In many ways, Teawanna Teal is a classic Habitat for Humanity success story. 

After becoming a Habitat homeowner, the single mom of three went on to become a college graduate, a successful entrepreneur and a tireless Habitat volunteer.

She brings a powerful message to women who want to realize the dream of owning a house. “I tell other women, ‘If I can do it, then you can do it, too,’” she said. 

Before Teawanna–her friends call her Tea–applied to be a Habitat homeowner, she was trying to make ends meet by working at Publix and living in an apartment with her kids. “The rent was a little expensive, so it was hard,” she recalls.

Tea’s first application for a Habitat home was denied. But she persisted and was approved on her second try. Tea put in the required 400 sweat equity work hours and took Habitat’s homeowner education classes. She saved to pay the closing costs.

She and her children moved into their house in West Palm Beach’s Historic Northwest District in June of 2018. They lovingly refer to their home as their “mini-mansion.” The move was a gamechanger for Tea, but especially for her kids. They are 14-year-old Ja’Markis, 12-year-old Ja’Layah, 8-year-old Jordyn. Tea refers to them as the “JCrew.”

“They know they will always have a home,” she said. “We don’t have to move. We’re stable. They have a safe place.”

Beyond the shelter aspect, the home brings Tea’s children the promise of generational wealth. “I’m leaving a legacy for them, an asset for them to keep in our family,” she said.

The home also gave Tea the financial breathing room she needed to become an entrepreneur. Three years ago, she started a unique business called The TJ Spot. It is a pop-up rollerskating rink that provides fun and exercise at parties, street festivals, schools, churches, summer camps and more. 

“One day I was sitting on my bed thinking, ‘What can I do to not just to make money but to bring activities here for kids?’ Because there is not enough for kids to do. Back in the day, me and my family enjoyed rollerskating, so I started researching it.” 

As it happened, she knew that a local skating rink was going out of business. The owner was willing to give her all the rink’s skates. And although they were old, some mismatched or broken, it was a start.

Tea ordered a portable skate floor, invested money in new skates and slowly built the business. She went through the Mayor’s Jump Start Academy in West Palm Beach to learn the basics of business ownership. “It’s true what they say about starting a business. It starts slowly,” Tea said. After three years, however, The TJ Spot is thriving.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “We have more bookings than ever.”

After getting her Habitat Home, Tea managed another major accomplishment: She enrolled in classes at Florida Atlantic University, earning her degree in 2023. “I’m an Owl,” she says, proudly referring to the FAU mascot. 

Although Tea is no longer required to do volunteer work for Habitat, she continues to put in countless hours. Women Build, in particular, holds a special place in her heart. It’s an annual event that brings women together to improve and build homes for other women.

CLICK HERE to find out more about Women Build 

Tea has served as a Women Build committee member in the past and is doing so again this year.

“I remember all the women–and men, too–who helped build my house,” she recalls. “It was women coming together to support a single mom and saying, ‘Hey, you got this.’ That’s very powerful. It really changed my life. 

“The encouragement I got from the women who helped me is something I’ve taken with me. It helps me to support my kids and it helps me to keep growing.

“I choose to continue to work with Habitat and on Women Build just to tell everybody how great it is.”

Tea, an eloquent and passionate speaker, regularly talks to groups on behalf of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Palm Beach County. Twice she has traveled to Tallahassee to lobby state lawmakers to support Habitat’s mission.  

Tea’s next act? 

“I’m looking to start a nonprofit to provide more activities for children in my neighborhood,” she said. “They need more than what they have here.” 

Tea already has a lot on her plate. But at this point, no one would be surprised if she succeeds. She’s on a roll. 

SAVE THE DATE: The next Women Build is March 12 and 13, 2026. To find out more, CLICK HERE.

Written by Steve Plamann, a dedicated Habitat for Humanity volunteer.