In a Fairview office, a small group of young Anchorage women are organizing a teen dance with the aim of creating more after-school youth opportunities.
The group gathers together once a week on Saturdays and is led by Tracey Parrish, who owns a couple of insurance companies.
"Build, Revive, Inspire, Express Self or Someone" is the motto of BRIXS. Founded in June 2010, the local non-profit’s mission is to support and give tips to small business owners and those aspiring to own a business. It also offers guidance and education to young women between the ages of 18 and 28.
"I've seen that people don't invest enough time in that age group. So they don't develop but we have expectations for them to be what we want them to be, but we have no obligation to train them," Tracey Parrish, BRIXS founder and president, said.BRIXS helps young women create positive changes in their communities by getting them involved in various projects, such as putting together an all-teens dance on March 10th.
Parrish teaches that it's hard work that makes her successful not handouts.
"I want them to look at me and know that the silver spoon wasn't in my mouth. That I'm not a victim," Parrish said. "I will not make an excuse. If I want something and I can have it, then I'm going to work hard and I'm going to get it."
A skill she admires about Oprah.
"I love the way she always pushes up and moves forward will all the negativity. She makes changes. She makes differences in other people's lives," Parrish said.
She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska where her family passed down the values of the Civil Rights movement to her.
"I've heard all of that," she said, "But the way I heard it has just been a fact. It's not been, 'Now got out and be mad.' It's been knowledge and it's been informational."
Parrish builds on the foundations built by past generations and hopes to build up future generations by creating opportunities for young women to succeed.
"Black History Month to me means the acknowledgment of African American people yesterday and today. The people that help build us to get us to where we are today. For the people that helped me to be able to have a business and to have a BRIXS and to do what I want and to go where I want," she said.
Parrish says ensuring freedom and equality is to simply take action.
"Make a difference. Don't just say a difference. Be the difference that you want to see."
For more information visit www.brixs.org
