By Wyatt Miller
Trayonna Rankins' community-centered journey began in adulthood. As she started to learn who she was and how she wanted to be as a new mother, she shared thoughts and feelings with friends. Many of them, Rankins included, realized that they were "grown women with little girl issues," Rankins said.
That realization sparked something in her, as she'd always been someone who wants "to help, to fix, to heal what's broken," she said. Inspired by that realization as well as her grandmother's example, who served as the director of a homeless shelter in South Los Angeles, Rankins started to dedicate her life to helping young girls.
Rankins founded Marching Beauties Foundation in 2011 and later established it as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2015, "with the hopes of building an organization committed to developing young girls," according to the website.
"We strive to create safe opportunities for girls in South Central Los Angeles through programs that build their emotional and mental resilience to enable them to reach their authentic, full potential," Rankins said.
In October, the Rams surprised Rankins as the 10th Rams "pLAymaker" of 2025 and presented her with a $5,000 check made out to the organization.
"To be named a playmaker means to move by your heart and to be a light to those who are in darkness," Rankins said. "To be selfless and make a difference in every environment by showing leadership, teamwork and what it looks like to walk in purpose and love."
Marching Beauties Foundation offers a variety of programs that help girls between the ages of 13 and 17 gain vital skills and knowledge while promoting "self-confidence, wellness, and unity," according to the website.
They also offer one-on-one mentoring and partner with schools, group homes, churches and shelters to "empower young girls to break through the walls of bondage by planting a seed and watering it with love, knowledge, and understanding."
The first time Rankins heard one of their beauties say, "Marching Beauties saved my life," that's when she knew she was making a real difference. Still, she never imagined that she would turn her ambition as a young mother into a foundation that would have such a profound impact on the youth in L.A.
"Community change comes from understanding your community and doing what you can to fill in the gaps," Rankins said. "Nothing changes until something changes. I believe we all play a huge part in making this world a better."
