As we head into the new year, we want to take time to reflect on the year and how compassion has gotten us all through it together.
During this week, we will highlight a few of our programs participants who have made strives to achieve their goals—and a staff member who’s excelled at making our city a better place.
Day 6: David
David joined our TOP Clubhouse four years ago to learn how to live and thrive with mental illness. When TOP was threatened with closure this spring, he and his fellow members sprang into action. They rallied, lobbied politicians, talked to reporters—and won.
“I love TOP because it empowers me,” he says, adding that before he joined he was frequently hospitalized. “I wasn’t living, I was just existing. I struggled for many years.”
Now David is about to start college to become a peer mental health specialist. He wants to help others like TOP has helped him: “It’s worth more than money to me to see somebody uplifted.”
Day 5: Barbara Suarez
After retiring from her job as an operations manager, Barbara wanted to stay active in her community. So she joined the Isaacs Older Adult Center.
The ten years since have been a whirl of activity. Barbara heads the older adults committee and serves on numerous other committees She also helps out at the food pantry and wherever else she’s needed. “My goal has always been to be there for people, to be a helping hand, to be an encourager.”
Being around others motivates her to keep doing the work she loves. “I like the fellowship with the different personalities and cultures because we learn from one another. My slogan is: ‘Each one, teach one.’”
Day 4: Lisette
After the pandemic lockdowns, high-schooler Lisette found herself in tight financial circumstances and had difficulty focusing on her studies. Graduating seemed impossible.
But in 2023, she was able to join Goddard’s Learning to Work program. There she experienced a much more welcoming academic environment and was placed in a paid internship, allowing her to earn money while completing school.
“If it weren’t for the program, I wouldn’t have had the motivation to continue studies,” she says.
Lisette graduated this year and is continuing to work full-time at the business she interned at while she waits to start college in the spring semester.
Day 3: Nancy Brandon
Nancy Brandon’s first solo art sale and exhibition was a hit: a sold-out Opening Night, glowing stories in local media, and lots of paintings bought. Not bad for a 93-year old self-taught artist!
Brandon has been painting all her life, fighting stereotypes by depicting the joy and solidarity of the Black community. She says the show at our Bernie Wohl Center was empowering.
“I can’t tell you how amazing it was to walk into that room full of my paintings,” she says. “To be honored like that was just thrilling.”
Day 2: Wilmer and Victoria
When Wilmer came to our Star Learning Center, he had just arrived in the US and spoke very little English. The center recruited Victoria, a native Spanish-speaker, to be his volunteer tutor.
“I remember when I was little, how people helped me with the language,” said Victoria. She wanted to do the same for others.
Wilmer’s favorite subject is now English, and he feels like he’s getting better at it every day. “I have a good teacher who’s nice to me,” he says. Victoria, whose mom used to be a teacher, says tutoring comes naturally. “In helping Wilmer, I feel like I’m meeting my goal every day.”
Day 1: Larry Wood
Larry started working with the Goddard Riverside Law Project more than 35 years ago. Helping people stay housed was his passion—and still is.
“Every night I could go home and say: I know one less person is homeless this week.”
Today Larry is Director of Advocacy and Organizing for our whole organization. Among many other things, he works to preserve single-room occupancy (SRO) housing and ensures people know their rights in housing court. Larry – and Goddard – believe that preventing homelessness and stopping displacement helps keep our community diverse, safe, and strong.