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Susannah: Life for the Better

A strong black woman is what I’ve become and is what I’ll forever be. I remember the days when I allowed myself to believe I was weak. I allowed myself to fall into the pits of no man’s land, where I was unemployed, on welfare, and the mother of a child whose father died at a young age from a gunshot. I was left feeling like I had to fight for mere physical survival.

I was seeking emotional wholeness. With no one to turn to in my time of need, I was referred to a shelter by the name of Alternatives For Girls. At AFG, I met other girls who were on the same mission to change their lives around for the better. Bonding with these girls introduced me to a sisterhood far better than any of my past relationships.

AFG wasn’t just a place where you could rest your head at night. It was a place where you truly received a helping hand. It was a place where you could find true friendship. When I entered this center, I had hit rock bottom and was feeling hopeless. This center provided me with individuals who showed me they cared. I enrolled into the TIL program with my mind in a new state, and I knew I was making a better way for my unborn son. With my mind mentally awake, I arrived to class every morning ready to learn and ready to accomplish. I completed the program and felt every proud of myself. Not only did the TIL program provide me with vital knowledge of how to make it on my own, it also provided me with things such as furniture and housing assistance. I had found a new confidence in my self thanks to AFG, and I was ready to enter back into the real world again.