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Honoring Black Excellence this Black History Month
This Black History Month, we’re proud to spotlight one of our business clients whose work is transforming lives in our community: Lakia Rutley, owner of Small Hands Large Hearts LLC — a childcare center whose journey reflects resilience, purpose, and the powerful legacy of Black women who build, nurture, and lead.
From Feeling Invisible to Finding Her Purpose
Before launching her childcare center in November 2025, Lakia spent years in a job where she felt unseen.
“I didn’t feel like I was needed. I was just a body,” she recalls. “I wasn’t happy there, but I stayed because of the years.”
Week after week, she listened as her pastor spoke about people remaining in jobs that didn’t fulfill them. She knew those messages were meant for her, but she wasn’t sure what the next step looked like.
That clarity came unexpectedly. One morning, after being told her child’s daycare was at capacity, Lakia called her social worker. That’s when she learned something that shifted everything: the community was facing a childcare shortage.
And in that moment, it clicked.
A Calling Rooted in Love, Safety, and Community
Lakia had always been the mother who welcomed every child into her home. Kids felt safe with her. Parents trusted her. Looking back, she had been doing the work long before she ever called it a business.
When she opened her in-home daycare, her phone rang nonstop.
“Every day people called asking if I had openings,” she says. “I didn’t. And I kept seeing negative things happening in childcare. People were doing it who didn’t love kids. But I had a passion — and a team behind me who had a passion.”
A turning point came the day her inspector called: she had passed her licensing inspection for her new childcare building on the very first attempt.
“First shot and I mastered it,” she says. “Everything just seemed like it was falling into place… my loan got approved. I just trusted God and kept moving.”
That phone call wasn’t just approval — it was confirmation that she was walking in her purpose.
A Business Built on Heart and Support
What makes Small Hands Large Hearts unique is simple: Lakia goes above and beyond.
She became a subsidy provider, ensuring that single parents — especially single mothers like herself — could access affordable, reliable childcare.
“I’m a single mother of five. I know the struggle,” she says. “When parents come in with issues, I help them. I even offered one of my parents a job because she couldn’t find work that fit her kids’ schedule.”
Small Hands Large Hearts isn’t just a childcare center. It’s a safe haven. A support system. A community.
Breaking Barriers in Business
Black History Month holds special meaning for Lakia, who sees herself not just as a business owner — but as part of a long lineage of women who have built communities from the ground up.
“I am part of history,” she says. “As a Black woman, the odds are against us. But I’m conquering, I’m moving, I’m maneuvering. It’s hard in this industry, but I’m doing the extra steps to make sure my business is successful.”
Her story reflects the broader experience of entrepreneurs who often face barriers to capital, yet continue to lead with innovation, determination, and cultural strength.
Like many new business owners, Lakia faced challenges accessing financing. But Chesapeake Bank saw her potential.
“They gave me a business loan when nobody else would,” she says.” Melissa Jeffries walked me through everything. If she didn’t know the answer, she found it.”
And that support made her feel seen.
“It feels amazing to walk into a bank and hear, ‘Hey, Ms. Rutley!’… I feel special.”
A Legacy in the Making
Lakia’s story is one of courage, compassion, and community impact. She didn’t just open a business — she filled a need, created opportunity, and built a place where children and parents feel safe, supported, and valued.
Her journey reminds us of the power of purpose, the strength of entrepreneurship, and the extraordinary impact one person can make in their community.
