Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer James.
Hi Jennifer , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Jennifer James, and I started Mind Over Matter of Hillsborough in 2020 after seeing a painful gap in support for youth — especially those aging out of programs like another near to my heart Tampa Urban Young Life. I had spent years building relationships with teens through mentorship and ministry, and I kept asking myself: What happens to them when the program ends? Who helps them navigate real life — housing, school, jobs, trauma?
At the same time, I was watching other teenagers I had come to know well struggle to access basic resources. They were smart, resilient, full of potential, but didn’t know how to find the help they needed. And truthfully, there weren’t many places to turn. That’s when it became clear to me that we needed something different — something personal, responsive, and rooted in community.
That’s how Mind Over Matter was born.
We started small — helping a few families with rent or rides, delivering food bags, guiding young adults through GED programs or job applications. But it grew fast. Today, our Food Packs for Kids program alone feeds nearly 500 children each week during the summer and school year, ensuring no child goes hungry when school meals stop. We’ve helped young parents find housing and stability, provided therapy for those navigating trauma, and even given cars to youth aging out of the system so they can work and go to school.
We’re not a big organization. We don’t have corporate sponsors or endless funding. But we have heart. We have faith. And we have a fierce commitment to show up — especially for the kids who often get overlooked once the spotlight fades.
Mind Over Matter is more than a nonprofit. It’s a promise to our youth that they matter — not just when they’re in a program, but for the long road ahead.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not even close. And honestly, we’re still in the thick of it.
Mind Over Matter was built to respond to real needs in real time — and those needs haven’t slowed down. If anything, they’ve grown. Our Food Packs for Kids program feeds 655 children each week during the school year and around 500 during the summer. And even with numbers that high, we’re still only scratching the surface. The demand in our area is far greater than what we’re able to meet.
We regularly get calls from families and schools asking if we can add more kids — but without the funding and resources, we have to say no more than we’d like. It’s heartbreaking.
There’s no big foundation behind us, no major donor paying the bills. We rely on monthly donors, churches, and volunteers who believe in what we’re doing. Some weeks, we’re counting every juice box and praying more snacks come in before packing day. Other weeks, we’re working with a young adult facing eviction or helping a teen get therapy — all while trying to hold everything together behind the scenes.
But through every setback and shortfall, we keep going. Because these kids matter. Their futures matter. And we refuse to let them feel forgotten
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my core, I’m a connector and a problem solver. I specialize in building systems that serve people — whether that’s helping a young adult get a second chance at life through Mind Over Matter, helping a veterinary clinic streamline operations through pute.us, or making sure a donor email doesn’t go unanswered at Tampa Urban YoungLife.
I wear a lot of hats, but every role I take on is tied to one mission: helping people thrive by giving them the tools and support they need.
At Mind Over Matter, I lead community outreach, fundraising, and crisis response. We’re known for being responsive, real, and deeply rooted in the community — not just showing up once, but walking alongside people long-term. I’m incredibly proud of our Food Packs for Kids program, which feeds 655 children weekly during the school year, and about 500 each week over the summer. But just as importantly, I’m proud that our youth know they can call us when they’re in crisis — and we’ll show up.
At pute.us, I serve as the Executive Director of Business Development. We’re a concierge-style technology team that supports veterinary practices with managed IT, efficiency tools, and consulting. I love this work because I get to help clinics reduce stress, reclaim time, and focus on what they do best — caring for animals. We’re not your average IT company; we’re relationship-based, industry-specific, and proactive.
And with Tampa Urban YoungLife, I serve in an administrative support role that allows the Area Director and volunteers to focus on ministry, while I help keep the operations running behind the scenes — from fundraising systems to volunteer compliance to planning major events. It’s kingdom work, and I love being part of it.
What sets me apart is my ability to move between crisis care, business consulting, and faith-based youth work — all while staying grounded in compassion and results. I don’t just build programs or solve problems. I build people up. And I build systems that last.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Relationship-building has always come naturally to me — especially in business and professional spaces. I don’t approach networking as a transaction; I approach it as connection. I genuinely want to know people — what drives them, what they’re passionate about, where they might need support. That curiosity and care have opened more doors than any formal introduction ever could.
My advice? Lead with authenticity, listen more than you talk, and make people feel seen. When your intentions are genuine, people remember you. They trust you. And that’s where real opportunity lives — not in the elevator pitch, but in the follow-up, the consistency, and the way you treat people when no one’s watching.
I also believe in cross-sector networking. Some of the best mentors and collaborators in my life have come from completely different fields — but we shared values, vision, or simply a mutual respect for each other’s work. I’ve found mentors in community spaces, corporate settings, and ministry — and each one has shaped me in different ways.
If you want to build a strong network, don’t chase influence — build relationships. Be someone people want to work with, not just someone who wants to be known.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mindovermatterinc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindovermatterhillsborough/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindovermatterhillsborough/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/FoodPacksforKids/
