A Fine Gem in the Rough
Hey Everybody,
Courtney recently asked me if I would write a blog post about our first big project as an organization. While I’m excited to tell you more about that project, and promise to write another blog post about that very soon, I actually wanted to share something else that has been on my heart lately. Courtney has no idea that I’m going to write this. Hopefully she’ll approve it, because she’s going to see the draft first.
When I started Baraka Gems, my desire was always to develop a non-profit that would run alongside the jewelry store on a parallel track in order to help our profits have a direct impact in the lives of orphans worldwide. In 2009, while I was starting Baraka, I researched what it would take to get a non-profit up and running. I was told it would take a pile of paperwork and $20,000 to make it happen. I didn’t have the time or the money. For the first ten years in business at Baraka, I had to put all of my effort into bootstrapping the company and getting it off the ground. The whole time I kept the hope alive to get a non-profit underway as well. Year after year I waited and watched for the right time to take the leap into this new venture, and year after year I just couldn’t seem to find the resources to make it happen. I almost gave up.
In 2019 a young lady I had never met named Courtney Yorks walked into my jewelry studio looking to get her ring fixed. After more than an hour-long conversation that ended up focusing mainly on Baraka Orphanage in Kosele, she said something along the lines of “This might seem a little premature, but I want to run your non-profit for you.” She was that bold, and her boldness lead to three more conversations before I officially brought her on to be our Director of Development.
Courtney is not only bold but wise. She hasn’t heard me tell her this directly yet, but I believe she is one of the wisest women for her age that I have ever met. While always bringing a positive attitude, she is able to see this organization both hopefully and realistically. She understands people and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. She gives more than just her time and hard work to what we do. She brings passion and heart, that can only come from a genuine love for what she believes in and what she does. There is no worthwhile move we make or project we take on that doesn’t have Courtney’s DNA woven into it. She’s honest, trustworthy and operates with an integrity that is not only refreshing, but also extremely hard to find in an era where the truth is illusive, and progress often takes precedence over people.
No, she’s not perfect. She’s got her faults and challenges like the rest of us. She’s human, but she’s also humble. One of the things that I appreciate most about Courtney is that she’s not afraid to acknowledge her weaknesses and apologize when she makes a mistake. Even more importantly, she doesn’t let her mistakes keep her from remaining steady on her feet. Her determination keeps her drive alive despite the challenges, and she doesn’t give up easily.
It has been a real joy of mine to see her grow and change as she settles into her role at A Ring of Hope. I couldn’t be happier to have her as our Director of Development.
Why did I want to share all of this with you about Courtney? Because I want you to know that as we begin to settle into our first ever A Ring of Hope projects, our Director of Development is not only up to the task, but she’s one of the best people we could have on our team. I would have never been able to get this non-profit started without her, and we wouldn’t be making the kind of strides that we are if she wasn’t at the helm. If you wonder whether or not A Ring of Hope is an organization you want to get involved with, talk to Courtney. She’ll be happy to share with you about why we believe in A Ring of Hope’s mission, and I think you’ll find your time with her persuasive just because she’s the kind of person she is.
Thank you Courtney for all you do. I’m sorry your ring was broken, but I’m really glad you came to me to get it fixed!
More to come on our first A Ring of Hope project soon.
- Jamie Jockwig
