Think Smart Outreach Center, Inc. was first thought of in 2000 while Pam Williams was a senior at Fayetteville State University majoring in Criminal Justice. While in college, she volunteered at the Fayetteville Urban Ministries Guided Growth Program (Program for at-risk youth) and Harnett County Community Service Program. She saw too many young people getting a criminal record over stupid mess and wanted to help them. She always wanted to help youth so they would not face the possibility of living a life of crime or behind bars. Even though she saw all kinds of programs in Cumberland county, she did not know of any programs in Harnett County that were trying to keep the kids off the streets. The only thing she saw was people trying to throw the kids in jail or complaining about them and not doing anything to help. She always dreamed of being a Juvenile Court Counselor. The 1st day of every class in college the Professor would always ask the students to say their name, their major, and what they wanted to become. You could always hear her echo a Juvenile Court Counselor (most people never heard of that term). However, she was convinced that is what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.
As a high school student, she implemented workshops and activities for the youth at her church. She didn't know it then but that was the calling God had on her life. She just thought it was just something she like to do- which was implement and organize activities for children. She came up with a plan and started writing in her book daily how her youth center would be one day. She knew it was only going to be for middle and high school students (her passion). She only called it a youth center because at that time she had no name for the center. One day, she came across a person that informed her that "group homes is where the money is at" so she should do that. She then started writing information about group homes in her book because of the $$ but it always came back to a youth center in her writing . So she said never mind the $$, this is what I want to do-- a youth center. She came up with a name “The Help Center” taken from the Jefferson (one of her favorite TV shows). That name didn't last long. One day she was talking to her sister and asked her to help her with her idea of a youth center. Pam loved the name Think Smart (because she thought it was powerful) and Nell came up with Outreach Center. So on April 13, 2001, the paperwork was sent to the Secretary of State—Think Smart Outreach Center, Inc.
Even though the program was incorporated on April 24, 2001, the center was still just a mere vision and seemed so out of reach. So after graduating college, Pam accepted a job as a Middle School Teacher. In May 2002 the center was still a thought, so Nell asked Pam, "What are you going to do this summer since you will not be teaching?" Pam responded NOTHING because its "my" Summer Break. So Nell said why not have a Summer Camp! Omg! That was the best idea ever. That was weeks before school ended so they had to find a location. Their father was moving from the building he had been renting to a building he had just purchased. They went to the landlord and he said okay. They had one week before school would let out. They started advertising (making flyers-taking them to churches, grocery stores, libraries, etc.). They did not have a phone at the building so their first office line was in the back of their mother's house (the line Pam had as a teenager). So when people called they were not calling a business they were calling somebody's house (lol). Then it happen, their first participants enrolled in the program the Saturday before the program was scheduled to begin on Monday (Byron McMillian and Riyen Graham). Thank you Mrs. Kim! They were on a roll now but the problem they did not have any teachers. They then called up Mr. B and Ms. Krystal one day before the program began and honestly that was the best summer camp they've had in the past seven years.
They didn't have any money for supplies, material, etc. The staff was paid under minimum wage (even though Mr. B had a 4 year degree) and they didn't care because they were there for the program. They got paid late sometimes and they never complained. They didn't have money for activities but that did not mean anything to them. They used their imagination and everything else fell into place. The road for Think Smart has NOT been easy but the determination and hard work they've had to make sure the youth are given opportunities that will help them develop to their full potential made the travel less bumpy. They received their first grant from the Juvenile Crime Commission in the amount of $10,000. That was the best day ever and it felt like 1 million dollars! From 2002-2005, Pam and Nell opt not to receive a paycheck from the program because they wanted to see it grow. They didn't want to take from the program but wanted to give to it. They worked full time at other jobs and did not receive a paycheck until the program received its federal grant in November 2005. At that time, Ms. Pam quit her job as an Instructor at Central Carolina Community College to do Think Smart Full-time (her ultimate goal at that time). Her ultimate goal now is to get her sister here full time so the puzzle can be complete. As of today, the organization has been awarded over 1 million dollars!
If you walk into Ms. Pam's office, you will still see her first stapler (it was a used stapler they had in 2002) and decorations from their first location. Regardless how much money their program gets they have a personal saying: “Never forget your past because that is exactly what made you what you are today”. They also hold dear to their hearts "Walk by Faith and NOT by Sight". Over the years, Think Smart has had some wonderful staff members that are/were dedicated to the cause and understand that TSOC is not just a job but it is a vision that holds people's future in their hands”. Think Smart Outreach Center, Inc. for the last seven years has been located beside C&G Country Club, local churches, Dunn Housing Authority, Dunn Pal, and South Harnett Elementary School. In January 2008, TSOC said welcome home to their first place of “their own”. The land that the center is currently housed was given to them by their father. The program went from serving 5 children a year at its after school program to serving over 600 children in nine years.
