Fall 2015 The Heartline :
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Your support made it possible for women to rebuild their lives after incarceration.
A young mother and her newborn found safety and stability at our Park Slope residence.
Volunteer Priscilla Shen-Ribeiro creates beautiful surroundings for children at Providence House.
THANK YOU for helping to raise $395,000 for People of Hope Celebration 2015!
Breaking Boundaries
Teri and Nakia are two of the many women who have unlocked their potential because of YOUR support. “I was incarcerated at 18,” said former resident Nakia during a recent visit back to Providence House V. “Coming home at 34. . . was like a baby coming into the world.” Many women in our re-entry program feel similarly. Though eager to return to their families and communities, many struggle with uncertainty and anxiety about how to live independently on the outside.
Another former resident who came back to see us, Teri, was in much the same position as Nakia as she approached her release date. Fortunately, both heard about Providence House from other inmates. They connected with staff and the Sisters of St. Joseph, were interviewed, and were accepted into the re-entry program, which consists of two residences in Brooklyn. “Just because someone has made mistakes in their life doesn’t mean they can’t be a productive member of society,” said Teri. She and Nakia quickly proved that during their months at Providence House. Like all residents of these programs, they received case management services and life skills training to help them stabilize their lives and prepare to live independently. Working with Providence House’s case management and employment staff, Teri quickly found a building maintenance job, where she was later promoted to supervisor, then building manager. Nakia worked as a paralegal.
Nakia Watson, Teri Rivera, and Providence House Job Developer Robin Toyloy
After they had established themselves and moved out into the community, Teri and Nakia kept in touch with staff and core community members at Providence House. Through grant funding from the Switzer Foundation, we provided tuition help as both women pursued their education. Both completed bachelor’s degrees, Teri in hospitality and hotel management and Nakia in legal studies.
Both women are actively reaching out to women now facing the same challenges they’ve faced. Nakia looks forward to assisting people who are not adequately represented or advised in legal matters. “So many people aren’t aware of their rights,” she said. “They need that assistance.” Teri, now an assistant facilities director for a multi-location nonprofit, stays in touch with our job developer, Robin Toyloy, and interviews and hires current residents who are ready for work and a good fit for one of her positions. “It’s a way to give back,” she said. “Now I can help them. I can repay Providence House a little bit.”
Providence House | 703 Lexington Avenue | Brooklyn, New York 11221 | www.ProvidenceHouse.org
Finding Family
Over 14,000 families will sleep in homeless shelters tonight - but your support intervened and helped one more family turn away from a turbulent and unstable life to find a loving home and support at Providence House.
Benedicta grew up an orphan in Nigeria and came to the United States in search of a better life only to find herself on someone else’s floor month after month. Soon after, Benedicta became pregnant. Still unable to support herself she became depressed at the prospect of raising a child without a stable home. “When I came to this country I thought I messed up. But sometimes disappointments are blessings in disguise,” she said as looked lovingly at her three-month-old daughter, Lakisha. Benedicta’s healthcare provider referred her to New York City’s Department of Homeless Services, which directed her to Providence House.
Benedicta and three-month-old Lakisha
Benedicta grew close with Natasha, our Housing Specialist, as well as core community members Sister Mary Walsh, Sister Theresa Scanlon, and Sister Joan Gallagher. She quickly formed an especially close bond with Debbie Farrell, the Residence Manager. “Miss Debbie has been so wonderful because she is like a mother to me,” she said. “She is calming and she advises me to carry on no matter what.”
Debbie helped Benedicta through a very painful pregnancy due to a health complication. “She was in a lot of pain and you could see that but she was always pleasant, always a pleasure to be with,” Debbie said. “She mentors the other young women here and she is also working with our volunteer GED tutor, Melissa, so she can get her high school diploma.”
Debbie, Benedicta and threemonth-old Lakisha
Despite difficulties in Benedicta’s past, she had only relentless enthusiasm and gratitude about her stay at Providence House and hope for the future. “Providence House is a wonderful place. It is a place of hope and I can never believe that I live in a shelter because I always have it in my heart that I live with my family,” she said. “The sisters and everyone else – they are pushing you to be someone in life and I am so thankful to them for standing by me,” she added tearfully.
Thank YOU for standing by Benedicta and all the families at Providence House.
Events
Thank you to our wonderful volunteer Jeff Zorabedian for the interview and photos for this newsletter. His fine work can be seen at www.JDZPhotography.com. Thanks to The Noun Project for the graphics.
Lakisha’s
Residence Managers at Staff Day
Christening
All the staff including our wonderful group of residence managers gathered on a cruise from Coney Island for a relaxing day of food, raffles, and bonding.
Benedicta’s daughter, Lakisha, was christened at the Holy Name of Jesus Church in August and our own Sister Mary Walsh and Sister Theresa Scanlon were appointed her godparents!
Back To School BBQ
From L to R: Rosalyn Brown, Kawanna Davis, Tonisya Newman, Faith Gregg, Debra Hurd, Ronnette Watkins, Shante Brown
Volunteers from Zion Grand Chapter, Cornerstone Baptist Church, St. Charles of Borromeo Church, and St. John’s University organized school supply drives and backto-school BBQs where the children recieved school uniforms and school supplies. Thank you to our volunteers!
CHILD CARE CENTER The Child Care Center staff and children worked on this mural as a summer project!
Thank YOU for making stories like Rosaline and Yolanda’s possible!
Find more success stories on Twitter
Rosaline’s criminal record made it difficult for her to find work, but her newborn daughter made it absolutely necessary. While at our New Rochelle residence, she tenaciously searched for a job, working closely with our case management and employment staff. Her dedication paid off when an assisted living facility interviewed her and hired her to a full-time position on the spot! Today, she is busy with apartment hunting and caring for her healthy, happy three-month-old.
#ProvHouseNY
Yolanda had a conviction in her past, along with a prison term. Through our re-entry services, she was able to stabilize her life after parole, pursue her education, and prepare to live independently. Over the summer she began working full-time at a women’s shelter, helping women now facing some of the challenges Yolanda herself has overcome. In addition to finding meaningful work, just weeks ago she moved from our Coney Island residence to her own independent apartment.
Volunteer Spotlight
At Providence House, we have an incredible volunteer community who help us run Christmas drives, organize birthday parties for the children, and create programs to educate our residents on healthy living. They are some of our most passionate supporters. This summer, volunteer Priscilla Shen-Ribeiro came to our house in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, and painted the children’s playroom with colorful characters from beloved books. Priscilla’s first art project at Providence House was the murals in our main Child Care center. Wherever she goes, she creates joyful environments for playing and learning. Priscilla has been an educator
in Brooklyn and abroad for the past 18 years. On the weekends, she leads arts workshops dedicated to creating authentic and meaningful learning experiences for adults and children. She offers free arts workshops focused on communities with little resources in the arts. Priscilla has also led workshops for Providence House’s child care staff on incorporating art into developmental activities for the children. A BIG THANK YOU to Priscilla and all of our wonderful volunteers for your dedication and generosity! You are greatly appreciated and our work would not be possible without you!
People of Hope Celebration Thank you for helping to raise
$395,000!
Passion and dedication are critical to Providence House’s work serving women who are homeless or involved in the criminal justice system. Both qualities were in ample supply among the 190 guests at our annual People of Hope event, held June 4th at the Water Club in Manhattan. Because an outstandingly generous donor matched every dollar raised, the evening provided $395,000 for our mission. At the event we presented our People of Hope Award to Bernie and Lisa Kennedy, who inspire us all with their tireless and selfless dedication. Our Foundress Award went to Bill Traylor, a true friend of Providence House who has spent the last 30 years building affordable housing in New York City. Finally, we were honored and blessed by the presence of a few of our residents, who shared their experience at Providence House. If you weren’t able to join us, please watch the video on our web site to hear their stories. After all, you make them possible through your support. Thank you for remaining People of Hope!
Here is how YOU can take action!
RAISE awareness about the issues of homelessness. You can advocate with us by using our hashtag #ProvHouseNY or sharing our Facebook posts and signing up for our eNewsletters.
VOLUNTEER at Providence House by creating your own fundraisers or donation drives. Contact Paula Migliore at migliorep@providencehouse.org to find out more about how you can volunteer your time and talent, by yourself or with a group. DONATE
to break the cycle of poverty, homelessness, and incarceration for women and their families. Your support of Providence House creates meaningful change for more than 500 women and children every year. You can give online, and even become a monthly donor, by visiting www.ProvidenceHouse.org.
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Providence House, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.