@Michelle Blair  @Tiffany Spencer’s   I totally agree with you. I was a Registered Nurse for 22 years. I injured my back so badly that I was told I’d never walk again. I am walking and have been since 8 months after my last surgery which was many years ago but I had no idea what I was going to do. 

I started a company to help unprivileged kids go to a 4 year college. The 1st 3 years myself and 2 friends were paying for quite a lot out of our own pockets but we sent 3 kids to college and did everything we could to make sure they graduated. 

2 of those kids now work with us. Helped  us turn into a nonprofit where we try to get the kids to join our program when they are in 5th grade. 

They helped us plan yearly goals for the kids. They come into the center after school each kids is assigned a mentor. The 1st few years we teach them the names of all the tools, teach them how to use the tools correctly and safely then we have them build something in small groups as the mentors get them to talk about themselves, school, home life, problems. Essentially we take into our program street kids, I feel I can use that term bc I was a street kid who became homeless at age 15 so I’ve been thru a lot of what most of them are going thru. If and When you can get someone like us to trust someone it builds their confidence, their self esteem and when they realize we have there back no matter what it makes you feel worthy. I had a teacher that helped me. I got caught breaking into my school 3 hours before anyone would be there so I could shower, wash my clothes in the sink, raid the cafe so I could eat. The teacher could’ve just had me arrested. Instead he took me under his wing, helped me thru a lot of bad and I think I would’ve died in my early 20s if not for him. This is what we do for these kids. 

I know I didn’t explain correctly so it just came across as rambling but every kid we get off the street turn them into happy productive individuals that will succeed we break a cycle so their kids won’t end up like us. Our program not only helps the kids but it helps the entire community. I hope you get what I’m trying to say. 

Thank God others do the talking to raise money bc I suck at it.