Her children often invited their friends over. On one occasion, a friend was on the verge of being expelled from school, and her child mentioned that the boy was being raised by his grandparents after losing his parents. She found herself listening to teachers discuss this child she was trying to support, yet hardly knew. As more friends came over needing haircuts or shoes, Ms. Shirley expressed, "I'm always trying to help these kids on the side, but it's a struggle. My kids attend St. Mary's school, and they're constantly at risk of being expelled due to unpaid tuition." Despite her challenges, she began buying clothes for the kids and sought ways to keep them engaged and off the streets after dark. Observing their talents in singing and dancing inspired her to think, "If I had a Performing Arts Boarding School..." and that idea set her on a transformative path.