Event Recap-“Spring for Kids”
I was honored to be able to speak the Center for Children’s Advocacy “Spring for Kids” fundraising event. The Center for Children’s Advocacy is a nonprofit agency that works with low income & at-risk youth. This organization educates youth on their rights to resources such as education, child welfare, health care & court systems. I have been helped immensely by this program. I left home when I was 17 & knew to be as successful as possible, I needed representation in rooms I couldn’t walk into alone. I refused to be young & continually screwed by the system. So I reached out to the CCA for help understanding my options & rights & got so much more support than I could’ve imagined.
It was a great experience being in a room full of people experiencing/ have experienced homelessness & difficult situations as me. It reminds me I’m not alone, none of us are. It was so comforting see a room full of people spending thier lives helping people like me. It’s not easy work. Living it is a lot. But helping multiple children & young adults at a time & assisting as if teh problems were your own? Wow. I am so thankful for my attorney Stacey Violante Cote for understanding & supporting me for the last few years.
I was surprised to find out shortly before the event started that an interview I had done a couple months back was going to be played at the event. In the interview I had opened up being abused & suicidal. I shared my academic experience & mental health journey. It was an interesting feeling saying my experience out loud, but everyone watching it as I’m watching it for the first time? Man I almost cried my eyelashes off just sitting here not y’all want me to get up & look at everybody & talk about it!? Good God! But I did it. I honestly loved it. I felt celebrated for my accomplishments. I felt seen for my struggles. I felt supported by everyone & like an inspiration for others currently struggling in the room. I’m happy I finally get the space to cry but they’re happy tears.
Stella Rose: What brings you the most joy?
Me: Making people happy. People constantly ask me if hair is my passion. It’s not. It pays the bills but it makes people feel good when they’re leaving & they love their hair & the skin they’re in. THAT makes me happy.
Stella Rose: If you met someone who experiencing struggles , what advise would you give?
Me: Just breathe. It sounds so simple but really. Just breathe. There was one day I was at school & called Stacey. I was stressing about school, covid was coming, I was worried about how I was going to make money, just a lot was going on. And she said, “Could you stop & breathe with me?” That was huge for me, like I’ve never had someone say that to me. She made me realize I literally live in my skin. I always have the time to just breathe & exist for a second.
I thank Stacey for her continued support. I thank the Center for Children’s Advocacy for giving me the platform to share my experiences & provide insight for others in my position.
