Interview with LaTasha Sheats, March 31, 2023

Partial Transcript: Today is the thirty-first of April, two thousand twenty three. My name is William Breeding and I am blessed today to be here with LaTasha Sheats. And I’m not calling this an interview, I’m calling this a conversation.

Segment Synopsis: Breeding introduces the interview and thanks Sheats. Sheats recalls her family members and childhood.

Keywords: Ballet; Barnett Shoals elementary school; Broad Acres Community Center; Dance; Maddox Daycare Center; Max Sheats; Modern; Phyllis Sheats; Pine Wood apartments; Sheila Neely; Watkinsville, Ga; Youngest; “Playing Dishwashing”; 1979

Partial Transcript: okay, we are going to start off at kindergarten. Now, are you originally from Athens? Born and raised in Athens.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats recalls the schools she went to and activities she did during elementary school.

Keywords: Bethel Homes; Earth Shelter; Fowler Drive Elementary School; Mrs. Lumpkin; Ms. Colepepper; Orchestra; Paddle; Social Club; Timothy Road Elementary School; Barnett Shoals Elementary school

Partial Transcript: Okay, fifth grade, name one of your favorite teachers. Ms. Colepepper. And
If there are anymore, you can name them. Not in fifth grade. Sixth grade?

Segment Synopsis: Sheats discusses teachers she remembers and her extracurricular activities during middle school . She particularly remembers doing well in math.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Dancing; East Athens Community Center; East Athens Educational Dance center; Ms. Boyd; Ruby Worthy; Ms.Long

Partial Transcript: Okay, Let’s go to high school now. High school, I’m at Clarke Central all four years.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats talks about her busy high school schedule and discusses siblings, honors programs, and extracurricular activities.

Keywords: Accounting; Apprenticeship; Cheerleading; Discrimination; East Athens educational dance center; Finance: Bank; Honors program; Latchkey kid; Modern dance; Opportunity; Racism: In school suspension; Target; Siblings

Partial Transcript: You're still in the tenth grade. Okay, I want to do a side-bar and then we are going to start back at the eleventh.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats talks about participating in the honors program and the social experience she gained from it. She also recalls an argument with a teacher that escalated.

Keywords: Argumentative; Bullying; Dr.Goodman; Prejudice; Racism; Advanced classes

Partial Transcript: Now, we are headed to the eleventh grade. Eleventh grade.. Eleventh grade, I am working at the bank through the apprenticeship program. So, I am getting out of school at lunch time, only taking like four classes a semester.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats describe her time during the last two years of high school. She mentions a performance at the Morton theater that left an impact on her.

Keywords: 1995; Annual Dance Show; Atlanta; Bank; Basketball Cheerleader; Cedar Shoals: Classic Center; Dance; Dating; Decatur; Early graduation; Edward Wright; First runner up; Graduation; Morton theater; Pageantry; Sandy Creek; Spring Valley; Target; Apprenticeship program

Partial Transcript: Bad thing is I missed my senior trip, I missed our senior picnic. I’m sorry, missed our senior picnic because of myself and the JTBA coordinator at the time, just wasn’t clicking.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats explains perseverance through harsh words of a faculty member. She talks about the reason she started her mentoring group.

Keywords: Bullies; Confidence; Depression; Gossip; Mentoring; Success; Senior Picnic

Partial Transcript: Now, after graduation from high school, where-- talk to me now. After graduation, I went to Albany State University.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats details her time as a college student. She discusses balancing motherhood while being a student.

Keywords: Athens Technical college; Bauder College; Dance team; Division of Family and Children Services; Engaged; Fashion Marketing and Merchandise; Fashion Production; HBCU; Mental Health; Miscarrage; Paine college; Pregnancy; Stress; Stylist; Therapy; Time management; Accounting Degree

Partial Transcript: From there, I started working at New York and Company in the mall. Had my fashion marketing degree, and worked myself up in like six months.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats shares different jobs she has had throughout the years. She talks about health issues of a loved one that caused her to change jobs. She also discusses starting her mentoring group that focuses on helping girls, sixth through twelfth grade.

Keywords: 2013; 2016; 2020; Assistant Manager; Cancer; CareSource; Commerce, Ga; Cooking; Daniel Fast; Department of Labor; Girl Group; Job security; Marriage; Oconee county; Playworks; Polo Ralph Lauren; Springfield baptist church; Strong beautiful & goodly girls; Whit davis; Youth director; New York and Company

Partial Transcript: Okay, I am looking here at a well made, well designed pamphlet. That has Sheat's Social Services.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats discusses her nonprofit, Sheats Social Services. She explains its mission to make people self-sufficient and the services that they provide such as Youth Services, Project 313, Prepaid Law services, Life insurance, and consultations.

Keywords: Broadacres Community Center; Career exploration; Financial Services; Life insurance; Mission; Parent and student advocacy; Prepaid law services; Project 313; Rainbow reading collective; Self-sufficiency; Strong beautiful & godly girls; Youth programs; community consultations; Logo

Partial Transcript: Now, I do notice I'm sitting here looking at an advertisement. What kind of fundraisers do you do?

Segment Synopsis: Sheats discusses the grassroots fundraising that Sheats Social Services does such as car washes and food sales.

Keywords: Fashion Show; Sheat social services; inflation; nonprofit of the year; “boots on the ground”; Grassroots

Partial Transcript: Okay, I imagine this interview could-well let’s go back. I was getting ready to say it is time for the interview to end. However, I think you got a few more minutes.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats talks about her upcoming fundraiser. She also mentions three awards she has received.

Keywords: Athens Humanitarian award; Chick-fil-la; Epps Bridge; Fashion show; Fish Fry; Percentage night; She Rocks, Outstanding Community Award.; Summer camps; Car Wash

Partial Transcript: Now, I do have one last task for you. Now, I know that looking at you, that you look in the mirror everyday. To make sure it’s all together.

Segment Synopsis: Sheats shares some advice for those who are having a hard time

Keywords: Religion; Spirituality; Healing