Our Hero – A Family Story
She doesn’t think of herself as our Hero but we know otherwise. We met her in 2007, before our nonprofit was formed. Her experience, her story inspired the creation of City Youth Matrix.
She walked a dark and lonely path for years, until the time came to make a change. 2 local nonprofits and caring teachers at her children’s school helped her transform her life for herself and her children. The support that wrapped her in encouragement was the beginning of the matrix. She enrolled in community college and began modeling the value of education to her four children.
Her youngest son became the first child to experience the Matrix effect. He was only in second grade, but had behavior troubles that saw him removed from class every day. He needed intervention and was given the chance to enroll in an intensive mentoring program. He got registered in a basketball program through the efforts of our first family liaison. The son was reminded that he was part of something, that he mattered to a group of people. That was 2009. Today. that troubled young boy proudly serves in the Navy. His childhood mentor and liaison are still part of his life.
As for our Hero, she obtained a nursing degree and has a career in the senior care industry. Work is demanding and she logs as many as 70 hours per week. She gives back to others by baking and is known for her cakes and cupcakes.
Our hero has become a staunch parent advocate and is better equipped to guide her children in the ups and downs of life. Her girls are part of the Matrix now. The high school daughter volunteers in the Bucket of Hope Program. Her dreams of becoming a cosmetologist are encouraged by her family liaison, who is seeking out internships and introductions to career mentors. Her middle school daughter began taking ice skating lessons at 10 which boosted her self-confidence. Her relationships at school have improved along with her academic performance.
Our Hero has become a leader in the City Youth Matrix family empowerment program. She was the keynote speaker at our first public event. She is a group facilitator at our quarterly family empowerment evenings. She is on the path to buying their first family home.
Although we call her our Hero, her four children call her Mom, her greatest name is Mom. She has a sixth grader, a high school sophomore, and one son in the US Navy, and her oldest son, who serves his country in a leadership role in the Army. Mom gleams with pride when you mention any of her children. They are the very greatest thing in the world to her and they each see her show them how special they truly are on a daily basis. She has demonstrated the benefits of hard work and the value of education to her children. She has lived a life of overcoming challenges. She has demonstrated courage and resilience to her family. She wears a daily reminder in a wrist tattoo that proclaims “For them, I’d risk it all.” To honor her, her youngest son’s tattoo reads, “Because of her, I will not fall.”
She is Our Hero. She is the story of City Youth Matrix.