: What do you do for fun?
DT: Hang with my dogs and my hubby.  He’s the best!  I love reading.  I also like to express myself through fashion, so shopping is always fun

S: You seem like such a busy woman, so how do you manage to balance work and play?
DT: There’s no such thing as balance.  It’s always a juggling act.  I’ve learned to just seek harmony rather than seek balance.  When a scale is balanced, nothing moves.  Yet, things can flow harmoniously.  I work a lot.  But I love what I do, so it doesn’t feel like work.  My husband is super supportive, which is HUGE.  I’ve also learned to delegate to my team, whether it’s my housekeeper or my assistant.   Also, I’ve realized that I can, indeed, do everything.  I just can’t do it all at once.

S: Do you have any advice for women looking to start their own business?
DT: Think Big.  Start Small. Move Fast. Get clear about your Big Idea.  But break your goal-getting process into small, measurable steps.  I tell all of my clients to ‘do less more often’.  When you focus on fewer things in the short term more consistently, you’ll be amazed by how much you can accomplish in the long term.

S: What next for you?
DT: I’ve been able to help so many actors, that I’ve realized my system can help other creative souls – actors, artists, healer, even creative entrepreneurs. So, 2011 is all about helping creative people who want to make a difference turn their big idea into a profitable career.



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