LaNee Bridewell

LaNee` Bridewell is the Wonder Parent behind OneParentWonder.com, a blog that is as practical as it is powerful in inspiring single mothers, young and old, broke and ballin’, near and far, black and white to lead wonderful and fulfilled lives with their children!

LaNee` motivates one-parent-wonders to transform their lives from the hopelessness of personal, emotional, and financial disappointment to the vibrancy of independence and success through educational empowerment, purpose driven careers paths, and spiritual well-being.

LaNee`s passion for helping pregnant and parenting students began in 2009 when she gave birth to her son Jai during her sophomore year in college. By the time she was 16, both of her parents passed away which later contributed to a gross lack of support in raising her son. In spite of many failures and sets backs LaNee` was able to overcome the challenges of caring for Jai on her own while working and being a full time student. Using the skills and lessons shared on her blog, LaNee` completed a Bachelor’s degree in 2010 and a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2013 from the University of Missouri.

The challenges of LaNee’s upbringing prepared her to persevere in the face of insurmountable obstacles. She has committed her life to helping others do the same. Through her blog, motivational speeches, and workshops LaNee` teaches single parents to dream again, live again, and achieve personal success without compromising strong and healthy relationships with their children.

LaNee` has centered her career and community involvement around this goal by serving as a board member to non profit organizations that focus on child development and the success of parenting students, developing programs for parenting students and their children, and advocating student parents issues in Washington, D. C. and Jefferson City (Missouri State Capital.) She is a higher education professional who has worked in various roles on college campuses to help ensure the success of at risk students. Currently, she is the Coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

She has been a featured as a speaker for Teen Mothers of Preschoolers (MOP’s), Better Family Life, and various college courses and community organizations across the United States. She has also served as a panelist for the 2011 Missouri Educational Roundtable hosted by The Office of Senator Claire McCaskill, the University of Missouri Black Women in History and Culture: HERstory, in addition to facilitating orientation workshops for students of color at the University of Missouri.

LaNee` loves playing Super Mario Brothers and Uno, attending sporting events and going on adventures in Kansas City with her favorite (and only) son Jai. She is an avid lover of all things edible and enjoys spending quiet time with herself to reflect and recharge. While LaNee` prefers to be completely unplugged from social media and television, she adores spending time with real, live people and laughing uncontrollably at petty jokes.