Sierra Devoe | Founder & Executive Director of Project Rise

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

Hi Sierra, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
My business has taken on many faces since its inception. Especially as it evolves and scales into the company, God sees fit. Now, the ideology or concept has always stayed the same. If you have read any of my previous articles or heard me speak, then you know that the idea of Project Rise was birthed from my own experience with financial struggle. I did everything that was deemed by society as a pathway to live a comfortable life, a financially stable life. I got the degrees, did the internships, volunteered, and worked the hours. But I still kept falling short. I worked as a social worker at an outpatient mental health facility. And the same challenges my clients were facing, I was facing. But I didn’t qualify for the same resources because I made too much. So, I made too much to be eligible for assistance but not enough to make ends meet.
As I talked with my older colleagues who have been in the work field as long as I have been alive, they would laugh it off, say it was normal, and say welcome to the working class. I was shocked to hear that this was the norm for so many hard-working families. To normalize something that was anxiety-inducing and flat-out ludicrous did not sit right with me, and still do not!
I just knew I could not normalize this because it was unfair. We bust our butts; actually, we exhaust ourselves just for a piece of the crumb, and we have no safety net besides what we work for and can set aside. Which is never enough, but we make do. From that experience, Project Rise was birthed to be a resource to people like me, the working class, who are too often underemployed, overlooked, and go unheard.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Sometimes, I feel like a jack of all trades and a master of none because I jumped around so much, trying to find my footing, trying to find a space that I could thrive in—really trying to find me. I was always seeking. I happen to stumble upon my calling, which is business. It was difficult because I had different resources and tools than my counterparts did, my upbringing was different, and my exposure to things was limited, so I always had to work harder. I am not faulting anyone because that is sometimes how the cookie crumbles. So no, it was not easy, and the only way I overcame that was by the grace of God and just going through it. You can’t go around the hardships in life; you have to go through it, and as you are going through it, please also decide to GROW through it. Remember, the things you go through and overcome are never for nothing; it is always to help someone else. Someone is waiting on you. Waiting for you to share your testimony and showcase what you accomplished is possible. & your story and my story is what set us apart.

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.
Aw man so many things we would do. Well, my best friends happen to actually live in the same area as me so I guess I will just share our typical itinerary when we have our best friends date. We love experiencing things, so we do any and everything. We just went to Five Iron Golf which is restaurant and a golf stimulator. What is day without wine tasting so we would go to House of Pure Vin which is black owned and phenomenal! We love the food curated by chef Aus la flare, so we would probably go wherever he is having a pop up at. We would find a local event either at the Charles H Wright Museum, DIA or a pottery class in Royal oak at Creative Arts Studio or even an art class at Speckles+Splatter in Dearborn, stop for some ice cream at House of Chimney of Cakes or Milk & Froth Ice Cream. It is so many things to do, just talk a stroll downtown Detroit and you are bound to find something and speak to some exciting people that can direct you to more hidden gems throughout the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, I am only here because of the people and opportunities God placed in my journey to bring my success to fruition. First and most importantly, I want to shout out God because NONE of this will be without Him. I am thankful for him placing in my life so many people who spoke to the winner in me before I ever won a thing and gave me a platform before I ever had a name. Those who truly believe, support, and encourage me to this day. Now I am going to name-drop and do a shameless plug, lol; I love you Kyndal from Nkay Solutions, the only reason Project Rise has the infrastructure it does. I love you, Rondelle, Yasmine, Jonatta, Tara, Azurae, Marketia, and Daeja, for always believing in me and including me.
Always, thank you to my mother, my sisters, my auntie Dee and Tonya, my nanee, my husband, and my in-laws for always having my back and pouring into me.
Thank you to my son; he did not do anything lol, but I couldn’t leave my baby out. Just kidding, he was a big motivation for me to keep moving forward and facing things even when I feared them. Lastly, thank you to the random lady walking down the Beaumont Hospital hallway and prophesizing over me, saying God said, “Business.” Well, didn’t his plan prevail. . .Of course, I can’t name everyone because I don’t even know some of the people’s names. They would pass me and share some encouraging words without even saying who they were. I am forever thankful, grateful, and honored even to be thought of and supported.

Website: www.projectrise.net

Instagram: Projectrise18

Image Credits
@se7enfifteen