Dress to Succeed: Taunya Scott Bourne's Journey of Service and Community Empowerment

Volunteerism is in Taunya Scott Bourne's blood and holds a special place in her heart. Her service journey started about 13 years ago alongside her mom, Rosetta Carter, who served as the executive director of ACTION. She believes in serving the community and finds it imperative to support those in need.

Taunya is a second-year NDMV AmeriCorps member who has served with the Dress to Succeed program, an affiliate of the ACTION program, for seven years.

Dress to Succeed serves about 200 people each month. The program provides free clothing to community members in need, including recently released former inmates from Ohio State Penitentiary who require assistance to restart their lives. The program helps people by giving them the clothes they need to pursue new opportunities and have new beginnings. 

Bright and early on Saturday mornings, Taunya and her dedicated team open the doors to Dress to Succeed, ready to make a lasting impact. Taunya and her team meticulously sort through piles and piles of clothes to ensure that anyone who comes to the free clothing boutique receives quality items. From going through donations and assisting clients to picking up clothes long after the shop closes, they truly go above and beyond to treat people with care. 

Taunya also works closely with other organizations and churches in her community to share clothing donations she receives with them and the people they serve. Following our MidYear theme, Tauyna exemplifies what "leading together" looks like in action. By working with other organizations in her community, she can extend her reach so that even more people are cared for. 

Tauyna has a mind to work, and she serves with enthusiasm! Her favorite part of working with Dress to Succeed is meeting the people who come through the boutique. Taunya and her team prioritize creating a positive and encouraging environment, ensuring that the clients who visit feel welcomed and cherished. Helping others is not just a task but a source of joy and fulfillment for them.

Taunya chose to apply for NDMV AmeriCorps later in life because she values the organization's mission. She explains, "I like what NDMV AmeriCorps does and what it stands for: community." 

When asked what advice she would give to others who are at her stage of life and thinking about enrolling in a year of service through NDMV AmeriCorps, Taunya said, "If you enjoy volunteering and working for the community and if you want to be able to meet like-minded people this would be a good way to do so. It is good to know that other people think and do what you do for the community- whatever the capacity." Taunya also states that the living stipend and educational award would support other seniors who want to serve the community and need extra money to live on.

We are incredibly fortunate to have Taunya as part of our community, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. 

Her local community recently recognized Taunya for her hard work, but Taunya doesn't continue to give her all to her community for the recognition. Tauyna's faith inspires her to continue to work hard: "The one thing that I am is a child of the Lord. I love the Lord, the Lord loves his people, and I love his people. I will do anything I can to help his people. I'm not perfect, but I try my best to lift their spirits. No negativity. I take responsibility."

Taunya's passion, dedication to service and unwavering belief in the power of community can inspire us all.