Jamorion's mother, Tonisha, wanted her son to be involved, but she didn't have a vehicle or the extra funds for public transportation. It was already a struggle for her to attend GED classes. "A staff member volunteered to pick up Jamorion for the remainder of last year," says Lisa. "This year, we were able to make bus passes available to Tonisha so that she could bring him here."

The Beginners Program, an early childhood education program for children ages 3-5, has impacted Jamorion’s life in big ways. "For a few hours each week, Jamorion has a safe, nurturing environment where he can enjoy being a kid," says Lisa. "He is challenged in positive ways and has learned to sit still and interact positively with the other kids." Lisa admits that it has been a long process, which speaks to the importance of having children involved for the long-term.

As they do with all the students' parents, Breakthrough staff has worked hard to get to know Tonisha. "She is a young mother without a lot of resources," says Lisa, "so we encourage her to continue with GED classes and to take advantage of case management and other opportunities like employment training through the Women's Services Program."

"Tonisha wants an education for her children and for herself," says Youth and Family Services Director, Marcie Curry. "Jamorion's involvement here will help provide him with social skills and an environment that is literacy-rich." She continues, "It's a great example of how we can partner with families to turn their children into life long readers who bring positive change into their community."

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