Tyra J. Duren, PHR
Tyra J. Duren, PHR, is an inspirational woman committed to not merely existing but to make a difference. She is widely recognized for her gifts to lift the spirits of others. She is a president, founder, life coach and a career advisor. She is a woman of purpose. The Cahokia, IL native, is a walking success story and testimony of one who refused to succumb to her environment and has been featured in countless magazines, television shows, radio and print media.
At the age of 5, she was blessed to sing for Dr. Bobby Jones before 30,000 people in Detroit, MI. Even then, she knew God had a purpose and plan for her life to never settle for less than the BEST. At the age of 8, she auditioned for the WDB Professional Theatrical Touring Company and was blessed to be the company’s first young person to be a lead role actress and vocalist as they toured cities across the country. She was the featured vocalist on “My Soul Sings Magazine Gospel CD Recording, rendered breathtaking vocal performances at the Missouri Black Expo Gospel Explosion, the Black Rep Theatre, the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Celebration, the Annie Malone Children’s Home Gospel Gala, and Hal Jackson's International Talented Teens (formerly Miss Teen Black America) “Pre-Teen” representative.
Tyra is passionate about community service and has participated in many community service projects which include mentoring, tutoring and peer mediation. This passion for service led to her starting GEMS (Girls Empowered & Motivated Spiritually) Through Christ, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to mold young girls into divine women through the focus of spiritual growth, career readiness and self-development. She has always been committed to giving back to the next generation. She possesses a pure passion to positively impact pre-teen and teen young ladies and has been blessed to share and expand that vision with the founding of G.E.M.S. In August of 2012, she was afforded the opportunity to annually present G.E.M.S. as the Special Guest Facilitator for the Illinois Mid-state Youth Quake, which draws thousands of youth from across the region, and brought forth her highest achieved award, the “Outstanding Youth Role Model of the Year” in 2010.
As busy as these efforts kept her, she still continued to maintain high scholastic standards at Jackson State University. During her time as an undergraduate, she earned the title of Miss MADDRAMA, Thee Voice of JSU, was initiated as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was elected Student Justice, and crowned Miss Capital City Classic before graduating Magna Cum Laude. Tyra went on to receive a dual master’s degree from Webster University in Human Resources Development & Human Resources Management.
Unfortunately, all of her amazing accomplishments did not shield her from the many obstacles she would face as an African American woman. She experienced blatant discrimination, being passed over for positions and racial harassment all within her first three years of professional work. But like Joseph, she kept her eyes on the promise and didn't allow these challenges to deter her from accomplishing her goals and dreams. She now balances her non-profit organization and a full-time position in the Human Resource Department of the St. Louis Cardinals.