Lateia J.
Adult Learner
Alone in a rooming house looking at her newborn son, Lateia determined she would not fail as a parent: she would pick up her education where she left off in high school.
Dropout Sprints toward Doctorate
The Adult Learner Program at Project Hope is geared toward people like Lateia, low-income women who have known crises such as homelessness and violence; women whose goals include supporting their children economically and educationally. Over the past 16 years 450 women have aspired to meeting those goals by enrolling in tuition free classes.
Once Lateia enrolled in 2000, the staff was able to guide her to other departments at 45 Magnolia Street until she had a voucher for child care and keys to subsidized housing. Safe in a stable environment, Lateia raced through coursework. She quickly achieved a GED, a bachelor’s from Wellesley College, and finally a doctorate in Pharmacy: all in 6 years.
Self-Respect is Strength
“I credit Project Hope’s Adult Learner Program for the motivation and the tools I used to move up and out of poverty,” she says. The key foundational class teaches adult learners to deflect negative messages coming from society and to define themselves as women worthy of respect and love. “I believe it was self-love that I lacked,“ Lateia mused, “but once I experienced adults who cared, I was transformed.” That inner strength, she claims, is the bedrock of her continuing education.
Aida S.
 Project Hope Child Care Provider
Four years ago Aida found herself unemployed but responsible for
a 13 year old daughter and an 11 year old niece. After working in a non profit agency for 20 years, funds had dried up for her position and she was not suited for the openings available. She pieced together supports from government safety nets, but in order to make ends meet she was forced to empty her retirement account and max out her credit cards. That’s when a friend told Aida about Project Hope, a Dorchester agency which partners with families to prevent homelessness and end their poverty.
Home-Based Business Opportunity
One such way Project Hope assists families is through the Family Child Care Business Enterprise (FCCBE). This program trains women for careers in the child care field. It’s a win-win: low-income women gain skills leading to decent-paying jobs while other low-income women entering the workforce gain quality child care for their children.
Aida enrolled in the program and successfully completed an intensive training program that provided skills in child care, child development, financial management and achieving state licensing. Now, as a day care provider for 5 children, Aida is paying off her credit cards and is opening a 401K. Aida credits her success to intensive classroom training, the support of Project Hope’s friendly and competent staff, and the continuing professional development for providers in the Project Hope family day care network, which is made up of 20 family day care programs.
The future looks bright for Aida, “I have goals and I know how to meet them,” she says, “and though college is probably not in my future, when I look at the children in my care, I want it to be in theirs.”
Sharon K.
On a Career Track
When her company lost its major contract and folded, Sharon lead employee, mother and sole support of twins, fell on hard times. After months of fruitless job searching, she connected with Project Hope’s Workforce Coordinator who placed her in a job training program sponsored by Partner’s HealthCare. Five weeks later she was hired to work in a hospital she loves. It was a happy moment, but not the moment when you smile and close the covers on the bed time tale.
Project Hope Harnesses Multiple Resources
Project Hope knows that families who struggle to move out of poverty have more than one crisis. That is why Project Hope offers a number of interconnected services which have access to emergency resources.
In Sharon’s situation, once she was employed, all her expenses rose. Her food stamps had ended, her child care costs increased and her rent went up. Unfortunately, Sharon fell behind on rent and so received an eviction notice. There was no one to turn to and no extra money. The reality of being on the street with twin 9 year olds was imminent. “I was hurt and ashamed,” Sharon admits, “but I swallowed my pride and reached out for help.”
Service Delivery is Client Centered
Project Hope’s Housing Support Services provided that help. Having reassured her that there was light at the end of the tunnel, they went over all the financial information and were able to prevent the eviction. Filled with gratitude for being able to keep the roof over her family’s head, what Sharon remembers most is the respect she was accorded. “The staff never judged me or talked down to me. They only cared about my well being and my ability to pay my bills in the future,” she says.
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