One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid Chicago Midtown is the chance to connect with other parents in our community. Often times these connections inspire us and remind us of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that I have launched this article series called Parent with a Purpose. My hope is to introduce you to some amazing parents living right in our community who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.
I'm excited to introduce you to Jasmine Lopez, a local mom and the founder of Click For Hope, a blog that shares photographs and stories of hope for the purpose of encouraging and inspiring others. They believe your story matters!
Let's learn more about this local mom's story and find out how we can be a part of her purpose!
What is your MISSION/PURPOSE? What do you want to accomplish? I'm the founder of Click For Hope. I photograph and share inspiring stories because I believe everyone has a story and that it matters. The power of "me too," togetherness, community, and so much more can shift the minds of so many who think they are alone in what they've experienced or gone through. When I first created Click For Hope it was structured as a give-back initiative solely tied to my photography business. Click for Hope was born out of my desire to do something more and in turn dig deeper, to share stories we often don't hear about, such as celebrating a weight loss journey, fighting cancer, mental illness, infertility, foster care, abuse and so much more.
Five years later it's grown into its own cause, and it continues to grow. For each campaign that we've hosted, I've partnered with makeup artists, stylists, and boutiques to help me create a beautiful experience for each lady who has come to share their story. We are now traveling all over the nation in our mobile studio to expand our reach and share even more stories.
What inspired/encouraged you towards this mission? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do? When I went full time with my own business 6yrs ago (Jazi Photo), my tagline at the time was, "What will be your story?" I was so intrigued by stories, but yet after each photo session, I felt empty inside. I wanted something more but really didn't know how to find it. Around this time, I read a book called Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie. This book helped me to identify my "why" and how I could implement ways to actually give back and make more of an influence in those around me. I then met a lady named Sally. She was battling cancer. I was so moved by her story, that I approached her to see if she'd be willing to allow me to photograph and share her story. I also partnered with a makeup artist. A few months later, she was sitting in my studio and as she was getting her makeup done...she just started talking. The more she shared, the more she glistened. She saw her "cancer" as a way to start fresh and to restore relationships. At the end of the session, I asked her if she would be willing to take off her headscarf. She paused for a moment, and then softly nodded. I knew this was a moment of freedom for her and I had to capture it in the most authentic way possible. She had never publicly shown her bare head. It was an area of insecurity for her. But by the end of the session, she had a fearless confidence. I left that day knowing THIS is exactly what I wanted to be doing. That everyone who gets in front of my camera would know their story matters, that they would know they are beautiful, and that they aren't alone!
How did your life before children influence the parent you are today? What part do your children play in your current mission? What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope your kids are learning? My motherhood is one that I see as a privilege and am so honored that I get to play such a huge a role in their lives. I was raised by a single mom my entire life and as a result, she worked a lot. I didn't see her much. Her sacrifice, and desire to provide for us is something I'm forever grateful for. However, for me, it's super important to me to have an active part in my girls' lives. It's easy for me to want to overwork myself, but their sweet faces challenge me to stay true to our family mission. With the support of my husband, I've chosen to create my schedule in a way where I get to homeschool and run my businesses. The flexibility in it allows me to take on more work if I want to. Finding the rhythm of it all has been a huge challenge, and often times I can feel depleted by the end of the day, so I have to ensure that I'm honoring our family mission and not allow myself to get too busy. I want my girls to know that they are safe and that their voice matters in our home. I'm big on asking for feedback, asking for forgiveness in the times I wasn't my best self. I acknowledge my shortcomings, and it helps our girls to see I'm not perfect, and that's okay. We are a home of grace, and learning from our mistakes. I'm huge into pouring into their identities, and helping to them know that they were created for something bigger than themselves. They are learning that they can be world changers, in whatever way that looks for them. So whatever their story may be, they know they are loved no matter what.
What do you do to take care of yourself and how do you make time to do it? Self-care is something I'm working on now. My youngest just turned 2, so I feel like I can put some more time and effort into it. Right now, I'm a part of a small group once a week, where I gather with other moms in business. That's been huge for me!!! It's helped me to see that I'm not alone in my struggles and insecurities. I love taking workshops such as hand-lettering, and looming. Those few hours away where it's not work related has been great. I'm also huge into meditation/prayer. There's something beautiful about being able to take moments throughout the day to take some deep breaths, realign my mind, and just pray.
What can we do to support you and your purpose? If you'd like to follow along you can visit our website: clickforhope.net or follow us on social: instagram.com/clickforhope or facebook.com/clickforhope. We also just launched a hand-curated online shop filled with inspiring goods either handmade by me or other local and global artisans. Any purchases made from there help support all that I'm doing with Click For Hope. Click For Hope is 100% volunteers, including myself. So this little store helps fund and pay for the cost of hosting campaigns.
I find Jasmine and her story so inspiring! I'm so glad we could share her story as she helps share others' stories.
Macaroni Kid isn't the only one impressed by these local parents. I'm happy to be able to offer goodies from other Chicago local businesses to Jasmine to thank her for our work in the community. Thank you to these awesome sponsors for helping me recognize Jasmine and all of our Parents with a Purpose!
- A day pass from Purple Monkey Playroom
- $50 babysitting credit from Chime by Sittercity
- $50 credit for an in-home consultation or a spot in the Parent Cafe from Third Coast Birth
- A blow-dry with makeup touch-up from Chroma K8 Beautique
Do you know someone who fits the Parent with a Purpose bill? Maybe it's your neighbor, friend, child's teacher - send them our way! All you have to do is email me their name, email and why you think they're perfect for a Parent with a Purpose feature and I'll take it from there!
