We had the good fortune of connecting with Kerlin Sabogal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kerlin, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?There are a few factors behind my success. I believe in my dreams, I stay focus, discipline, and consistent. Part of my success and the Success of my organization is having a good support system at home, and the absolutely right people to work with, people that not only are professionals but they believe in the impact of our programs and the difference their work make.

Also, I always tell people that SHOWING UP for yourself, for others and your dreams will make things happen! and I am living proof of that. So, in life you need to and have to SHOW UP, no matter what.


Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

 I am a former Journalist, School principal in training and the Founder of The Courage to Bee (TCTB) which is a local Houston 501(c)(3) organization, founded in March of 2020, committed to increasing access to school supplies, technology, and skill-building workshops to encourage K-12 school persistence and completion among underserved youths.

The Courage to Bee works in regions where youth are at a high risk of school drop-out. Our work expands through the state of Texas, the Caribbean, and Latin America.  We have served over 500 students. During the past year TCTB has also collaborated with over ten local organizations to help support the needs of our communities. To expand our reach, we hope to find more strong sponsors that believe in the impact education makes and want to help, also we plan to partner with schools within Houston to increase the number of underserved youths we serve.

One month before the Pandemic started, in 2020, our first Pilot project was launched in benefit of our local community and Dominican Republic. Talk about Courage! it took Courage knowing we needed to make it happen despite circumstances and world challenges. We continued working and during the pandemic we never stopped. We wanted to show up for our students, so we did contactless backpacks and supplies drives around Houston, and we went to the Dominican Republic and served over 500 hundred students around the country.
The Courage to Bee was born in 2020 but the seed was planted when I started solo traveling the world in 2015. Inspired by my own travels to some of the most impoverished countries in the world.

On those trips I visited and worked with different type’s school around the world, where I discovered the importance of creating a positive social experience, the importance of technology, and the importance of having access to resources that allow students to not only stay but be successful at school.

Since I can remember my passion has always been education, and its impact in developing better communities. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to build strong communities, where equality, diversity and fairness exist.

Nobody said it would be easy. To be honest, It has taken lots of Courage for me to do many things.

Learning a new language at age 24 after years of being bullied as a teen by my own language teacher, traveling alone, being a single mother and starting a new career from scratch. They say courage is not the absence of fear, courage is having fear and doing it anyway…. So, I did! Because, it doesn’t matter where you come from, BUT it does Matter where you choose to go.

I found this courage from my mentors, from people that say NO to me, and from those that say YES! I don’t see challenges, I see opportunities to be better and make the world around us better. I celebrate every day of my life knowing I am making a difference.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love brunching, So I would definitely go brunch at some of my favorite’s places, Postino, Holman Draft hall, a’Bouzy, and Toulouse café.  I would make it a day where we visit the amazing museums Houston has, maybe a bike ride around the bayou and attend some cool event going on that weekend which Houston is always having.  I will finish my day by having dinner at Nancy Hustle.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My Family ( My son Terry) Brother and parents (Jhon, Leo & German), My Bee team ( Jhanne, John, Marleny, Katherine, Jesiel & Jamie, Carolina, Evelyn) and to those friends , and mentors, that have supported me since day one.

Website: www.thecouragetobee.org

Instagram: @thecouragetobee

Facebook: @thecouragetobee

Other: @kerlin_sabogal

Image Credits
Pictures by The Courage to bee media team Jesiel Films.

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