Today we’d like to introduce you to Traneir Fraiser and Crystal Kay.
Hi Traneir and Crystal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In the words of Traneir Fraiser (Founder of EVOLution): In December of 2016, I was almost shot and killed, having my life flash before my eyes. I saw myself losing my way, I was trying to be someone I’m not, trying to be popular for all the wrong reasons for things that can really make a person lose sight, especially of themselves and who they really are. It took me breaking down to the lowest point in life to really find myself and connect with myself through almost losing my life to gun violence and watching both of my grandmothers battle illnesses (one breast cancer and the other, diabetes). These life events really helped me understand life is short, but also precious and I needed to make a change.
After I graduated from college and got an insurance job as an automobile and small business adjuster at a popular insurance company, I felt like my life was not being used in the way the universe wanted me to. Something was calling me to do more, it was a pull that periodically got stronger, and I realized that sitting in a cubicle wasn’t the purpose of my life and God was telling me to leave. God showed me my true calling and purpose in life which is to positively affect the lives of others from my life experiences, especially our youth. I made the choice to make a change and answer God’s calling on my life. I was unsure because I didn’t know the next steps in my life, but I made the courageous decision to leave my job and steady income to go chase the calling God placed on my heart to do and it’s the best decision I could’ve ever made!
I must admit I didn’t understand my calling at first and it didn’t make sense because of my lack of confidence in myself due to a mouth condition I was born with. I will dive deeper into this tribulation later in the interview. Through it all something greater was created and that’s “EVOLution”. I started something that required me to stand out in my own way, dared me to be different, but most importantly make a positive impact by being myself and not fitting into the stigma of what society classifies as cool and not cool. Initially, I had another idea for the business on the tech side, but I didn’t have the necessary resources to maintain that, so I pivoted and that’s when the EVOLution P.O.P.A. Program (P.O.P.A. stands for “Power of Positivity Assembly”) was birthed. Now let me take you all back for a moment to where it all really started. I was in college where I discovered my true passion for kids while working as a youth counselor for the YMCA, impacting hundreds of kids at a time with my ‘Mr. T Fun Friday’. Kids had the opportunity to participate in motivational challenges, obstacle courses, educational games, etc.
I didn’t start this business alone so I must introduce our co-founder, Crystal Kay, who I invited into the business in the initial start-up and who also plays an integral part in who we are today. In Crystal’s own words: I decided to accept the invite to be a part of the business after Fraiser explained the awesome mission of the business to me! From a very young age, I knew that I would be giving back to the youth in a cool way. I believed so much that I wrote a check out to my own made up non-profit and tucked it away in my lockbox. I fell completely in love with positively impacting the lives of children while working as a camp counselor in high school. I also volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club mentoring the youth while finding every opportunity to give back to kids. Once I began working as a registered nurse I immediately knew this profession wasn’t where I was going to be long-term. I began reading every book I could about people starting great businesses. I would cry at my desk about working as a nurse and constantly felt the pull to do something much greater. I began brainstorming all kinds of business ideas and not too long after, Fraiser told me about his wonderful vision and business idea, inviting me to be a part of it. I accepted the invitation and the rest was history! Before I started my journey with EVOLution I was very shy and lacked confidence in interacting with people. Being a part of this business has definitely helped push me to come out of my comfort zone and become more interactive with others. Not only has it helped me in my career path, but with some of my personal dilemmas as well.
The journey of EVOLution all started at homeless shelters such as the Salvation Army where numerous families were staying and we would conduct assemblies with giveaways such as hygiene products, clothing, and shoes. We also hosted ice cream socials and motivational activities where the people were given the opportunity to win prizes. The director at one of the shelters came up to us after watching one of our assemblies, told us that she was very impressed, and asked us to host a back-to-school bash and a family fun night event at the shelter impacting hundreds of families. From here we were given the opportunity to branch out into schools and other establishments setting the tone for our Program. Through our EVOLution P.O.P.A. Program, we are now able to impact thousands of people around the country in a fun-filled impactful way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road on this journey has been very rigid, crooked, loopy, and jagged but also onward, forward, and upward. In the beginning, due to my mouth condition, I lacked the confidence to host in front of hundreds if not thousands of people during the assemblies. I was feeling insecure that I wasn’t going to have the most appealing smile, but over time through my relationship with God, I was able to embrace my condition. The mouth condition I have is a bone loss gum disease which means the bones underneath my gums are breaking down. I was raised to believe “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” which means don’t let one thing hold you back or down.
Another challenge we faced early on was a lack of support aside from a few family members and friends. People we thought would support us did not. We were able to recognize who was truly for us throughout this process. This is one of the best things you can ever learn when you first start anything that’s purposeful.
To finance the business, we bootstrapped using our own personal savings, donated blood, sold some of our possessions, and fundraised in all sorts of ways including standing outside with posters promoting our mission so people could contribute to our organization. We went to different establishments selling our apparel which really highlighted the entrepreneur within us because we were able to showcase our salesmanship/creativity to make ends meet through these challenging times. We relocated to another state that was more conducive to our goals which took even more money. For over six months we slept on the floor and ate tuna sandwiches and ramen noodles like we were in college again restarting from square one.
We traveled to so many different cities with the car being packed to capacity with resources for the assemblies which made it physically uncomfortable for us and with all of this being said these were the building blocks that led to what and who we are today. These are only a fraction of the trials that we faced along this journey. Through our perseverance to push onward, we built our brand up to where influencers began to see value in our organization so we started to build partnerships and connections with corporate establishments and franchises along with big-time entertainers and athletes, which we will highlight later in this interview.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
EVOLution Power of Positivity Assembly Program’s formation was first inspired by the senseless trend of school shootings and bullying in hopes to shine a more positive light for students to see showing them the true essence of unity and brotherly love among their peers. We have a passion for kids and bringing people together and created a Program that leaves a POSITIVE IMPACT on their lives through motivational fun-filled activities and speeches from the EVOLution team and special guest influencers that empower and motivate them through our Assembly Program to push themselves towards being more in tune with their positive side in a fun, uplifting, and high energy atmosphere. Our Program has since then expanded to also include parade assemblies, athletic youth events, youth camps, community events, corporate events, or any event that aligns with our positive message. We customize each assembly to meet the preference of the team inquiring about our services. We encourage not only the kids to get involved in the activities during the Program, but also adults and by doing so we have the privilege to impact both demographics at our POPA Program events.
Through our Program, we partner with radio stations, media outlets, and news stations who cover and broadcast the events on-air, sponsors, influencers, and franchises who donate amazing giveaways that the kids and adults receive during the assemblies, and big universities who sponsor kids to televised athletic events and invite them center court to be recognized by thousands of people. The giveaways include autographed merchandise from some of the awesome influencers who have teamed up with us to attend events or autograph cool stuff like Dave Bautista Hollywood actor/WWE Superstar Wrestler, Gary Peebles Hollywood actor/stuntman, Angel McCoughtry Olympic Gold Medalist & famous WNBA basketball player, and the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders to name a few.
We also have a non-profit, EVOLution Making The World Smile Inc, where we aid in disaster relief, giving to the homeless, and help children in lower socioeconomic areas with resources amongst other endeavors that make a positive impact. Through our EVOLution Spreading Positive Change LLC we make customized apparel not only for our brand but for other brands and establishments as well. Through the various outlets in the Positive Empire, we are able to promote good and do good which inspired the name. We aim to build an empire built upon positivity and love.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Our advice is to connect with people that add value to your brand while you add value to their brand and formulate partnerships that make sense for everyone so in return everybody wins!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.evolutionspc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/powerofpositivityassembly?igshid=1h5qhzccib5k1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PowerofPositivityAssembly/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV96lTxR9oRinV5-vMJfiig
