Andrena Sawyer
Andrena Sawyer is Founder and CEO of P.E.R.K. Consulting. Ever since her teenage years, she has lived her life according to one simple quote, “The more I help others to succeed, the more I succeed.” Her belief in these words, spoken by Ray Kroc, is based on early life experiences that have led to her dedication to help and empower others.
Andrena was born, the oldest of three children, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. When she was nine years old, her family left Sierra Leone due to a civil war that left thousands dead and untold numbers maimed and displaced. Encouraged and energized by the compassion that she received upon coming to the United States, Andrena vowed to herself that when she could, she would continue to “pay it forward” to others.
At age 15, she founded Triple “T” MAD (Teens Trying to Make a Difference), a community service organization for teens in central New Jersey. As a freshman at Howard University, Andrena continued to cultivate her interest in community development by founding “Rock, the MIC,” an annual community outreach for youth in Washington, DC. These experiences laid a firm foundation and defined her passion for empowering youth, women, and at-risk individuals.
In 2013, she was named among the “Top 30 under 30? movers and shakers in Washington DC by WKYS 93.9. She is a certified Self-Esteem and Life Skills Trainer. She serves as a liaison for IEDA Relief and as an Executive Board Member of the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation (AIRF) and Project Dream BIG. In addition to her work with P.E.R.K. Consulting, she is also an avid writer. Her first full-length novel, The Long Way Home, was released in January 2015.