Netisha Burnett takes the lead as the Executive Director of the S.O. What! Foundation

New Leadership Feels SO Good

You never know where your dreams can take you. In 2011, I started my speaking business, S.O. What! LLC, and the next year I founded the S.O What! Foundation. I had no idea how hard it would be to lead and grow both organizations simultaneously. For over a decade I’ve kept both going and growing with some great help. In the past several years my speaking career has given me the opportunity to travel all over the world speaking yet limited my ability to lead the impact I knew the foundation could make.

This is why I’m so excited to share this…

See photos here.

When I started the The S.O. What! Foundation in 2012, I had no idea how to operate a non-profit or implement youth programs. I just had a vision to help youth and the belief that I could figure it out. I did a few small fundraisers but wasn’t ready to start programming.

Then Netisha Burnett, MPA joined me as a volunteer, and everything changed. We created workshops (1. Healthy Lifestyles focused on emotional, mental and physical health, 2. Self-esteem, Sex, and Success and 3. College and Career Ready) and served over 100 middle and high school students including special workshops for teen moms.

When we created the S.T.E.P. – O.U.T. (Self-esteem, Teamwork, Exposure, Personal development – Overcome, Understand, Triumph) program, we introduced participants to my story and the S.O. What! Literacy, Life Skills, and Character Education curriculum that had been helping students in several Shelby County Schools and community centers.

During our summer camp, participants got to experience what I shared in the book. This included learning on the University of Memphis campus, going to the Memphis Grizzlies office and games, doing a community service project, and an exposure trip to Washington, DC.

Netisha planned everything, and gave our participants an incredible experience they will never forget.

She prefers being behind the scenes, and she has her hands full with her family and her career including service in the US Airforce. However, she has demonstrated that she believes in the S.O. What! Foundation and me (smile).

We are grateful that she is excited to use her experience from Girls Inc., Communities in School, and life to help take the S.O. What! Foundation to the next level!

On behalf of our amazing board of directors (Charlie Caswell, Barbara Prescott, Bilicia Hill, Tammy Hart, Lindsey Stanfill, and Rico Andrews, MBA), welcome to your new role!