The Power of Remembering: A Lesson in Impact
Tommi Vincent wears many hats—chef, entrepreneur, speaker, and advocate. At her core, she is someone who remembers. She remembers her own journey, the struggles she has faced, and the people who helped in those moments of need and made a difference in her life. Today, as a mother, wife, and community builder, she honors her struggles and the importance of those who offered her help to enrich and inspire others. Empowered is pleased to be partnering with Love They Neighbor, one of Tommi’s charitable organizations.
As a child, Tommi was that student—one who teachers saw but did not fully understand. A victim of domestic violence and a child of substance abusers, she normalized the struggles she faced every day. On paper, for instance, she did not qualify for free or reduced lunch but often went hungry. She felt unseen and lost. Her school environment felt like a maze that she could not navigate.
Then she encountered a teacher who truly saw her. This educator became her advocate. They filled the gaps in her life with support and encouragement – providing a path through the maze and forward. Tommi credits this educator’s guidance with changing the trajectory of her life – changing her future.
That investment is still paying dividends in Vincent’s life. Today she seeks opportunities to provide guidance for and to have the same impact on others.
Each year, in the week before the Super Bowl, Tommi and her husband, Troy Vincent (Executive VP of Football Operations for the NFL) and their family co-host the Vincent Country Safe Zone Activity Day, a Love They Neighbor Community Development & Opportunity Corporation (LTN) event in the game’s host city. This day-long event, held at a school, provides a day of fun, food, and sports activities for children in underserved communities, creating a safe and festive environment.
SAFE ZONE ACTIVITY DAY 2025 – EMPOWERED WAS THERE
On Tuesday, 02/04/25, the 8th annual LTN Vincent Country Safe Zone Activity Day was held at Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School (GMMS) in Garyville, Louisiana. The event found 600+ preK-8 students from GMMS and Fifth Ward Elementary School playing sports and interactive activities with NFL legends, current players, and volunteers.
Empowered, as part of Stand Together’s participation in the event, was asked to be onsite to help honor the school’s teachers.
The day culminated with a luncheon and enrichment time for educators where Tommi challenged educators to always remember. “Remember what it was like to be that student in your class . . . the challenges that we’ve overcome to bring us to where we are today . . . what it was like to be in your students’ shoes. We see them in our classes but don’t necessarily know their challenges outside what we see each day . . . until we remember our journey. We’ve all overcome obstacles, lived through difficulties and sometimes trauma, normalized the abnormal. That’s not just our experiences – it’s exactly what our students experience too.”
Vincent’s story is a powerful reminder that education is more than lessons and tests—it’s about connection, empathy, and impact. As educators, the greatest gift we can give our students is to truly see them, to recognize their struggles, and to be the steady presence that helps them rise. Just as one teacher’s belief in a young Tommi shaped her future, every educator has the power to change lives in ways they may never fully realize. As she stated “When we remember our own journeys, we create safe zones—not just for a day, but for a lifetime.”
USEFUL LINKS
- Click here to learn more about Tommi and her work with the Vincent Country Foundation
- Click here to learn more about Love Thy Neighbor and Vincent Country Safe Zone Day
- Click here to learn more about Empowered and our work to support educators
- Click here to create an Empowered Hub account – where you can collaborate with fellow educators
