For Taria Dearbone, working as Assistant Program Director for Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation’s (UREC) high school programs is a powerful, full-circle moment. Once a student in UREC’s Entrepreneurship Institute, Technology Institute, and the North Baton Rouge Youth Development Program (UREC Academy), she now stands on the other side, helping students in programs she once participated in.
Taria’s personal journey is a testament to the power of UREC’s motto: Building today’s community for tomorrow. Through her time in UREC’s programs, she developed essential life and professional skills such as public speaking, networking, and analytical thinking. Taria also gained exposure to professional mentorship at a young age.
“In high school, I had the chance to work with a psychologist downtown, which was life-changing at that age,” she explained. “Later, I even worked with professionals in the Department of Tourism. These mentors believed in me, and many of them still check in with me today. Seeing is believing, and having those examples gave me the confidence to keep pushing forward.”
Taria went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from Southern University, applying the lessons and discipline she learned in UREC programs. She also carries with her the honor of being a Ronnie Edwards Scholarship recipient, a distinction that made her college journey more attainable.
“That scholarship meant the world to me,” she recalled. “When you’re preparing for college, the financial part can feel overwhelming. Receiving the Ronnie Edwards Scholarship lifted a weight off my shoulders and allowed me to focus on starting strong.”
Today, Taria brings that same spirit of encouragement to the students she mentors. “I always remind them, don’t sell yourself short. There’s no such thing as a dumb question, and we are all lifelong learners. It’s never too early or too late to start building skills that will carry you through life.”
From student to mentor, from scholarship recipient to program leader, Taria’s continues to embody UREC’s mission of creating stronger communities by investing in the next generation.
Watch Taria share her story HERE.
