Always Looking for the Next Opportunity 

Trenton and Kenton Harris have never been ones to sit still. Throughout high school and beyond, the twin brothers from Johnston were constantly trying to build something of their own. Even as kids, they were always looking for ways to sell things and make money on their own terms. 

Their list of attempted ventures is long and varied: selling clothes, dropshipping, cryptocurrency, stock trading, meme coins, even mixed martial arts training. But despite their hustle and determination, nothing quite clicked. They were creative people with big ideas, but lacked the space and resources to bring those ideas to life. 

After graduating from Johnston in December 2023, both brothers found themselves at a crossroads. They picked up various jobs to pay bills and help their mom, but their hearts weren’t in it. Kenton (above right) was always focused on starting his own business rather than working for someone else. What they really needed was a place where they could develop their skills, connect with mentors, and turn their entrepreneurial energy into something real. 

A Mom Who Believed in Them 

That place found them in an unexpected way. Their mother, a teacher at Meredith Middle School who had always encouraged their creativity, heard about Oak Studio Teen Tech Center at Mainframe Studios. Being deeply involved in youth activities, she brought them downtown to check it out. 

The twins weren’t sure what to expect, but they were impressed by what they found. The timing was perfect: both brothers were struggling to find something creative to do and a space to do it. “We’re creative people. We want to start businesses and we do art and we do a lot of things, but there wasn’t a space for it,” Trenton (above left) explains. “We were looking for that. It was right here.” 

Career Pathways Opens New Doors 

Shortly after discovering Oak Studio, the twins were selected for the Career Pathways program led by Emmett Phillips, the Teen Tech Center’s Career Pathways Facilitator. “They were dragged in here by their mom,” Emmett recalls. The twins were on the edge of losing direction, admittedly without much motivation or structure. “You don’t have to come in already high performing to be successful,” Emmett says. “You can come in rough, you can come in rugged, and you can have that transformation process.” 

The program offered professional development training and mentorship, all while being paid. For Kenton, the opportunity sounded too good to pass up. For Trenton, being selected felt like a turning point. He had never been picked for an opportunity like that before. 

The eight month program focused heavily on soft skills: professional communication, interpersonal skills, interview training, and public speaking. The experience proved life changing, especially for Kenton, who describes himself as introverted. The program taught the pair how to interact in groups and work with people from different backgrounds and experiences. The diverse cohort worked together on projects, building both technical skills and professional confidence. As Kenton puts it, anyone who goes through the program will walk away different, with new information and skills they didn’t have before. 

At the program’s culminating presentation, Trenton created a powerful before and after slide showcasing his transformation. “That confidence, that internal change,” Emmett reflects, “and the type of solidarity that they build with each other, and how they connect with us, and how they basically treat this space now as another home, that is the major success of the program right there.” 

Following the Career Pathways program, both twins completed internships at Best Buy in West Des Moines. The experience was valuable, giving them a taste of professional work environments, but their entrepreneurial spirit was calling them toward something of their own. 

Surge Detailing Takes Shape 

The idea came from an unlikely source: a YouTube video about car detailing. Trenton thought it looked doable and realized people love having their cars professionally cleaned. With money saved from their internships, the twins pooled their resources and bought materials. They named their business Surge Detailing, a name that evolved from their initial plan to do pressure washing. 

They started small, cleaning their mom’s car, then moved on to neighbors and friends. Even Derek Frank, the Oak Studio coordinator, became a customer. Now they’re actively working to grow their customer base. 

The support from Oak Studio has been crucial to getting their business off the ground. Derek and Emmett have been supporters, both emotionally and practically. Beyond encouragement, the Teen Tech Center provides the tools they need to market themselves professionally. With access to high powered computers and Adobe Creative Suite, the twins create content for their website, Facebook page, and Instagram. These are tools they’d otherwise have to pay for themselves. 

Derek’s mentorship extends beyond just providing equipment. “Every time I talk about my business to Derek, he always has another idea to bounce off of,” Trenton says. “There’s always something more to think about.” 

The Road Ahead 

The twins have learned from their past ventures, and this time feels different. They have a solid business plan, the right tools, and a support system that believes in them. Their goal is simple: build a successful business doing something they enjoy, on their own terms. 

For two young entrepreneurs who spent years searching for the right opportunity and the right space to make it happen, Surge Detailing represents more than just a car detailing service. It’s proof that with the right support and resources, their entrepreneurial dreams can become reality. 

The Harris twins can be reached at 515-718-2102, and they look forward to connecting with new customers. 

The Oak Studio Teen Tech Center is changing the lives of central Iowa youth every day. To contribute to these important services, click here to donate.

10 Questions with Billy Stone

Get to know Education Coordinator Billy Stone and her dedication to enhancing the education of young people at Oakridge Neighborhood.

The first thing you’ll notice about Tina Sia Mamaise Turner is her million-dollar smile, which radiates warmth, strength, and quiet confidence. Those traits have helped her as she’s grown from an Oakridge Neighborhood resident to a budding entrepreneur. 

When Tina arrived at Oakridge Neighborhood as a young single mother with a newborn son, she was stepping into unfamiliar territory. Fresh from beauty school and navigating life on her own for the first time, she had never paid bills or managed finances independently. “It was my first time being by myself,” Tina explains. “Learning how to pay bills and all of those things, I had no clue.” That’s when she heard about Oakridge Neighborhood, a place that offered not just affordable housing, but something even more valuable: a safe place to learn. 

Tina’s journey to Des Moines began in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where she grew up in a three-story home attending private schools. At age seven, she moved to Nashville with her aunt, seeking better educational opportunities. The transition was jarring; the neighborhood was far from the America she had imagined, and at school, she faced painful stereotypes. Her classmates would ask, “Do you wear shoes? Have you seen lions?’” she recalls. Determined to challenge these misconceptions, Tina brought photos from home for show-and-tell, showing her classmates a side of Africa they had never seen. 

Years later, after moving to Des Moines to be with her father and enrolling in beauty school, she found herself pregnant with her first child Jahvoni, and needing to make it on her own. 

A Foundation for Success 

Living at Oakridge Neighborhood for three years, Tina took full advantage of the financial literacy classes offered. “You can come in not knowing anything, and they’ll start with you from the beginning,” she says. While attending beauty school and working part-time at the mall, she learned to budget and plan for her future. “Oakridge was really a time for me to save, time for me to learn,” Tina reflects. “I knew I wasn’t going to be here for long, but I wanted to learn the basics of living on my own and what that looked like.” The stability and support she found gave her the confidence to move forward. “I knew if I couldn’t do it, Oakridge would have programs that can assist me,” she says. “It’s not like they’re going to kick me out, right? It gives you the confidence.” 

After graduating, Tina rented a booth at a top salon on Sixth Avenue for $125 a week. “I’m used to working. I’m used to earning and putting forth the effort completely,” she says. “I wanted to go to the top Black salon in town so I could learn.” She studied every technique, took on walk-ins other stylists couldn’t handle, and steadily built her skills and clientele. Within a few years, armed with the financial literacy she gained at Oakridge Neighborhood, Tina moved from Oakridge into a new apartment. “Because I took those budgeting classes, I was able to look at my finances and say, ‘Okay, I can move out and afford this,’” she explains. 

Building Business 

In 2015, after eight years working in salons, Tina opened Paparazzi Hair Studio. The name came to her in a dream after praying for inspiration. “I was like, ‘God, I need something. I want people to ask my clients who, what, where, and when. Every client is my billboard,’” she remembers. Her father, a construction worker, helped transform the small space. 

Three years later, she launched Lifestyle Juices after realizing she needed quick, healthy fuel during her packed salon schedule. True to form, Tina researched juice bars in New York and called to ask if she and her husband could learn from them. “I told them, ‘We can work for you for free. We just want to learn.’ They said, ‘Sure, no problem. When do you want to come?’” Now in its ninth year, Lifestyle Juices is expanding into a larger location offering clean foods, wraps, and salads. This year, Tina is launching her third venture: Paparazzi Fragrance Oil. On a typical day, you can find her at one of her multiple business on University Avenue in the Drake Neighborhood. 

Along the way, Tina married Nico McQuist, had a second son Jayden, adopted Tre’jore from the foster care system, and opened her home to Ruben, her oldest son’s friend who recently started college. All the boys work in the family businesses. “My father taught me the value of work,” Tina says. “I have to make sure my kids understand: you have to work and earn what it is you want. When you get the opportunity to come to the United States, you have to utilize it to the fullest. Somebody else could have come in your place.” 

Looking back, Tina is clear about what Oakridge Neighborhood meant to her journey. “It was a safe place.” 

Families like Tina’s have turned to Oakridge Neighborhood for support for nearly 60 years. From secure housing to youth programs nurturing potential, to workforce and family services building brighter futures, our reach continues to expand because the need has grown. Your support ensures that hope, opportunity and belonging remain within reach for thousands of Central Iowans who count on us every day. Learn more. 

From the halls of the University of Minnesota to the heart of Des Moines, Matthea Little Smith has spent her life uplifting others, especially women and families facing trauma, homelessness, and mental illness.

Though she began her academic journey as a mathematics major, Matthea’s true calling emerged far beyond the classroom. For over 15 years, she was deeply involved in the Battered Women’s Movement, serving as a shelter advocate, legislative educator, and board member. She also worked as a case manager for women transitioning out of homelessness and abuse, helping them rebuild their lives with dignity, support, and hope.

When Hurricane Katrina displaced thousands of families, Matthea led the development of an innovative crisis response program in Minneapolis–St. Paul. Her model—combining emergency aid, case management, and connection to community resources—successfully supported 90% of the displaced African American families arriving in the region.

Matthea’s commitment to equity also extended into politics. A longtime member of the NAACP in both Minneapolis and Des Moines, she made history as campaign manager for Neva Walker, the first African American woman elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Matthea also held leadership positions within the Minnesota Democratic-Farm-Labor Party, served as a three-time national delegate, and helped shape public policy at every level.

In 2011, she retired from her role as Director of African American Outreach for National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, where she led stigma-reduction efforts across African American communities. She worked in churches, schools, and community centers, educating families and training parents of children with mental health challenges.

As a certified Technology of Participation (ToP) facilitator, Matthea continues to create space for community dialogue, problem-solving, and collaborative planning. Even in retirement, she remains deeply engaged: after relocating to Des Moines, she joined NAMI Greater Des Moines (now part of NAMI Polk County), trained as a Peer and Family Peer Support Specialist, and began facilitating local support groups and workshops.

Today, Matthea serves on the Board of Directors for Oakridge Neighborhood as a resident representative living at Silver Oaks, our 55+ community.

Whether teaching in classrooms, speaking in correctional facilities, or ministering at Corinthian Baptist Church, Matthea’s influence has been profound and far-reaching. Her life is a testament to compassion, courage, and community.

Matthea’s passion for service has supported countless families across the Midwest and right here in Central Iowa. To join her in making in impact for our Oakridge Neighborhood community, click here.

Oakridge Neighborhood is pleased to introduce Leonard “Lenny” Bell as Vice President – Youth and Education Programs.

Lenny brings more than two decades of leadership in education, youth development, and community engagement. He is a writer, educator, and community strategist known for designing youth centered programs that integrate academic achievement, creative expression, and personal development. His leadership approach is relationship driven and systems aware, grounded in the belief that young people thrive when they are supported holistically.

Prior to joining Oakridge Neighborhood, Lenny held leadership, teaching, and consulting roles across K-12, higher ed, and nonprofit organizations throughout Iowa. He has worked extensively with first generation students, young men of color, and emerging leaders, developing pathways that connect education to purpose, voice, and long- term opportunities. His work emphasizes mentorship, culturally responsive practice, and sustainable systems that strengthen both youth outcomes and organizational capacity.

Bell will oversee a staff of 20, serving close to 400 students in Central Iowa taking part in services such as afterschool programming, summer learning, Oak Futures Employment, and more.

He succeeds Vernon Johnson, who retired from his position in 2025.