A Message from the Founder
My name is Antonia "Neet" Childs, and I am the Founder and Owner of Neet’s Sweets Incorporated.
I have always dreamed of having my own bakery. As a little girl, I followed my Aunt Koona around in her kitchen. Aunt Koona owned a catering business, and I loved to watch her passion for making dishes that left everyone smiling, including me. However, my dreams for owning my own bakery faded from reality after falling victim to a life of human trafficking.
It was through the kindness and support of a friend that I began a cake decorating class. I soon funneled this passion into a business idea, and I became a baking entrepreneur in 2008 in the Queen City, better known as Charlotte, North Carolina. Neet's Sweets has become more than just a business to me though. It's a movement- A movement to support other young women and girls exiting a life of commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. Proceeds from Neet's Sweets, Inc. help to provide support to women survivors, including counseling, housing referrals, and mentoring. We also offer employment as way to help our women gain work skills in order to begin their own journey towards personal growth, empowerment, and success.
We take great pride and joy in our bakery products and catering services and, once you have had a taste, you will agree! Each and every dessert baked by Neet's Sweets represents recovery, community awareness, and prevention, along with a family passion to bring good desserts to your plate. To learn more about our philanthropy work, please visit our non-profit page, Market Your Mind, Not Your Body.
My staff and I look forward to cooking and baking for your next personal or professional event, including weddings, birthdays, showers, conferences, and more.
Sincerely,
Neet Childs
Recent Awards and Honors
2014 P.E.A.R.L. Award (Pursuit of Excellence in Achievement Through Responsive Leadership Award) as an "Advocate for Promoting Humanitarianism" from Alpha Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
2014 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award for exemplifying the 8 core principles of authentic self, relationships, giving back, courageous acts, learning, fierce advocacy, celebration and joy from ATHENA International
2014 More Than a Survivor Art Exhibit from GEMS National Survivor Leadership Institute
2014 Beacon of Light Award from My Life My Choice of the Justice Resource Institute in Boston, MA
2014 Best of the Best Award from Charlotte Magazine in Charlotte, NC
2013 Youth Advocate Award from the City of Charlotte, NC
2013 People's Choice Award from Seed20 Unleashed! Social Venture Partners (Charlotte, NC)
2012 Emerging Leader Award- A Woman of the Rising Generation who will Lead our Community Forward; a Woman Of Achievement Award from the YWCA Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women (Central Carolinas)
2011 Prevention and Intervention Survivor Award from Safe Alliance (formerly United Family Services) (Union County, North Carolina)
2014 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award for exemplifying the 8 core principles of authentic self, relationships, giving back, courageous acts, learning, fierce advocacy, celebration and joy from ATHENA International
2014 More Than a Survivor Art Exhibit from GEMS National Survivor Leadership Institute
2014 Beacon of Light Award from My Life My Choice of the Justice Resource Institute in Boston, MA
2014 Best of the Best Award from Charlotte Magazine in Charlotte, NC
2013 Youth Advocate Award from the City of Charlotte, NC
2013 People's Choice Award from Seed20 Unleashed! Social Venture Partners (Charlotte, NC)
2012 Emerging Leader Award- A Woman of the Rising Generation who will Lead our Community Forward; a Woman Of Achievement Award from the YWCA Eliminating Racism and Empowering Women (Central Carolinas)
2011 Prevention and Intervention Survivor Award from Safe Alliance (formerly United Family Services) (Union County, North Carolina)
In the News
A Sweeter Life (EmpowerWomen.org, January 2015)
My SEED20 Story: Antonia "Neet" Childs of Neet's Sweets and Market Your Mind (Social Venture Partners, 2014)
A life worth living: Local baker finds purpose as entrepreneur, mentor (The Charlotte Post, August 2013)
HOW SWEET IT IS: From Sex Trafficking Victim to Success Story (Ebony Magazine, March 2013)
Fighting Human Trafficking With Baked Goods (Fox News Charlotte, January 2013)
What can stop human trafficking in Charlotte (Charlotte Viewpoint, August 2012)
Communities in Action: Spotlighting Antonia M. Childs of Neet's Sweets (Live It, Love It, Do It, June 2012)
Neet's Sweets: A Sex Industry Survivor Bakes to Get Others Out (Shop to Stop Slavery, June 2012)
9 Investigates: Human trafficking happening in Charlotte (Charlotte WSOCTV, May 2012)
Neet’s Sweets: Human trafficking survivor and Entrepreneur bakes to make a difference (Washington Times Communities, May 2012)
Cover Story: Human Trafficking in Charlotte (Charlotte WBTV3, January 2012)In the NewsA Sweeter Life (EmpowerWomen.org, January 2015)
My SEED20 Story: Antonia "Neet" Childs of Neet's Sweets and Market Your Mind (Social Venture Partners, 2014)
A life worth living: Local baker finds purpose as entrepreneur, mentor (The Charlotte Post, August 2013)
HOW SWEET IT IS: From Sex Trafficking Victim to Success Story (Ebony Magazine, March 2013)
Fighting Human Trafficking With Baked Goods (Fox News Charlotte, January 2013)
What can stop human trafficking in Charlotte (Charlotte Viewpoint, August 2012)
Communities in Action: Spotlighting Antonia M. Childs of Neet's Sweets (Live It, Love It, Do It, June 2012)
Neet's Sweets: A Sex Industry Survivor Bakes to Get Others Out (Shop to Stop Slavery, June 2012)
9 Investigates: Human trafficking happening in Charlotte (Charlotte WSOCTV, May 2012)
Neet’s Sweets: Human trafficking survivor and Entrepreneur bakes to make a difference (Washington Times Communities, May 2012)
Cover Story: Human Trafficking in Charlotte (Charlotte WBTV3, January 2012)In the NewsA Sweeter Life (EmpowerWomen.org, January 2015)
Media Archives
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLM3E_L00mQ Fox 46: Human Trafficking in Our Community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V65PddYIjtA SEED20 2013 Finalist - Neet's Sweets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLM3E_L00mQ Fox 46: Human Trafficking in Our Community
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V65PddYIjtA SEED20 2013 Finalist - Neet's Sweets
