Real Stories

Makeeko is pursuing an associate degree in medical office administration, and currently works full-time in a local hospital in patient records. She has three children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum. Educating herself on special needs and advocating for her...

Orrie is currently enrolled at Wake Technical Community College as a dental assisting student. She plans to transition to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Dental Hygiene program at the Adams School of Dentistry in the fall of 2026. She views dental...

Alisha is pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Western Governors University Online, and will graduate in November 2025. Alisha is currently working as a Lead Ancillary Teacher at a Christian Montessori School. She is a dedicated wife and mother to an...

Marktika is enrolled in a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program with a goal of becoming a registered nurse. She is the sole provider for her 12-year-old daughter, who has a disability.She currently works as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a nursing home....

Yvette's journey has been shaped by hardship, resilience, and an unwavering determination to build a better future. Losing her father to cancer as a child was a heartbreaking experience that left a lasting impact. On top of that, her mother’s incarceration forced her...

Tanea’s personal journey has been marked by resilience. After her mother’s mental breakdown when she was six, she and her siblings were raised by family members. She later lived with an aunt in North Carolina before moving to Washington, DC, at sixteen, where she...