Our story, our mission
At It Takes A Village, we believe in the power of community to transform lives. Discover our origins, our dedication to empowering young people, and our vision for a brighter future in Reidsville, North Carolina.
The problem we're working to solve
Too many children, teens, and families have the potential to succeed but lack consistent access to the opportunities, guidance, resources, and supportive relationships that help them reach that potential.
Many young people grow up without exposure to different career paths, mentors, practical life skills, or the community connections that can open doors. Families may face barriers that make it difficult to access educational opportunities, community resources, or experiences that build confidence and long-term stability.
At the same time, businesses, schools, nonprofits, churches, civic groups, and community members often want to help—but they may not know how to connect with one another in meaningful ways.
The result is missed opportunities for individuals and missed opportunities for the community as a whole.
It Takes A Village Project exists to help bridge those gaps.
We bring people, organizations, and resources together to create pathways.
The people behind It Takes A Village Project
It Takes A Village Project, Inc. was founded by Suzie Vaughan Johnson, a community leader with a lifelong passion for helping people discover their potential and strengthening the communities they call home.
Throughout her career, Suzie has led teams, developed businesses, organized community initiatives, managed large-scale events, and built partnerships that bring people together around a common purpose. Her experience spans operations, leadership, nonprofit development, fundraising, communications, and community engagement.
What inspired the creation of It Takes A Village Project was a simple but powerful belief: every child and every family deserves someone who believes in them and opportunities to grow, regardless of their circumstances.
Rather than creating another organization that works alone, Suzie envisioned a nonprofit that serves as a connector—bringing together businesses, educators, nonprofits, civic leaders, volunteers.
A story of hope
One of the greatest reminders of why It Takes A Village Project exists comes from the journey of a young adult who faced significant challenges early in life.
Like many young people, there were moments when the future felt uncertain. Mistakes were made, opportunities were missed, and the path forward wasn't always clear. But one thing became evident: people are more than the worst decision they've ever made. With encouragement, accountability, and a community willing to believe in someone's potential, lives can change.
Through the principles that inspired It Takes A Village Project—mentorship, personal responsibility, meaningful opportunities, and unwavering support—a new chapter began. Instead of focusing on past setbacks, the focus shifted to building confidence, developing life skills, setting goals, and creating a vision for the future.
That transformation reinforced something we believe deeply: when someone has people who refuse to give up on them, they are.
Our five-year dream
Five years from now, our greatest hope isn't simply that It Takes A Village Project has grown—it's that the lives of the people we serve have grown alongside it.
We envision a community where every child knows they matter, every teenager can see a future filled with possibility, and every young adult has access to the guidance, skills, and opportunities needed to pursue their goals with confidence.
We dream of seeing young people who once questioned their potential become leaders, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, educators, first responders, artists, tradespeople, volunteers, and mentors who are making a positive difference in the very communities that helped them grow.
We hope families feel more connected, neighborhoods become stronger, and local businesses, schools, nonprofits, churches, and civic organizations continue working together to create opportunities that benefit everyone.
Our vision is to expand programs that inspire curiosity, teach practical.