When Jaycina Almond became a single mother at 20 years old, she discovered not only her own strength but also a calling that would impact countless other women facing similar challenges. As a mother, model, and founder of the nonprofit Tender Foundation, Almond has dedicated her life to bridging the gap and providing a safety net for single mothers in Atlanta.
Founded in 2020, Tender Foundation operates on the principle that motherhood is a full-time job deserving of honor, support and dignity. The organization’s work is guided by the families they serve, recognizing that even with appropriate resources and support, motherhood can be immensely difficult. Through her personal journey and professional mission, Almond has become a beacon of hope for women who need to see that their struggles are valid and their dreams are achievable.
What are your two superpowers?
My two superpowers would be perseverance, I don’t give up. If I don’t know something or I don’t know how to do something, I’m going to figure it out. That’s probably the biggest strength that I have. The biggest superpower is just not taking no for an answer. I think my second superpower is my patience. As a mom, I feel like you need lots of patience. That’s something that I’ve cultivated and learned and I think it’s one of my strengths as a mom.
Why is motherhood sacred?
Motherhood is sacred because we’re raising the next generation. These are the little people who are going to grow up and be the people who take care of the world and make decisions about the world. It’s important that we make sure they have the right tools and the right values to do that.
How do you view the power of collaboration?
The power of collaboration is building out, instead of worrying about building up other folks. For example, Adidas sharing their platform with somebody like me, who has a much smaller voice and a grassroots org, by platforming the work that I do, they’re giving me space to show up authentically and share the work that we do. So just collaborating that way and bringing folks in with you, I think is super powerful.
What was the moment you knew you had to create your nonprofit?
The moment I knew I had to create Tender is when I was in an Uber in New York and my Uber driver also threw community baby showers. It was something on my heart to do. I wanted to do something for other young Black single moms like me, and somehow I met this woman and she was doing something that I thought was really cool and in the same vein of what I wanted to do. I knew that I was having that conversation with her for a reason. That was my sign to create Tender.
Why is it important for women to take up space?
It’s important for women to take up space because so many times we’ve been told that we have to be smaller, we have to make ourselves quieter, we can’t show up as who we are. So I think it’s just important to step up and take up as much space and shine your light and do all the things that society tells us we’re not supposed to do.
What are three expressions of love that you practice?
Three things that are expressions of love that I do, I wake up every morning and I’m committed to doing the work that I do for my community and for women who look like me. I’m committed to showing up and being the best mom I can be every single day whether that’s me operating at a hundred percent or that’s me operating at eighty percent or fifty percent.
I still try to show up and be the best mom that I can be. My third expression of love is making sure that I take time for myself, because I think we have to love ourselves. We have to make sure we’re filling our own cup before we show up for other people, because we have to give from somewhere, so we have to make sure we replenish ourselves too.
What are your three spiritual practices?
My three items for spirituality or cultivating spirituality is for me a journal. I think taking time to reflect, to write out my thoughts and process is a spiritual practice for me. I think my second spiritual practice is reading. I think when I expand my mind and I learn new things that’s a spiritual practice for me.
It allows me to have a certain depth of knowledge that is important that I feel informs my framework for the world and how I view the world and I feel like that’s spiritual for me. Then another one, I think my church home in itself is like a spiritual item that I can never forget. I love showing up every Sunday and having that time.
Almond’s story serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest challenges can become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions. Through Tender Foundation, she continues to demonstrate that when women support other women, entire communities are lifted. Her message is clear: motherhood deserves honor, women deserve space, and everyone deserves the support needed to thrive.
As she continues to expand Tender Foundation’s reach, Almond remains committed to her core belief that dignity and support should be accessible to all mothers, regardless of their circumstances. Her journey from a young single mother to a community leader exemplifies the transformative power of turning personal struggle into collective strength.
