Meet Shay Tatum

Short Bio:
Shay Tatum is a dedicated business owner of a hair salon for over 25 years. Shaylons Retreat. She is focused on building connections and networking opportunities for and by women.  She is  the founder of the breakout Facebook group, Pretty Girls That Brunch consisting of over 9000 members. PGTB gathers every Sunday for brunch, connecting women from all over Houston with great food and conversations.  She is also the founder of the nonprofit organization, Pretty Girlz Rock. Her organization focuses on opportunities and support for young girls ages 11 to 18. Pretty Girlz Rock provides mentoring, STEM workshops, and an extension organization, Pretty Girlz Can, provides support and scholarships for girls who have had cancer. Shay's primary goal is to focus on the whole person, and if you build someone on the inside, then that light can shine for everyone to see. 

Long Bio:

Shay Hopper is a strong woman of God, a loving and compassionate mother, a devoted wife, an illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated member, and an entrepreneur driven like no other. The youngest of six daughters, Shay, was given the same choice as her siblings to attend college or enlist in the military, where her father had served for over 30 years. Shay decided to participate in college in Arkansas, where she went on to enroll at Philander Smith College, one of the first black colleges established in the country, before transferring over to the University of Arkansas. At the same time, she is attending college and raising her son with a healthy support system from her mother and sisters. On her path to her degree, Shay took a detour and started her family, being married and raising three more talented and intelligent kids. Shay earned her cosmetology license and has owned and operated her business for over 25 years of expertise as the owner of Shaylon's Urban Retreat.

In 2013, Shay was determined to continue her education and pursue other passions of making a difference in communities far beyond. Shay has always been a notable hard worker and remains proactive versus reactive in all situations. With her plan in place of advancing her education, Shay had already begun teaching herself sign language, where she became inspired by seeing a friend's parents who spoke with their hands. She found a passion in doing so and decided to pursue her Associate Degree in Sign Language Interpretation. Shay earned her associate degree in Sign Language Interpretation in 2015 and became the Sign Language Coordinator at her home church, The Church Without Walls. 

That would be a great ending, but that wasn't enough for her. She then asked herself, "{What's Next" Shay enrolled at UHD in 2015, with community service in her background, and being the goal-oriented woman that she naturally is, she sought hard to find ways to get involved on campus. 

She was determined and immediately sought an opportunity to become involved in SGA. On June 5, 2019, Shenaedra "Shay" Tatum was officially inaugurated as the FIRST African American female Student Government Association President in the history of the University of Houston-Downtown. To her, it became the fulfillment of a dream come true. Shay earned her bachelor's degree in communication from UHD in 2017; she began working on her Master's degree to complete that passion for service to her community and earned a Master's Degree in Nonprofit Management. 

Shay is currently the CEO of Pretty Girlz Rock, her nonprofit organization that mentors girls between the ages of 11-18. She helps them navigate the awkward stages of life where you decide for your future. 

You say what more is she up to or "What's Next" for Shay? She is also the founder of the Facebook Group "Pretty Girls That Brunch," with over 10,000 members and growing, where they brunch weekly at Houston Area restaurants for brunch and give reviews. 

 Shay Hopper's story is one of dedication to others, loyalty to her family and friends, and a strong commitment and desire to uplift and spread encouragement to everyone she reaches. She continues to inspire many who are in her position or have found themselves at similar crossroads in their lives. Overcoming the obstacles of being a single mother and being told that you can't do something or that it won't work, Shay Hopper worked to overcome the odds and accomplish so much and has so much more in store. 

There's no dream too big to strive for and no unachievable goal.  So, "What's Next"