The love of all things basketball brought together founders Maia Williams and Jordan Martin in 7th grade. Shortly afterwards, Heidi Walker joined the duo. One day while hanging out, their parents challenged them to find something they would change in the world. Both Maia and Jordan had been the victims of bullying at one time in their lives, and both struggled with depression. The one thing their parents encouraged us both to do in our darkest hours was to “Stay Focused”. This advice would later lead to their brand, FOCUSED614. The teen entrepreneurs hope that people wear their brand, and it (the brand) reminds them to do what they have to do until they reach their own personal definition of success and to not let the negative things happening around throw them off course.Â
FOCUSED614 hosted their first event in October 2017 and the response was overwhelming. Their main goal is to help teens who feel they have no hope and encourage others to keep pushing ahead. Partial proceeds from their products will go towards anti-bullying clubs and organizations in local high schools. Learn more about the youth and brand below in our interview with Maia Williams.
Fancy: We know you all met over the love of basketball, but tell us exactly how you all came up with the idea behind FOCUSED614.
Maia: The idea behind focused614 is that teens need to stay focused on the end goal. Sometimes we as teens let the negative things that are going on sidetrack us from the positive things and throw us off from the end goal. We were thinking of names and someone blurted out “focusedâ€. The acronym stands for Follow. One’s. Course. Until. Success., and 614 is the month of my birthday and the day of Jordan’s.
Fancy: How did each of you handle your bullying situation?
Maia: I think that majority of teens handle bullying in similar ways. I handle bullying by talking to my close friends about what’s going, on or I play basketball to keep my mind off of things. While Jordan handles it by just staying focused and not let things get to her emotionally.
Fancy: What advice would you give to other teens about bullying?
Maia: We would tell them to keep their head up, stand up for yourself, and tell an adult. While bullying sucks and is hard to deal with, it does end and things get better.
Fancy: Have you all donated to any organizations yet? If so, which ones?Â
Maia: As of right now, we don’t donate to any organizations once we start to make more money we plan to donate and partner with an anti-bullying program.
Fancy: What do you all enjoy about entrepreneurship?
Maia: We both enjoy entrepreneurship for different reasons. Jordan likes coming up with new ideas while I, Maia, like going to the different events and spreading the word about what we’re doing.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you may be working on?
Maia: Right now we have a fundraiser to sell more shirts and to bring more awareness to what we are trying to do. https://www.customink.com/fundraising/focused-614-fundraiser-round-2
Connect with FOCUSED614 below:
Website: focused614.org
Instagram: @focused614
Twitter: @focused614
