Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Lee
Hi Kevin , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It was when I was a Behavioral Interventionist Assistant in the Ritenour School District. I knew that the pandemic was not good for a lot of kid and it did not help kids in the social aspect. Kids were not only behind academically, but also socially and emotionally. That is when I thought about there needs to be a program before the elementary school age. We need something to help children while their brains are still developing. That is how I developed the movement program through a nonprofit I work for, Stomp the World. Stomp the World mission is to create educational and life experiences outside the classroom. Through the movement program I go into several preschools/early childhood centers and teach deep breathing techniques. I basically have a P.E. class with preschools but also teaching the, how to deep breathe to self regulate.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I really wish I could say that it has been easy. It has been a struggle. For the first year and a half I did not make any money through the organization. I struggled financially, physically and emotionally. Financially I struggled because I left a full time job to get this program going. Physically I struggled because I believed in the work I was doing so to sustain in life I worked several part time jobs. Uber, Instacart, mentoring at CHADS, teaching at my temples religious school and dance were the ways I made an income. There was not a Monday through Friday schedule. It was literally Sunday through Saturday. Some days would be going from 7am – 10pm from one thing to the next. Need to say the long days and the busy schedule ended up catching up with me and I struggled emotionally. I had to realize that I was really hurting myself. I am so thankful to not be in that place anymore. Is everything 100% great. NO! However, some things have changed and I am learning that I cannot help kids if I am not taking care of myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As mentioned before, Stomp The World is a nonprofit organization that creates educational and life experiences outside the classroom. Through this organization there is a movement program for early childhood education centers. I go in and help kids learn how to self regulate through deep breathing. Dance is my specialty. I have a degree in dance. And with this degree, I feel it is important that kids know that dance is for everyone. Dance is one of those things for kids to express themselves, which is one of the reasons why I do what I do. Music as a whole is a great way for children to express themselves. I am very proud of the movement program and how it has blossom. I’ve been able to do this for the past three years and what started as one school turned into several more and I couldn’t be more grateful for the work that I do. Stomp The World not only offers this movement program, but it also offers low cost tutoring, summer camp programming, after school programming, and so much more. We are grateful that we are able to do some library programming as well. We now offer a Daddy and Me class, for special men in a Childs life.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I would say the most important lesson that I’ve learned along the journey is to be sure to take timefor self. There was a time where I was so organization driven and focused that I ignored some of my own health. I know since the pandemic, a lot of people preach self-care, but it’s true you cannot help others if you aren’t taking care of yourself. I am learning to value myself more and realize that I cannot pour into others if I have an empty cut myself. That is one of the reasons why I dance with a company here in St. Louis named Pack Dance formally known as Consuming Kinetics Dance Company. This is my way to self-care.
Pricing:
- $15/hour for tutor
- $75/hour for movement
- $270 a week for summer camp
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stomptheworld.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stomptheworld/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stomptheworld/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stomp-the-world
- Twitter: https://x.com/stomptheworld
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8ASujeGQArQlt2Mxx5JirQ
