Mentorship

History

Progressive Pearls Inc. was founded by Tomeeka Kimbro in 2019.

Being raised in Atlanta housing projects, she was given a gift of weekday after school programs, summer camps and acceptance into an Upward Bounds program which brought a number of volunteers and staff members in her life that gave their time and mentored her. These events and experiences allowed her to gain access to the world outside of her normal home life. Those interactions sparked something in her and as she grew wanting to do the same by becoming a volunteer. 

Mrs. Tomeeka actively took part in a number of different programs throughout the Atlanta area (church, work or personal volunteerism). It was not until she became a Big sister to a student in the Dekalb county area through middle school that continued into the college and still today.

She understood that the initial impact was awesome but a long term connection could be even better, which allows young girls a continued support system into womanhood. The sad truth was, young girls like her did not always have role models, adequate support or even access to or experiences external of home life due to a number of factors, then and now. However, with a lot of support (from her mother and grandmother) Tomeeka went on to be the first generation college student that was first to graduate with both her Bachelors and Masters during and after time served in the military. 

Progressive Pearls Inc. was founded with the intent to give young girls what she received and even more to include the support she given from her departed grandmother Mrs. Eva Mae Sypho that was also a important example in her life that loved wearing pearls, no matter the occasion. 

Progressive Pearls Inc. was scheduled to launch in the Fall of 2020, however due to the national COVID pandemic, efforts where halted and the official launch has been rescheduled with safety in mind for  Fall 2022.