The air buzzed with excitement at a local shelter for women and children in Washington, DC. Tonight, after Playtime, Shawnita and her team were braiding hair for Playtime’s children. A young girl, wide-eyed and curious, sat down next to Shawnita, the CEO and Founder of Aalita’s Heart. “Why don’t I have to pay for getting my hair done?” she asked, her voice soft. It was a question Shawnita would hear more than once that day, each time making her heart swell. Shawnita replied gently, “There are good people in the world and we try to be the good people and help those who need it.”
For the second year in a row, Aalita’s Heart stylists came from all over the country to braid hair for Playtime children at no cost and teach families how to braid hair themselves. In 2024, stylists braided hair for 14 children over two days. One of the days, they even worked 12-13 hours to make sure no child would be turned away. We spoke with Shawnita Murdock, Founder and CEO of Aalita’s Heart, about her organization and how it brings joy to children and families.
Origin Story
Named after Shawnita and her sister Aaliyah, Aalita’s Heart symbolizes a commitment to family and community. Originally launched as a hair care brand five years ago, the journey began when Shawnita’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, leading to hair loss. In a show of solidarity, Shawnita shaved her hair off. She experimented with mixing different products to find solutions that worked for thick, natural hair. People started asking what they used in their hair and that gave Shawnita the idea to reproduce and sell the product. Today, Shawnita’s mother is cancer-free. Aalita's Heart, as Shawnita says, “literally came from the heart.”
“To have a hand in being able to show the kids how truly beautiful every single one of their crowns is was nothing short of inspiring.”
Leslie Shired, Playtime Project DC Programs Manager
Playtime Project and Aalita’s Heart
Shawnita would often do kids’ hair for free, so she decided to make it official. She reached out to group homes, schools, etc. to style and teach hair braiding at no cost. The collaboration with Playtime began with a simple outreach to Bryanna Beamer, a former Playtime Program Manager. This partnership culminated in two-day workshops where Playtime children learned how to braid hair and, the next day, parents learned alongside their children. Shawnita believes, “Hair is ministry. It’s a great bonding experience.”
One of the young girls used to get bullied because of her hair—her mom just didn’t know how to do it. After the workshop, her mom bought a hair mannequin for her to practice on at home. When the girl saw Shawnita again, she told her, “I don’t get bullied anymore and I have friends now! People want to be around me more.”
The two days had “some tears and lots of smiles,” said Leslie Shired, Playtime’s DC Programs Manager. “To have a hand in being able to show the kids how truly beautiful every single one of their crowns is was nothing short of inspiring.” Leslie and Playtime’s Programs team intend to hold the event every year, including the summer of 2025.
Aalita’s Heart and Playtime Project connected through a shared mission of empowering youth through education and community connections. Playtime is proud to call Aalita’s Heart a valuable partner and looks forward to a long future of bringing joy and life skills to children, together.
