Celebrating 10 Years!
We are truly GRATEFUL!
Teena's Legacy has seen continuous growth over the past 10 years. Our focus has been primarily on young and adult Black Women, who live in urban communities and are struggling with identity issues, trauma, homelessness, and or formally incarcerated. The age ranges from 21-45 who's seeking a better life for themselves and their families. But over the years Teena's Legacy has sub-contracted with several different organizations, institutions and businesses, opening up opportunities to work with and serve all ages, genders, race, and background.
Jamika Smith, Founder and Executive Director discovered a way to use an old craft of re-upholstering furniture as a holistic approach to healing dynamics, inspiring and encouraging individuals, especially Black Women to explore their authentic selves to overcome their emotional and physical barriers to success.
Over the past 10 years Teena's Legacy impacted the lives of over 1000 individuals, with its base being in Chicago, IL and a presence in Gary, IN, Cartersville, Ga, Atlanta, Ga, and Lagos, Nigeria.
About Us
Teena's Legacy Mission
Teena’s Legacy is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit agency that provides a valuable trade of re-upholstering furniture, promoting economic transformation along with practical tools, and life skills encouraging self-discovery. Teena's Legacy empowers individuals to work through triggers and issues and uses reupholstering furniture as a tool to empower their healing.
We encourage individuals to discover who they are, explore opportunities, pursue their passions, and design personal pathways to success.
Teena's Legacy Core Values:
- Love
- Creativity
- Integrity
- Abundance and Prosperity
- Sisterhood
- And Living in Your Greatness!
Who Is Teena and what Is Her Legacy
Teena’s Legacy was founded in 2014 by Jamika Smith in honor of her grandmother Alberteen Stredrick (Teena). Alberteen transition back in Feb. 2009, but not without leaving a long-lasting impact on Jamika’s life hence motivating her to keep her legacy alive.
Alberteen (Teena) was creative, vibrant and always about her business. She grew up in the town of Pastoria and Sherrill, Arkansas. Shortly after graduating, she went to New York City for vocational training and returned to Arkansas to work on the family farm. She left Arkansas for Chicago at the tender age of 19 in order to earn a better living for her family. She held a number of jobs including clerical, domestic, culinary, resale, and factory work. She retired from Leaf Brand Candy Co. where she held a number of positions.
Alberteen (Teena) was an accomplished seamstress and a self-taught interior decorator. She had a creative eye for fashion which resulted in unique and stylish clothes; she would model her designs in fashion shows she and her daughter (my mother) hosted in local lounges/clubs and also coordinated shows in the basement of her own home.
She also had a gift in restoring and reviving old furniture back to its original glory. My grandma believed strongly in self-sufficiency and having your own, her vision for her family was for them to tap into their natural gifts and use them to start their own business and leave a legacy for their children. I am honored to doing just that, keeping my grandmother's legacy alive for my daughter, and the generation to follow.