Rosalyn Flemings always knew she wanted to utilize her creativity in her career, but didn’t know Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) would help her on her path.

When Flemings started looking at colleges, she wanted to find one that offered creative programs at an affordable rate.

“The programs looked great, and the college was in a small community,” she shared. “I looked at the dance team, choir and theatre department and was interested in the opportunities.”

She auditioned for the theater department, choir and Cardettes and received a scholarship from each organization.

“My parents couldn’t pay for my education, but you can earn a scholarship from theater, dance or choir,” she said. “I auditioned and received scholarships from all three. If it wasn’t for those scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to attend TVCC.”

Not only did the programs offer her financial assistance, but it also gave her the opportunity to travel. In the choir, Flemings was able to perform at SeaWorld in San Antonio, Galveston, and the Texas State Fair in Dallas.

“We were all over the place and we had a ball,” Flemings exclaimed. “With the choir program, we would perform as a show choir and perform in different places. They would pay for our lodging and give us a $10 per diem for food. That was so awesome to us!”

As a member of the Cardettes, Flemings traveled to Colorado Springs, CO; New York City, NY; and Orlando, FL. In 1994, she performed with the Cardettes during the Cardinal football team's first national championship season, which they completed with a flawless 12-0 record and a 24-17 victory.

“It was such a big moment for TVCC,” she said. “It was so cool to be there and be a part of that moment.”

Not only did she get the opportunity to travel and perform with the Cardettes, but she met incredible people that left an impact on her. Under the direction of Cardette director Jean Baker, Flemings learned the importance of perseverance and teamwork.

“Mrs. Baker was like a mom to all of us,” she shared. “She was hard on us and was a ‘no-nonsense’ mom, but we needed that. She taught us necessary values. She made us work harder. Because of what she instilled in us as Cardettes, we always put our best foot forward and worked as a team.”

With the theatre program established in early 1993, Flemings was a part of the first year of the program and the productions.

“I remember being a part of “Grease” and “Dracula”,” she shared. “It was awesome for us to have the opportunity to put on plays!”

After completing her core classes and computer programming classes at TVCC, Flemings moved back to Sherman and focused on her family. While growing her family, Flemings took a program through the Texas Education Agency Region 10 in Richardson for a teaching certificate.

“I really enjoyed my time at Trinity Valley,” she shared. “I think I had too much fun with my friends instead of digging in the books more. But I found a lot of friends that I still keep in contact with. Plus, the love of a small town and sticking together really helped me in my life journey. I really appreciate Trinity Valley for what it gave me.”

As Flemings began working on her career, she noticed an increase in discussions about mental health and realized it was time for a change. As a trauma-informed mental health peer specialist, Flemings founded a nonprofit called Hear 4 You Creative Healing, which uses the arts to support individuals with mental health issues.

“Mental health is very important for everyone,” she noted. “It seemed like more people really started to discuss it after the pandemic. I wanted to do something to help, but I wanted to do something different with my background in the arts. That’s what Hear for You Creative Healing is geared towards: healing through the arts.”

To introduce the nonprofit, Flemings organized a weekend event for community members in the Little Elm area to attend A Cry for Help, a play she wrote about mental health concerns in minority households and her own experiences.

“In our community, we often avoid discussing our struggles,” Flemings explained. “Particularly in minority communities, there's a tendency to tell our children, ‘What happens in this house stays in this house,’ which leaves many kids suffering in silence, unsure of where to turn or who to talk to. The title “ A Cry for Help” resonated with me because it reflects this situation. Everyone's cry for help is unique, and that's why I felt this title perfectly captures what's happening in our society today.”

As a teacher, she noticed that some students were hesitant to share or connect with others because they needed extra attention that they weren't receiving at home.

“Children often act out in school, whether through behavioral issues or by being shy and introverted, as a way of expressing themselves,” she added. “Unfortunately, adults and parents sometimes fail to recognize what's really happening. As a former teacher, I remember how easy it was to think a child lacked discipline instead of looking deeper to understand their behavior. I would often pull these kids aside and give them special roles, trying to address their needs in a different way.”

Currently, Hear 4 You offers group and one-on-one therapy sessions both in-person and online.

“At this time, I’m working on getting sponsors and finding volunteers so we can start creative classes in 2025,” she added. “Some of the classes we hope to offer in the future include dance, music, creative writing, crafts and more. I also hope to get into schools and share the nonprofit and programs. Together, we can create a brighter and more compassionate future for our community.”

To learn more about Fleming’s nonprofit, go to hear4you.org.