Virgil and Tanya Lofty, Co-Founders, Lofte Ground Inc.
Our Why
If you are not aware of our story, Virgil and I have both triumphed from single parent homes where our mothers were the primary caregivers. Neither of us were raised with our fathers in our homes, nor were they an active participant in our lives. When we started dating in the mid-nineties, there was an instant connection to one another. Our upbringing played a major part in our connection. We felt the void in one another. Once we married we vowed that our lives together would not reflect how we were raised. We vowed to stay committed to US and for US, and to OUR CHILDREN and for OUR CHILDREN. Just making a commitment to our family dispelled systematic trends of poverty, lack, and brokenness.
Growing up, Virgil spent a lot of time to himself and on the streets. Often, he didn’t have assistance with school work or activities, but did find an outlet in sports. One day, while playing with a gun, Virgil didn’t realize it was loaded. it accidentally fired resulting in a misdemeanor charge, being placed on probation and having to pay restitution. Virgil understands the challenges that come with the stigma that is placed on men trying to re-establish themselves in the workforce after being incarcerated. It took him some years to find work. Thankfully, an older gentleman at his church began to mentor him. He taught Virgil how to dress for interviews, complete job applications and taught him work ethic. He also assisted with getting him his first full-time position with benefits. African-American males are marginalized in the marketplace and often deemed as a threat to society. They don’t have the resources needed to succeed, which leads to systematic trends within our ethnicity and communities.
After having our second child, I decided to pursue my passion of working with children. My motto is, “It’s never too late to do what you love.” As an Early Childhood Educator for 15 years, I understand the importance of education. I pursued my Associates degree, then pursued my Bachelors of Arts degree. By the time I was in my forties, I earned a Masters of Science degree in Early Childhood Studies. During my tenure in school I learned of the disparities in the school system for African American boys in Prince George’s County (PGC), MD and beyond. Being a mom of two boys I decided to be an active participant in their learning, therefore Virgil and I decided to homeschool them until they could be place in private school. This allowed me to gain further insight that reading is the fundamental skill needed for learning.
Today, we are the proud parents of two growing males. Our home is balanced---spiritually, mentally, emotionally, educationally, socially, and financially. It began with a choice, surrounding ourselves with the right people and environments, and being committed to the process of growth.
Our Intent
Unfortunately, there are not enough balanced homes in our community of Prince Georges County, Maryland (PGC). PGC is the wealthiest Black community in the country, yet it accounts for the largest divorce rate, domestic violence rate, and males in prison rate. We strongly felt that our experience and education could help decrease these statistics.
In 2020, we co-founded Lofte Ground Inc. as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Maryland. We founded the nonprofit with a vision to revitalize our community (Prince Georges County, Maryland) one male at a time. Our mission is to foster community-based programs for males to help improve their emotional, mental, physical, and social skills through education, mentoring, resources/tools in an effort to decrease systematic trends and disparities. We firmly believe that if males, starting at the earliest age possible, are empowered and educated they can thrive and set the standard for the family unit.
