Success Stories
Terrell Fleming
Graduate: Black Infant Health Program
Terrell Fleming is now owner of one of the best performing Farmers’ Insurance
agencies in Northern California. Five years ago she was struggling
with many things; she had three kids, pregnant with her fourth child and
separated from her husband.
Her mom encouraged her to enroll in the Black Infant
Health program. Terrell says, “Programs
like the ones at Brighter Beginnings are hard to come across,
where people really care and aren’t judgmental. From
my very first time in the program, it was so positive, I didn’t
mind keeping in touch and opening up.” She and her husband
have since reconciled. She is now a proud mother, wife and successful
businesswoman. Complete story
Ronald Vinson
Graduate: The Men's Program
Today Ron is very proud of his job as a City of Richmond
Police Officer and his role providing for his fiancée and young
son. Only a few years ago he had been a homeless teenager and thought
everything hopeless.
He started to change his life when he enrolled at
a continuation high school. There he meet Joel Clark of The Role
of Men program who helped him to further his education, find
a job and be a good father. "I
wanted to be so far from where I came from and take my son so much
further.
Mr. Clark told me, 'don't ever be content; continue to climb the
ladder because it's burning up behind you." complete story
Erica Portugal
Graduate: The Sibling Program (program has been discontinued)
Erica is currently a full-time college student and
prior to that she worked for two years as an Outreach/Intake Coordinator at Brighter
Beginnings for Teen Support Services. Erica loves helping young women and
giving them the support they often don’t get at home. Not long ago,
Erica knew all too well what it’s like to feel lonely and isolated
and not get support at home.
While she was a teenager, she was “the mom” for
her five siblings while her mother was at work. During
that time Erica attended a program at Brighter Beginnings. Her
Family Advocate helped her understand difficult family issues,
gain confidence in herself, enroll in college and pursue a career
in early childhood education. complete story
Carlita Gill
Graduate: Adolescent Family Support Program
Seventeen year old Carlita graduated from high school last spring
with her three young daughters in tow. Carlita was able to stay
in school and maintain high standards for herself, even while having a
daughter at age 13 then having twin girls at age 15, due in large part
to the guidance and assistance she received from Brighter Beginnings.
It’s tough enough being a teenager but even while raising 3 babies,
going to high school and setting life goals, Carlita has kept focused on
being the best mom and student she can be with Brighter Beginnings helping
her through it all. complete story
Ana Schenk
Graduate: Antioch First 5 Center
Ana Schenk and her two young children have learned
so much together. As
a native of Peru, Ana was raising her children in the U.S. with no family
or friends to talk to. Her husband left for work each day
leaving Ana home in Antioch, lonely and unsure if she was raising her children
correctly.
As luck would have it, Ana found out about parenting
classes at the Brighter Beginnings Antioch First 5 Center. Ana and her children
went to all the classes offered at the Center and while Ana became a better
parent, her children Mark and Giselle took classes that would help them
enter kindergarten and be prepared for school. complete story
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