One day, Talethe Collins hopes to return home to start a nonprofit organization in Marianna, Arkansas.

Wanting to help young adults prepare for college, Collins plans to create an organization to create more job opportunities for her community.

“My hometown is small, but there is a lot that can be done to make it better,” she said.

Collins found inspiration through her work at UALR Children International.

The goal of Children International is to empower children and families in their efforts to break through the barriers of poverty. Each year, this site sponsors over 3,200 children with the help of more than 10,000 individual sponsors from around the world.

Collins graduated May 14 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in nonprofit leadership studies. She started as a volunteer at Children International her freshman year, helping children with homework at Bale Elementary.

She soon became attached to the organization’s mission and returned the following year to intern and receive hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector. She continued her services with the organization throughout college.

“I enjoyed it so much that it led me into minoring in nonprofit leadership studies at UALR,” said Collins. “So, I truly thank Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and UALR Children International for opening my eyes into the nonprofit field.”

Collins has accepted a full-time position at the program after graduation. She will serve as the youth programs assistant working on pre-teen and teen youth programming services that fall in the areas of Youth Leadership, Youth Council, and Youth Health Corps. She hopes to bring positive energy services, she said.

“When you love what you do, it’s not considered work,” said Collins.

More than just a degree

Collins chose a Bachelor of Arts in political science with a minor in nonprofit leadership studies because she has always wanted a deeper understanding of how the government works in our society, she said.

“I feel that with this field of study, I will be able to accomplish my career goals and personal goals,” said Collins.

In addition to wanting to start a nonprofit, Collins is interested in running for mayor of her hometown after getting certified as a paralegal.

Collins credits her mother, Pearlethe Collins, for inspiring her to achieve all her goals. Raising seven children on her own, Pearlethe went back to college after Collins graduated from high school. Pearlethe graduated from Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas with an associate’s degree in applied science in May 2015.

“Truth be told, everything that I do is for my mother,” said Collins. “It brought tears of joy to my eyes to see her not give up on her goals, and it made me even more inspired to go after mine.”

In addition to volunteering, Collins is a member of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, African American Female Initiative, Epsilon Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,  and served as vice president in the Nonprofit Leadership Student Association.

After graduating, Collins will continue her education at UALR in the fall as a graduate student in the master of public administration program.