The Made Right Here podcast features Tanika Harper, an African American businesswoman from Knoxville. Tanika recounts her life story, from her upbringing in Strawberry Plains to her later adult years. She praises her father for his influence and his guiding vision board. She also shares her experience facing racial discrimination in a predominantly white school, and the positive turning point of attending Austin East High School. Tanika emphasizes the key role of diverse representation in community growth and success. Struggling with separation from her family during her graduate studies in Cincinnati, she discusses her return to Knoxville and her first professional job at a security company. Tanika experienced a shift in her career path when she started teaching at Austin East High School. Despite the downsizing of her program, her journey led her to establish the Shora Foundation, a non-profit focused on fostering a safe environment and opportunities for marginalized 16 to 24-year-olds in East Knoxville. Tanika talks about her discovery of Nigerian ancestry through a genealogy test, reconnecting her to Shora's mission. She faced a personal health challenge with Chauverin's, an autoimmune disease affecting her skin, in 2014. This led her to start Harper's Naturals, her own natural skincare company.
Episode Resources