Watch Nina's video

Overview

My boys have the opportunity to participate in a football league where they will learn to be team players and learn to work with other boys their age. They have overcome so much and deserve this opportunity to be able to be kids. They have maintained good grades and great participation in school after having to face so much adversity. I believe that this is an opportunity for them to become honest, hardworking, young men.

Meeting this need will help me because I believe that my boys truly deserve an opportunity to participate in a positive team player role that will help them learn to be motivated and focused and keep them off the street being exposed to negative things.

My goal is to give my boys some positive role models in the football league that can help them not feel the loss of a male figure in their lives. I also would like to give them a positive image of what boys their age can be doing besides hanging in the streets.

As a mom, I promise to keep shooting for positive things in our future. I also want to commit to paying it forward. Thank you in advance for your help.

I live in a transitional housing program with my 5 children and grandson. We came into this program 2 years ago after being in a shelter for 6 weeks after facing hardship and economic loss, and loss of a spouse. We have been in this program for 2 years and have learned many different ways to become more independent going into the next phase of our journey of permanant housing. We have obtained and learned many new ways for thriving. We are still learning and take each day in stride.

I'm originally from Lisbon, Portugal and have lived in Charlotte for a while now. I have 5 children, ages 21, 19, 12, 11, 9 and a grandson who's 4. I'm proud that both of my oldest are in college and doing positive things. The others I refer to as "My Boys" and they are the best. After losing everything in their lives that was important to them, including their home, friends, personal belongings and their father, due to hardship and economic loss, they faced living in a homeless shelter.

We have since progressed into a transitional housing program that, with much effort, motivation, and determination on all our parts, are slowly working our way back up. 

My Boys have struggled but understood the situation. They have been my inspiration to keep focused and move forward.

Watch Kenya's video

Validated

Validated by Kenya from YWCA Central Carolinas, Inc. (What does this mean?)

Nina Simone and I met in September 2011 during an intake interview. Nina has participated in the Families Together program and has received a Section 8 choice voucher as a result of her hard work and dedication. She is counting the days for her and her family to transition into their new home.

I think meeting this need is important because Nina is a strong advocate for her family and works very hard to ensure her children have a safe and stable environment. Nina has school age sons that can benefit from an opportunity to be a part of a team with other boys and encounter true male mentorship and coaching. This is the first time they have had an opportunity to engage in football. They are truly excited and thankful for the opportunity.

About Kenya

I am Director of Families Together. My work involves assisting homeless families with minor children transition from homelessness into permanent housing. My work consists of offering case management, implementing financial curriculum, nurturing parenting classes and identifying resources to help… Read more