WARSAW — Chiquitta Lesene is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the local non-profit known as Shackle Free.
Shackle Free strives to make a difference in the area by fighting adversity.
Lesene was born and raised in Chinquapin with American Indian and African American roots.
Her great grandparents had 17 children and she was raised for most of her childhood by Kinnie Pickett Crowley, known as Momma Kine. Momma Kine was the oldest daughter of her great grandparents who helped raise all 16 of her siblings.
Momma Kine was gifted in music and cared deeply for her family. Not having kids of her own, she raised many of her family members and looked out for members of the church.
If you were misbehaving, she would say something even if you were not in her family. Momma Kine wanted to help everyone by leading with accountability and honesty.
“She was the epitome of a village — a village centered person,” said Lesene.
Lesene felt this love and it lasted with her throughout life. Momma Kine’s Pantry at Shackle Free is named after her.
The village mindset helped structure the basis for Shackle Free as a place to provide resources and develop a plan of action for people in need.
Academically gifted and raised with religion, Lesene started reading at the age of three. She was successful but went on a path that many women experience with shame in a small community.
Raised with strong women, Lesene lacked a positive male role model or paternal love due to alcoholism from a member of her family.
She was married and gave birth to her son the day after she graduated from East Duplin High School. It was unexpected as people assumed she would go to college and do things in a traditional order.
“I was supposed to do it in the order that I did it in because then I wouldn’t be able to relate to the people that I serve,” said Lesene.
Lesene went on a journey of ups and downs to deepen her self-worth with the desire to empower other young women who are faced with pregnancy at a young age.
“My empathy comes from the point that I know how it feels.”
Lesene has been extensively involved in issues surrounding the area. With a degree in psychology, Lesene has been able to apply her understanding of behavior and the mind to all of her work.
Lesene was formerly the Deputy Director for the Board of Elections and Community Services Block Grant Director under the Department of Health and Human Services. She worked with a community action agency where she flipped poverty in Duplin, New Hanover, and Onslow counties. Her work as a case manager in Wallace, gave her a look into other families that faced tribulations.
“That really allowed me to see what resources we had in these places,” she said.
These roles gave her a chance to see an individual’s backstory to find what was missing in their life and what was needed to overcome their circumstances.
“We believe that if people have others in their lives that understand the plight that they’re going through…(we) overcome the conditions we were raised in,” said Lesene.
This judgment-free understanding of people was pivotal to Shackle Free’s foundation.
After the passing of her husband, she had a change of heart and direction. She took the money from his death and started Shackle Free officially as a 501©(3) in 2019.
With a full of love approach, Shackle Free meets its guests holistically through empathy which mimics Momma Kine’s village-centered approach to caring for one another.
“We care about your spirit and your soul.”
“We know that people have layers. Sometimes we have to pull those layers back and actually face things head on for the truth that they are. That’s why we have generational trends, specifically in poverty.”
When people come to their door for support, Lesene understands that they are looking for something greater.
“We also know that if you need food, there’s probably something else that’s missing — so let’s get to the bottom of it.”
The pantry offers meals, baby items, and more. The team at Shackle Free works with guests to find a strategy to get them to a better place.
Lesene notes the differences between taking this on as a job and welcoming ministry into her work.
“I found that I had been doing it my whole life without a dime so I knew that if God gave me an opportunity to do something and he gave me some money — there was no way I would be able to rest within myself without fixing what I’ve known to be broken.”
Through her personal struggles with teen pregnancy and eventually an abusive relationship, she found that this struggle opened her eyes to the help that many young women would benefit from.
“Your pain develops you into your purpose,” she said.
That is exactly what Lesene found in the most challenging of places — purpose.
She was able to turn her pain into something that helps her community.
Duplin County is number six in the state for teen pregnancy and domestic violence rates have gone up since the pandemic.
“There were many days where I never thought that I would be doing what I’m doing.”
She gives thanks to a higher power and her dreams which have pulled her out of tough places. Lesene is grateful for religion.
She wants to remain an inspiration and source to individuals who are struggling, especially people who have gone through abuse and poverty.
“Being chosen and having favor from God is not always the easiest thing.”
Her faith has helped her preserve and gave her the energy to serve others.
“Everything that I am is because of God.”
The support has developed through different initiatives such as the Shackle Free Buzz program.
The organization gets local hair salons and barbers trained in cancer, diabetes, and how to take blood pressure. Shackle Free partners with barbers for their initiative to act as a resource for health and to prevent domestic violence.
Since customers have the time to talk to their barber, Shackle Free knew this would be a great way to offer therapeutic and health related support.
The model is so well-liked that it is spreading across the country.
“The Foundation for a Healthy North Dakota is interested in our barber and beauty initiative,” she said.
It doesn’t stop there. Shackle Free works with seniors by partnering with Charity Rebuild to make ramps in their homes.
The team continues to educate people on Medicaid expansion, health programs, voter registration, and digital equity.
The North Carolina Department of Information Technology provided a grant of $600,000 for public access kiosks which can be placed in barber shops. The kiosks are digital resources that can provide telehealth visits, classroom videos, and job search platforms.
Shackle Free is hosting more events this year and wants the community to get involved as volunteers. Her team encourages feedback and survey participation so they can see how they can further their help.
With the goal to create a new call center, Lesene is continuing to fight for what she believes in. Shackle Free is naming the Community Health Ambassador Call Center after Rhonda Sharpless who passed this summer and was Shackle Free’s former Chief Administrative Officer.
Honoring the legacy of her family and team, Lesene upholds her values including the importance of having people to admire. Lesene serves as a positive role model and shares that you can become the person you want to be.
“You can live life in a better way. You don’t have to settle for less because you’re the first one in your family to do it.”
She shares that difficult paths lead to beautiful destinations and that we need to acknowledge the bad parts just as much as the good. It is necessary to find success by healing the issues that generations face and that our ancestors have witnessed.
Now blessed with a grandchild, Lesene looks to her for even more hope.
“I can’t let her have the same chains around her neck that I had on mine.”
You can find out more about Shackle Free by contacting their office at 910-226-8138. You can visit their website at shacklefree.org or visit the team and pantry from Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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