Our Dedicated Team
Committed to Our Vision
Chandra C. Blake
Co-Founder, President
I always say that the Bronx made me, but Staten Island raised me. Staten Island is where I grew up with my grandmother and two siblings. It wasn’t until I became a parent that I was able to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices and struggles my grandmother endured to raise us single-handedly. As a young single mother of 3 children, I faced many challenges. Education and a positive outlook were my keys to breaking free of the stigma and stereotypes often associated with being a young single mother.​
Today I work as an Executive Assistant and Board Liaison for an international real estate asset management company. I am also a New York State Licensed Real Estate Salesperson. Although my life today is very different, I have never forgotten the struggles I endured as a single mother. Motivated by my own journey, it has always been my wish to create a non-profit organization with the aim of empowering and supporting single mothers. Through this organization, I strive to provide a platform for single mothers to connect, learn, and grow together, fostering a sense of community and solidarity.
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As the President of Mother to Mother, Inc., I am committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of single mothers. I believe education, mentorship, and access to resources are essential tools for empowerment. I hope to use my own personal story as a source of inspiration to encourage other single mothers to pursue their dreams and overcome the challenges they face. I believe in the power of self-preservation, positive thinking, and manifestation as these are the tools that have and continue to help me along my journey. I want to encourage single mothers and let them know that they have the power within to create the life that they envision for themselves, and their children.
Sylvia Byrd
Co-Founder, Vice President, Treasurer
A Believer, Single Mom, Business Owner, Daughter, Sister, Niece, Cousin, Aunt and Friend! I have been referred to in so many different ways. But the most valuable reference to me is Mom. Every accomplishment or success that I ever achieved doesn’t compare to the amazing feeling I get from being a mom. As a single mom my first priority has been to be the type of person that my daughter and bonus daughter can be proud of. I aspire to be a source of unconditional love, understanding, encouragement, inspiration and wisdom.
Over the years my struggles have been and continue to be real. Even with the amazing village I have surrounding me, it gets very hard at times. As a business owner of a service based business I am allotted the opportunity to meet and serve so many people and businesses. It is a passion of mine to really get to understand the people I work and spend time with. In doing so it helps me to be able to appreciate the differences we may have. Yet, still be able to show respect to one another. I truly realize that just because we are unlike others it doesn’t mean we are better nor worse, we are simply different. I believe our individuality makes us so unique. This uniqueness has the potential to open doors for us or have them closed on us. The choice is ours and it depends on how we approach it.
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As a single mother I am driven so much more, because failure isn’t an option. My daughters are watching and learning from my example. At times it does get very difficult and I have felt very isolated at times. Mainly because I am the first in my immediate family to do what I’ve done and what I’m currently doing. I am not the product of a single parent household nor were either of my parents. My parents weren’t entrepreneurs or business owners. So, what I’m doing I didn’t have an example nor a blueprint of instructions. But what I did have and still have is the understanding of a God who is my true source of strength for all I have done and will ever do. I also have people around me who love unconditionally and wish the best for me!
I know my story may be different then other single mothers journeys. This is what makes me so passionate about Mother to Mother Inc. I experienced major internal battles as well as physical struggles all with an amazing support system cheering and rooting for me to succeed. I have people that I can call on when I am down, out, and need a life line. Yet I still struggled! So, I can’t imagine the struggles of the single mothers who do every SINGLE thing ALONE. To me Mother to Mother, Inc is me providing the same opportunities to other single mothers that were made available to me. I know that we can’t eliminate all struggles. But we can be there to make them a little less hard to overcome. I am Sylvia L. Byrd single mom and advocate for the success of single mothers and this is my why!