When you meet Lynette Smith and Shameka Brown-Johnson, it is clear they are twins. But it is still uncanny how in tune with each other they are.
They were roommates in college, each have three children, go to the same church, and sing in the same choir. You could say their personalities and their laugh are in their blood, but then you meet Tom Styles, you realize blood has nothing to do with it.
"When we're together we share that same enthusiasm, that same boisterousness," said Tom.
The twins met Tom in college. All three were studying to become teachers.
"He laughed like we laughed," said Shameka.
"When we we're on campus they'd say 'twins where's Tom?' 'Tom where are the twins?' We made our classes together, everything," said Lynette.
"It was a weird relationship because we were all so different," said Shameka.
Different, but the three only saw the similarities; the character they all shared and a passion to teach.
"We're definitely not traditional," said Lynette.
"I sing, I dance, I laugh. Spontaneous, not always by the book, out of the box," said Lynette."There's so much chaos and mistrust and we're trying to work with kids to bring character so they become better people in society."
The three are taking that energy and starting a new teaching venture. Like everything else, they did it together.
They call it TSL Adventures standing for Tom, Shameka and Lynette. It also stands for togetherness, sharing, learning. It started as a summer program, then grew to after school care.
Now they have four locations and are caring for babies to school aged kids.
"All our programs are geared at making kids feel special, included, safe. We want to create that family-like environment where children want to keep coming back and back," said Tom.
The lesson they hope the kids will take away is one they are a living example of.
"Regardless of who you are and where you are from, character and community service," said Lynette. "It's about who you are."
