At 15 years old, Ford had her first job experience working with her godmother to provide pre and post event cleaning services for conferences as well as private dwellings. This early exposure to entrepreneurship left a lasting impression. "I loved learning how to be a woman entrepreneur, believing in your dreams and goals," she said. " Once my godmother became an empty nester, she transformed her passion for maintaining the home into a thriving business. It inspired me to think outside the box and realize you don't have to go the corporate route to maintain an income."

As Ford progressed through high school, she found herself drawn to leadership roles, attending youth leadership events on behalf of her school. While attending college, and pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism, she began learning about holistic medicine practices. As she was approaching her senior year, she ran out of scholarship funding and decided to take a year off from school. She took the time off to study under a master herbalist and work in retail for an herb shop. This unexpected detour returned her to her childhood passion of care and wellness.

Now, she is combining the entrepreneurial spirit she developed at an early age, with her passion for wellness. She currently works at a local tea shop doing event coordination and teaching people about the benefits of tea and various herbs. She’s also currently working on completing her board certification as a nutrition health coach. Ford hopes to teach younger people what she’s learned throughout her journey and inspire others to become entrepreneurs within the wellness industry.

The money she received from In Her Hands (IHH), a guaranteed income initiative from the Georgia Resilience & Opportunity Fund’s (GRO Fund) and Give Directly, provided Ford with financial stability and the freedom to pursue her passion for wellness. "I’m truly grateful for IHH and for it being an avenue for women to shine in their own individual ways,” said Ford. “Having guaranteed income helped me go from just working full-time to be able to use more of my free time to pursue my goals and aspirations. I've really been able to build more self-esteem that way."

Ford, who was part of the first phase of IHH, said the program’s mission to empower Black women with no-strings-attached cash was an ‘aha’ moment for her. "I was taken aback that an organization believed in women enough to say 'We want to help, we want to see you all grow, and manifest your dreams in whatever way it may look like.' I cried, because it was a moment saying you can manifest your dreams if you go out and pursue them."

Looking to the future, Ford indeed has big dreams. She wants to purchase a home and open a wellness center that includes a community garden. She imagines it to be a bed and breakfast concept where clients will come for a week at a time to recharge and experience holistic healing practices. Her story is a powerful reminder of the impact that care, support, and opportunity can have on Black women and their communities, and how tools like guaranteed income can help support the spaciousness to explore and enjoy fulfillment in life. Through her journey, Ford has not only built a career but also found a way to care for others and inspire the next generation of wellness practitioners.