Meet Shuntae Richardson | Founder and CEO of OACD Organization

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

Hi Shuntae, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was excitement. I always knew that I have had an entrepreneurial mind set. This mind set started at a very young age when one of my cousin’s and I went in to business together selling icey cups. Although no one taught us how to do it we took the risk. We were even really good with managing our money as kids. In my spare time I am always coming up with business ideas and I plan to have multiple streams of income.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from most people is the ability that God has given me to juggle many projects. I work full time, I am in school to obtain my Master’s Degree, I am the Founder and CEO of OACD Organization, I assist with Ministry training at my church and I assist another nonprofit organization behind the scenes. Plus I am a Wife, Mother and Grandmother. God allows me to balance it all out.

I believe that I got where I am today because of my passion and drive to help people and to use my creative mind to establish business plans. It has not been easy. There have been times where I let the lack of support get me down.

I have learned to keep looking straightforward and not allow the lack of support to stop me from doing what I know I have called to do.

I would like the world to know that One Accord Community Development Organization exist to bring people together to help build stronger communities.

It’s not about me but it’s about what we can accomplish together.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my friends were visiting I could of course take them into the city of Chicago. There is so much to do in the city of Chicago.

Food – Lou Malnati’s Pizza, Gene and Judes, Lalos, and Garrett’s Popcorn
Drink – I don’t drink so I would get suggestions from my husband
Hang out – downtown- take them to Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Water Tower Maybe a driving tour of different neighborhoods,.

People who like to laugh, have fun and are genuinely a kind person. Also people who like to try new thing and love to enjoy life.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I really want to give thanks to my two daughters, Shaqwete Flowers and Desiree Taylor at this time in my life they have been extremely supportive and dedicated to the vision of our organization. My Mother and Father who are no longer here on earth they deserve credit for making the connections that brought me here.

To the family that raised me as a child “The Bowie’s” they deserve much recognition for taking on the responsibility to raise a child that was not biologically theirs.

I also have to recognize my Godmother Carolyn Giles, who became a mother to me when she was a youngster.. She never introduce me as her Goddaughter, in her eyes I am her daughter. She has taught me how to be independent and she has never let me quit nor give up.

Website: oacdOrganization.com