Meet La’Toni Cromes | Edu-preneuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with La’Toni Cromes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi La’Toni, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I’ll have to throw it waaaay back to the advice and pressure adults abundantly dished out while I was in high school which was, “Figure it out now. You need to know what you’re doing when you leave here.” When I thought I had it figured out in 2007 at the age of 18, I went to college to be a math teacher. Well…in reality I actually don’t like math and I didn’t want to be in college at the time. That was a costly experience but it did open my eyes to life and possibilities. Since then, I have dropped out of college, raised a child, learned three trades, graduated college three times, had a handful of jobs, and launched my business. Point is, I’ve been learning by experience, not by making one decision and basing my life around that. As a creative thinker, I never want to be boxed in and limited. I never want to do just one thing for the rest of my life. Being told to figure it out FOR LIFE at 17/18 years old sounded like a setup for unhappiness to me. Yes, having an outline can be helpful but forcing rigid plans is stifling in my opinion. Let’s write the book of life in pen and cross out the errors is all I’m saying! It makes the pages more lively!

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 currently an edu-preneuer which means I’m making a living by being employed as an educator and an entrepreneur. At this point in my life however, I am an educator by nature with or without the W-2. Creating engaging and fun learning spaces is in everything I do, it seems (just ask my sister about the way I hosted her baby shower or the men I date). I got my start in the classroom by serving with Rochester AmeriCorps as a supplemental English instructor. From there I became a student engagement coordinator and college writing instructor for first-year students. I never aspired to be a teacher but once I gave it a shot and realized I can teach the material in my own way and be myself in the classroom to create a dope learning space, I said, “Well this ain’t half bad!” Working in those previous roles, however, lit the spark for me to launch my business. I felt like there were programs missing from formal education spaces and inner city communities that could help bridge literacy and social engagement gaps. Getting to this point in my life has had its seasons of ebb and flow. As an educator, I’ve had many low days and wondered, “What’s the point anymore?” Teaching can be very thankless. It’s hard work and draining. But then I have days when my students are excelling, the energy and lessons of the day are on fire and I’m re-energized feeling like teaching is the reason for the world being. As an entrepreneur I’ve had moments that felt like, “Mmmm. Maybe I should make this a casual hobby, find a full time job and just be.” But then orders and requests for merch will come through, an inquiry about a workshop or creative directing opportunity will pop up, or my programming ideas will keep me up at night with feelings too intense to ignore and all of those negative thoughts go out the window! I’m not living a perfect life. I’m living a very real and sometimes rugged life of a 30 something woman trying to figure my “its” out. What I know for sure is I’m where I’m at for a reason. All of my roles are in alignment for me to authentically share my gifts with other people in various capacities. The 90’s r&b group LSG had a lyric that says “All you gotta do is choose, either way you don’t lose.” Even on my lowest days, I choose to show up for myself in both my personal and professional roles. I’m never losing as long as I exercise my right to choose. That’s what I want more people to embrace-their options, their choices.

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 my best friends came to visit the area, I’d love to connect with other locals who really know the area and coordinate a tour for us to see the best of the Triangle. I’m not the best tour guide but I have a running list of places I either want to go back to or experience. Ok, here we go! Over the span of a week, I’d like us to visit: For Food: Johnny’s Pizza, Smith’s Smokehouse and Smoothies, Cucciolo Osteria Durham, and Morgan Street Food Hall.
For Drinks: RBF Champagne Bar and Melanated Wine and Spirits Winery,.

I know for sure we’d go by Wegmans to have a piece of home. I have a thing for visiting flea markets for some reason so that’s definitely on the list along with The Farmers Market and exploring downtown (I love the street art in Raleigh and Durham). We’re absolutely going to Liberation Station, Raleigh’s first black owned children’s bookstore. In addition, we’d have to visit Shaw, St. Augustine’s, and Central to show the HBCU’s some love and sprinkle some Aggie Pride on them! I’m always looking to connect with people and learn about their literacies and the Triangle seems to have various ways to do that, popping up often, which I love. I think we’d be exhausted after a week but we’d be fulfilled with touring the area.

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?
Whew, I have scrolls worth of people and organizations who’ve inspired and helped me grow as a woman, professional, and business owner! I’m grateful to have family and close friends who have always been supportive of me but when my business, Stated (& nem), was just an idea, I only spoke to two people about it and that’s my oldest sister Alexis Armstrong of 43North77West Creative Studio and my good friend Jeff Smith of Jaded Seed Art. Both of them are incredibly smart and talented individuals who know a bunch about business and people. They are fluent in Toni so they know how to listen to me and what to listen for when I go off on my idea filled tangents. Both of them gave me sound FREE game, business resources, and advice from the start and they’ve proven to be solid business partners for multiple projects. I owe those two way more than a shout out, believe me! From “The Center” (the recreation center in Rochester, NY I regularly attended as a kid) and its staff, to my coworkers, peers, college professors, and books I’ve read-they all belong in my long list of shout outs and dedications! Seriously, with the utmost sincerity, their influence and encouragement have been carrying me. I’d never miss out on an opportunity to recommend books for folks to read so I do want to shamelessly plug in Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae, and Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park. I read, therefore I imagine and in turn, I create.

Website: https://www.statemyword.com/

Instagram: @21stated

Twitter: @21stated

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21Stated/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@21stated

Image Credits
Alexis Armstrong of 43North77West Creative Studio, Stated and Stated Scholars