Seleda Simmons, “The Real Deal”
PM: What is your name and where were you born?
SS: My name is Seleda Simmons, I was born and raised in Reading, Berks County, PA.
PM: Tell us a bit about your passion and your struggles.
SS: The eighties are what gave me the ability to love this city the way I do, everything in my world was about togetherness. I am from the north side of Reading but throughout my years I have lived in different areas within the inner city, so my demographic experiences were not confined to just one race of people, and we all got along regardless of racial differences. Throughout the mid-nineties, I started noticing the change within people. My mother started to deal with her difficulties in life as a single mother of five and by the age of fifteen, I was declared emancipated by the city of Reading. There were so many things I was subjected to because of my circumstances and my own decisions. Survival was my only concern and because of that, I learned my most valuable lessons through the streets.
PM: What changed when you became a mother?
SS: Being a victim and a contributor to the streets it was time eventually to change direction and that came at 24 when I discovered I was soon to be a mother. Now being a mother so many changes occurred that were necessary to be a good mother and I had no problem making them, but it was difficult. I then at some point decided that I had an interest in furthering my education, so I attended RACC for some time but due to me in that time becoming a single parent of three my attention was directed to attending to my family situation.
PM: When did you understand the assignment of life?
SS: After working in the mental health field with children and adults I was able to really get an idea of life and how important mental health awareness was to us as an entirety. I was able to learn how important information was and make sure we had as much control of our outcome as possible. Let us just say I was beginning to understand the assignment of life and how difficult we make it when it does not have to be that way.
I originally wanted to simply create an outlet for people to get information about mental health through a podcast and be able to provide a platform for people who look just like me and have normalized every stressful aspect of life. Within a couple of days, God completely changed that plan and not knowing a single person or thing in or about the nonprofit world in September 2020 I began my journey to become what the City of Reading knows today as the #1 grassroots nonprofit The Real Deal 610, servicing in several poverty multipliers such as Mental health Awareness, Youth Advocacy, and Convicted Felon fairness.
PM: What are you up to now?
SS: In 2021 I was given the greatest blessing needed for this journey I was embarking on, when I was introduced to Larry Berringer Executive Director of Berks Community Action Program. In meeting Mr. Berringer, I was given my own office space free of charge so I could provide services to the community. Along with meeting Mr. Berringer he dedicated himself to mentoring me in every aspect, which I would not have made this far if it were not for his guidance. Giving back is a very fulfilling thing to do, but it comes with such a huge price to pay.
After a year of being at BCAP as The Real Deal 610, I was then offered a paying position at BCAP to run a program I was able to help create for BCAP. So not only do I run a nonprofit, but I also now work for one of the greatest nonprofits in this city. The program is called F.A.S.T. – family assistance and support for teens, where while families are out trying to support their children, we support them through various ways such as but not limited to; housing and utility assistance, job readiness, budgeting, goal organizing, employment search and so much more.
To contact or support Seleda Simmons contact her via www.therealdeal610.org or
(610) 376-6571 ext. 34.
Palo Magazine
1 Comment
Excelente artículo! Seleda Simmons es digna de admirar. Gracias por todo lo que haces.