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LEADING LADY DR. TONI ALVARADO
Dr. Toni Alvarado is Co Pastor of TOTAL GRACE CHRISTIAN CENTER established by her husband Senior Pastor and Bishop Johnathan Alvarado in Georgia. Wth a divine passion and call for women, God has used her gifts to impact the lives of women. She is also an Author, Certified Life Coach, Educator and Business Woman.
Why did you launch MSK Foundation? MSK was launched out a deep desire to coach and develop women in their educational, personal and professional lives. I was already active in coaching and mentoring women in my local church and community. In addition to working in my local church, I have been privileged to teach and present in women’s conferences both nationally and internationally. After speaking with a friend and collaborating with others, it was confirmed in my heart that I could reach and systematically develop a broader community of women through an organization that would focus on coaching women.
How long has it been in existence? Where do you see it going in the future? MSK was officially organized and incorporated in the State of Georgia in 2004. The Leadership & Life Coaching Program began as a pilot program that became the focus of the ministry project and dissertation for the Doctor of Ministry Degree that I received from Regent University School of Divinity in 2008. After successfully completing my work and graduating from Regent University School of Divinity in 2008, MSK was officially launched.
The Coaching Program is our signature program. However, we have two other programs that we are equally excited about. The Single Mother’s Resource Exchange serves single mothers by providing developmental seminars and monthly group sessions for support, encouragement, accountability and educational and extra-curricular resources for their children. The Margaret G. Baker Second Chance Award is an educational fund that awards grants to women in the MSK community who are advancing and completing their secondary education and professional programs.
I envision MSK reaching and impacting women on a regional, national and international level. Already we have had women attend and complete our program who are not residents of Georgia. However, we have been approached about chartering chapters of MSK in other states in the Unites States, Canada and Kenya. The big dream in my heart is to build and run a leadership center for women whereby we can run our MSK programming and partner with other organizations that focus on the needs of women and children.
What do you want women to gain as a result of participating in your coaching program? It is my sincere desire that the women who come through the programming of MSK will reach their highest potential, realize their wildest dreams, become change agents and leaders for the people in their world and leave of legacy of empowering other women their lives are afforded the opportunity to touch.
Your motto is “from average to excellence” where did it originate? What does it mean? The motto “From Average to Excellence” was born out of our Board retreat that was facilitated by my coach, Deborah Williams of Leadership Edge Consulting & Management. In that retreat she challenged us to think through our organizational core values and guiding principles. After a series of exercises and discussions we discovered that we wanted to be a vehicle that would advance women from whatever state they were in when coming to MSK to a place of greater impact and satisfaction in life and purpose. “Moving Women from Average to Excellence” was adopted by our Board of Directors and has been the guiding post for all who coach and volunteer with MSK.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see women facing today? One of the biggest challenges women face is a lack of focus, which (in my opinion), stems from a lack of clarity concerning their life purpose and confidence in their unique gifts, skills and abilities. This is one of the major thrusts of the MSK Leadership & Life Coaching Program. Our coaches lead the women through a series of self-awareness exercises. They focus the women on their uniqueness and assist each woman with an individual growth plan toward accomplishing their goals.
Another challenge women face is healthy relationships with other women. In the MSK Leadership & Life Coaching Program women are paired with a peer mentor and coach who offer support, encouragement and accountability. The women who attend our Single Mother’s Resource Exchange offer the same type of support and are challenged to bring at least one resource or information to each session that will aide another single mother in the program.
Many of the women who have engaged our community, report having had difficulty relating to women prior to their relationship with MSK. We are especially proud that many of them leave the program reporting that they have found women who will remain friends and sisters for the rest of their lives. It is our desire to produce an authentic community of women who will champion one another in achieving their life’s mission and goals.
If you could share 3 empowerment tools to impact the lives of the women you mentor, what would it be? Three empowerment tools that I share with women who I coach and mentor: 1) Discover & Know Yourself 2) Be Authentic & True to Yourself 3) Connect to Women who know themselves and are excited about helping you become your best self.
Interview by: Jacqueline M. Baskin Contributing Writer for TODAY'S KINGDOM WOMAN |
