Melissa knew right away that there was something different about WWIN. And it was just what she needed.
“They were specifically looking to serve women who were having the kind of experience I’d had,” said Melissa, the recipient of a 2006 WWIN education and mental health grant.
For years Melissa had endured a range of traumas including sexual assault, domestic violence and homelessness. It was a time when she often received help for herself and her young daughter, but what she really wanted was an opportunity to give back.
“I wanted people to know that I had something to offer, too,” she said.
With the help of her WWIN education grant, Melissa went on to become a licensed midwife, realizing her dream of helping others.
“We all have something to offer our community,” she said. “Deep down inside we know where we belong and we know that we have worth. And you need to just keep listening to that voice. Because there’s a path for you.”