ABOUT US
Anna Mae Sonflower Seeds was founded by Dena Billups
Our Founder
Bio for Dena Billups:
Founder of Anna Mae Sonflower Seeds
Creating this bio hits differently because it begins my story—a story rooted in love, legacy, and transformation. It takes me back to the side of 1517 Columbus Road, where my grandmother lived. I can still hear her voice, sharing how she and my grandfather met. From their union came 17 children, 67 grandchildren, and 78 great-grandchildren. I am one of them.
Anna Mae Sonflower Seeds is my “who,” “what,” and “why.” It’s born of love for myself and my neighbor and guided by the voice of my late grandmother, Anna Mae Greene. Leading this legacy means honoring her daughters—one of whom was my mother—my daughter, and now her daughter, as we each fulfill a purpose greater than ourselves.
At its core, this work is about healing—healing our families and communities—and I believe that healing begins with family.
I am Dena Billups, the founder of Anna Mae Sonflower Seeds, and I wear many hats. I am an Author-Artist, Certified Professional Trainer, Minister, and visionary leader. The mission of Anna Mae Sonflower Seeds is to create safe, creative, and empowering spaces where African American and Latino women can thrive, heal, and break the generational barriers of historical trauma that hold their families and communities back.
My academic achievements include a Master’s in Human Services from Lincoln University. I am also a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a Certified John Maxwell Coach, and a Certified Parent Trainer. Additionally, I serve as a consultant and trainer for the NJ Child Welfare Partnership at Rutgers and Stockton University, a mentor for Amen University, and the founder of both ART of Training and Development LLC and the Trauma-Informed Coaching Institute.
When I’m not serving others, my greatest joy is creating memories with my husband, children, and grandchildren. My faith is the core of my inspiration, grounding me in all I do.
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Our communities can be healed from their traumas when we connect, rescript our narratives, and recover in our own spaces of rest. Anna Mae Sonflower strives to help women identify their need for rest in challenging situations to recharge and thrive for their children and families.
According to a Cty CDC-Kaiser ACE Study | Violence Prevention | Injury Center, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente more than two decades ago. The research identifies the connection between Childhood experiences before a child reaches 18 and negative health and behavior outcomes later in life. That’s why at Anna Mae Sonflower, our priority is Women and children; while we understand the role of the entire family, we must start with the first teachers of our families; moms. We want our families not only to survive but thrive; the study revealed that Americans who had experienced ACEs were at higher risk of dying from five of the Mortality in the United States, 2017
The 2019 study also revealed that Americans who had experienced ACEs were at higher risk of dying from five of the top 10 leading causes of death.
The report collected data from a survey of more than 144,000 adults from 25 states. It revealed that Women, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and African Americans have a higher risk of experiencing four or more childhood traumas.
