Photos provided by [L-R] Jane Doe, Jim John and Danny Diggs
Supporting the leaders of tomorrow involves recognizing the resilience, potential, and distinct challenges emerging professionals and entrepreneurs face from diverse backgrounds. Carmen “Coach Carmen” Duncan’s story highlights this dedication: she overcame personal hardships such as homelessness and the impacts of street violence and incarceration of key family members, with support from mentors and family, transforming her experiences into a compelling vision for change. In 2011, she founded Mission Accomplished Transition Services, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on career education and advocating for social, racial, and economic justice in the business world.
Coach Carmen’s leadership is rooted in her personal journey as a Black woman overcoming racism, classism, and sexism in the workplace. Her approach positions Mission Accomplished to offer career and business education, coaches, and mentors who appreciate all emerging young professionals, particularly those from underestimated and underserved groups, and who are committed to helping them identify their inherent skills, develop new abilities, and enhance their self-confidence.
In 2017, after six years of providing comprehensive general coaching and mentorshiping to young professionals and entrepreneurs, Coach Carmen made the decision to dedicate our services to specializing in fashion, construction, mural painting, and interior design/decorating. This focus enhances their impact, establishing Mission Accomplished as specialists in industries where respect for tradespeople, creativity, entrepreneurial, and community person-centered leadership driven by a person-centered approach flourish.
Mission Accomplished supports the leaders of tomorrow by combining personal expertise, a deep understanding of social justice, and a commitment to fostering leadership. Each initiative helps young people from low and middle-socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly Black and Brown youth, overcome systemic barriers, develop essential skills, find their voice as leaders, and realize their full potential.
Mission Accomplished strives to pledge that the next generation of leaders gets the mentorship, coaching, advocacy, and tailored career and business education necessary to turn their boldest career dreams into reality and be the badass innovators they are!
We bring the mission to life by championing equal access to meaningful industry-specific education, empowering each person to discover, unlock, and reach their full potential.
Our carefully selected industry coaches and advisors, assist students with establishing and achieving measurable goals. During coaching sessions students gain clarity on next steps, their passion, their purpose, and develop confidence in their ability to lead their transition into the global workforce, higher education and a life of giving back.
Students who participate in our intensive teen or advanced institutes are paired with coaches who provide 1-on-1 coaching that challenges them to define the career(s) they want to pursue, who they are and how they want to show up in the world (brand identity), why they exist in this world and learn how to benefit from interdependent relationships with coaches, peers and mentors. Together, the students work as a team to design a customized industry-specific action plan with clear goals, making the right connections and gaining access to opportunities that will lead to employment in their desired industry.
Our coaches are like sports coaches, they develop relationships with their “players”, provide instructions, assist with locating and connecting with resources then encourage them to get on the “field” and use their skills and knowledge to win the game of life.
The Mission Accomplished team serve as mentors who assist students with establishing preliminary goals before being paired with industry coaches and advisors while assisting them with navigating through their personal and professional lives.
Collectively, the coaches, advisors and mentors serve as sponsors by using our influence within our networks to give students access to influential people, meaningful careers and business opportunities and assist with all or some of the costs for professional development opportunities, equipment, and supplies.
At the core of our mission, we help students “CLAIM IT”
Create our own visions to complete our end goals
Lead by example
Attain fulfillment through our passions
Invest in charitable organizations and projects
Mobilize resources while learning to teach others
Initiate projects from start to finish
Take ownership of our destiny
Experience how your actions can spark new beginnings.
Volunteer, and together we will shape brighter futures.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, mentor, or simply passionate about
making a difference, reach out and impactfully help shape someone’s future.
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