Listen is as Tyra Duren takes us on her journey of forming G.E.M.S., and talks us through her beautiful journey of finding love.
Meet Mrs. Tyra J. Duren, MA
Dual M.A. in Human Resource Development & Human Resource Management, Founder & President, Life Coach, Career Adviser
Tyra has always been recognized for her gifts to lift the spirits of others. From the very beginning, during her toddler years, she always aspired and aimed not to simply exist, but to make a difference; not to simply count every day, but to make every day count. At the age of 5, she was blessed to sing for Dr. Bobby Jones before 30,000 in Detroit, MI. As a young child, she knew GOD had a purpose and plan for my life to never settle for less than the BEST. At the age of 8, she auditioned for the WDB Professional Theatrical Touring Company and was blessed to be the company’s first young person to be a lead role actress and vocalist as they toured cities across the country. She was the featured vocalist on “My Soul Sings Magazine Gospel CD Recording, rendered breathtaking vocal performances at the Missouri Black Expo Gospel Explosion, the Black Rep Theatre, the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration, and the Annie Malone Children’s Home Gospel Gala, Hal Jackson's International Talented Teens (formerly Miss Teen Black America) “Pre-Teen” representative. She has also been featured in countless magazine, television, radio and print media. Each year confirmed she was destined to make a difference.
She rendered many hours of service to mankind. These community service projects include mentoring, tutoring, peer mediation and much, much more. As busy as these efforts have kept her, she still continued to maintain high scholastic standards, all while working full-time in the Human Resource Department of the St Louis Cardinals. She has always been committed to giving back to the next generation. Tyra possess a pure passion to positively impact pre-teen and teen young ladies and has been blessed to share and expand that vision with the founding of G.E.M.S., (Girls Empowered & Motivated Spiritually through Christ). In August of 2012, she was afforded the opportunity to annually present G.E.M.S. as the Special Guest Facilitator for the Illinois Mid-state Youth Quake, which draws thousands of youth from across the region, and brought fourth my highest achieved award, the “Outstanding Youth Role Model of the Year” for the year 2010. As the chapter of her high school years moved closer to ending, it only took one visit to Jackson State University to know the destination of my next Chapter.
During her time at Jackson State University as an undergraduate student, Tyra earned the title of Miss MADDRAMA, was initiated as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., elected Student Justice, and was crowned Miss Capital City Classic. She is a proud member of Faith United Baptist Church that falls under the leadership of Pastor Willie D. Brown, where her pursuit to be aggressive and progressive in making a difference is driven even more.