Meet Johndrea L. Slay | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johndrea L. Slay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johndrea L., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I am a native of Greenville, MS. I moved to Kingwood, Texas, in 2010 due to going through a terrible situation. I found myself as single mother of two Kids and a dog. I knew that there was more for me, and I needed to find myself a fresh start. I love making cakes, and I use my passion for making cakes as my therapy.

I always made cakes and treats for friends and family, but I was ready to expand my talent to the public. In 2012, my then-boyfriend, now husband, was working for DePelchin Children Center. One day, he asked me to bake a cake. One day, he asked me to bake a cake for one of his youths at the center. He took the cake to the young man who was turning thirteen; when the youth received the cake, he began to cry. When my husband questioned him, he stated that he had never received a cake for his birthday before. We continued to provide cakes for youth at the facility while he was employed there. This was the seed that was planted inside of me to start Celebrate with a cake. In 2013, I opened a cupcake stand in Deerbrook mall in Humble, TX. In 2014, I started volunteering in the local schools during the holidays and aided students with baking projects. In 2017, Icing by J, Slay was chosen as a vendor for the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston, Texas. Since 2019, we started hosting summer camps for children and participated in pop-up shops, bridal markets, and holiday markets.

As a mother and baker, I enjoy elaborate birthday celebrations for my children. I believe a birthday is a day to celebrate one’s life and for them to feel special. In 2023, I decided to create a nonprofit that reflected the service we were providing for the youth of DePelchin Children Center. In June 2023, we became recognized as a 501c3 nonprofit. When recognizing the many kids that are affected by disabilities, poverty, and lack of resources, some birthdays go uncelebrated. Individuals and/or families that are forced with the obstacle of providing the daily necessities may view birthdays as a luxury that they can’t afford. Our mission is to create a world that everyone is celebrated!

What should our readers know about your business?
I own two businesses Icing by J. Slay and I stated a nonprofit Celebrate with a cake.

Icing by J. Slay was started in Hattiesburg, MS and we moved to Charlotte,NC. In 2010 we relocated to the Houston, TX area. In 2013, I opened a cupcake stand in Deerbrook mall in Humble, TX. In 2014, I started volunteering in the local schools during the holidays and aided students with baking projects. In 2017, Icing by J, Slay was chosen as a vendor for the 2017 Super Bowl in Houston, Texas. Since 2019, we started hosting summer camps for children and participated in pop-up shops, bridal markets, and holiday markets.

Maintaining and growing Icing by J. Slay has been a challenge because I have always maintained a full time job as a Clinical Scientist. I still struggle with this challenge but I have been able to grow my clientele and maintain a storefront in painted tree boutique in Kingwood, Tx.

Celebrate with a cake was started in July 22, 2023. Our mission is to create a world that everyone is celebrated, Celebrate with a Cake wants to empower youth and their caregivers while building a healthier community. Here at Celebration with a Cake, we believe by providing a celebratory cake made for them, which gives them confidence and optimism about the socioeconomic situations that they may be faced with.

Our mission focuses on Celebrating everyone by creating custom cakes for those children that may need a temporary escape from worry, stress, and other anxieties. Celebration with a cake strives to help families create positive memories of feeling celebrated. Celebration with a Cake has two programs at this time: Sensory Celebrations and Cake for Kids.

Sensory Celebrations is a program focuses on providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to celebrate their celebration with specially adapted cakes to meet their needs. As you may be aware, individuals with disabilities often face numerous challenges and barriers in their daily lives. It is crucial to ensure that they are not excluded from the simple joys of life, such as celebrating their annual milestones and with their loved ones. Celebrations hold significant importance for everyone, regardless of their abilities. We believe that every person deserves a chance to experience joy and celebration on their day.

Cakes for kids is a program that aims to acknowledge and celebrate foster children who often lack a stable and nurturing environment. Our program seeks to create personalized cakes to celebrate these occasions, allowing these children to feel cherished and loved, even amidst adversity.

Some of our obstacles and challenges are funding, finding resources, finding volunteers and spreading the word about our mission and our programs.

We are planning and seeking out sponsors for our first Golf Tournament “A slice of cake”. This tournament will be held at River Plantation Golf Club October 5, 2024. We are also planning for our first Gala in the fall. We continue to connect with the community by participating in Sensory Events, car shows, and other markets to help spread the word of our services.

One lesson I have learned from both businesses is don’t take a loss as a loss I look at the loss as a lesson. I reevaluate the situation and make changes and move forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Depending on what time of the year my friend would visit. If it is baseball season, I would buy some tickets to go and catch a Astros game. If it is football season I would get us some Texans tickets. I would make sure we would arrive early enough so we can experience tailgating for the Houston Texans. If it is rodeo season, I would take them to the cookoff so we can mingle and rub elbows with some Houstonians. I love to get massages so I would schedule a massage at A+ foot massage in Kingwood, Texas. Then we can grab some drinks at happy hour at either Union Kitchen in Kingwood or BB’s Tex-Orlen’s restraunt in Kingwood. For brunch the next day we would either go to the Breakfast Klub in Houston, or the Toasted Yolk Cafe in New Caney, Texas, or District 7 in Houston. For lunch I would want them to experience the Rice Bowl in Rice Village, or Pappadeaux. For dinner, if we did not eat Pappadeaux for lunch we could grab dinner there or Tru Lux or Perry’s.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
As a former single mother, I dedicate my drive to my children. They are the force for me to keep pushing and to reach higher. I am also a wife and my husband is one of my biggest supporters plus my voice of reason. Both my children and husband help set up and work events, and help mass produce the products we sell and donate. I have tried to set an example for my children by showing them that I can work a full-time job as a Medical Scientist and own, run and operate a business or two. My husband and one of my children were able to experience the Super Bowl experience along with me .My parents also were a great deal of encouragement, by providing me and my sibling with a Catholic education and providing the advice for example “keep your eye on the prize”.

Website: https://www.celebratewithacake.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celebrate_withacake/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndrea-slay-a196b66/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celebratewithacake

Image Credits
Chandre Ward Agui Cuaresma with Positive Pix Photo Booth Houston Studios