Success Stories | Madison

“There is a point in life when you must reflect on what you have been through, where you may be going, and how the decisions you make affect these things,” Madison wrote to us. “The YouthBuild program offered me the last chance I needed.”

Madison and her family faced many struggles throughout her life. Her mother and father had substance abuse issues, and her father eventually passed from a drug overdose. With her mother on a fixed disability income, she was barely able to provide for her children. Living in hotels, her mother was eventually arrested and Madison was left to navigate the foster care system for two and a half years. In that time, she learned valuable lessons about herself and became committed to getting on her own two feet to provide for herself.

Having heard about our YouthBuild program, Madison was extremely eager to reach her 18th birthday so that she could apply. While enrolled, she benefited from one-on-one mentoring and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, seeing the value in giving back to her community. In just 20 weeks, Madison earned her high school diploma and eight other certifications. She overcame transportation challenges and demands on her time to make it happen, demonstrating to her family and her support team that she had the resilience needed to succeed. “Somewhere along the way in the last 20 weeks, I obtained a new perspective on life and wanted better for myself and my future. I made the decision to push myself.” Self-sufficiency is Madison’s highest priority, and she yearns to demonstrate what she can do.

Madison started a Paid Work Experience with a counseling agency and aspires to help other young adults that experienced hardships like hers. Her next step will be pursuing formal education in counseling. “She is learning much-needed social, life, and soft skills each day,” her career coach writes. “She has what it takes, and her personality will allow her to shine.”

She is the first person in her family to go to college, and she is seeking a Success Award to purchase the supplies she needs to succeed. A laptop and office equipment will allow her to be productive at home and continue her positive trajectory.

“I have seen a change in Madison for the better,” her career coach continued. “She began her journey as an angry young adult who didn’t know what to do with her life, but she is now on a career pathway to success and overall transformation.”

Youth services are provided in partnership with YouthBuild, Habitat for Humanities, CareerSource CLM, and Workforce Development. Learn more about our Workforce Development programs or find a program near you below.

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