Statement of Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs
September 30, 2021
I could not be more proud of Tonda Thompson, local entrepreneur, community advocate and founder of the HaRunBee Walk/Run for Healthy Birth Outcomes kick-off event during Bronzeville Week, who will be a guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show that airs today at 3 p.m. on TMJ4.
Tonda is truly a jack of all trades and her recent venture, She Slangs Wood that will be featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show, encourages people to be self-sufficient and confident through woodworking.
During the pandemic Tonda turned to woodworking as a way to heal and cope. She shares that she was first introduced to woodworking as a high school student at what is now Bradley Tech, and has since been able to turn that introductory class into a business, and proving that anyone, regardless of their circumstances, can turn a passion and interest into something more.
Her commitment to the community is truly unmatched, and I cannot wait for Tonda to use her woodworking skills to rehab a building in Harambee that will house her studio, retail space for her woodworking and offices for her other nonprofit ventures. Anyone interested in learning more should visit https://valorcreativecollective.com/
I would encourage everyone to tune into the Kelly Clarkson Show later today to hear more about Tonda’s story.