Single moms get financial help for college thanks to Soroptimist
DOWNEY - Take six outstanding single moms in search of a higher education and you could be at a Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards dinner like the one last week at the Rio Hondo Event Center.
Award will cover costs of books, tuition, transportation to classes, and child care. Child care is a crippling expense when a single mom has toddlers at home and can’t leave them. The United States is one of the few industrialized nations where free care for pre-K children is not provided. Thanks to the members of Downey Soroptimist International for filling that gap.
A sympathetic audience of Downey professional and business women listened as the awardees told their stories, some for the first time in public.
Typically, the award winners are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, teen pregnancy, and drug or alcohol addiction. All are now single head of households, living independently.
This group was no exception. Nearly all the speakers teared up, and the wait staff brought a box of tissues to the podium. There was the teenager who has been in foster care for seven years after a horrendous childhood. Another, a single 20-year-old mother of a now two-year-old daughter, said she knew she was too young to have a baby, in high school, yet decided to keep her child and try to go forward.
One winner, Lizbeth, 18, came in a beautiful white prom dress, escorted by boyfriend Cesar Chavez. Lizbeth is taking pharmaceutical tech classes at Downey Adult School (DAS), and plans on working, using that skill, to “jump start” her real career dream, to be a social worker. She hopes to study at UC Santa Cruz.
Soroptimnist President Judy Gallardos de Cisneros and Lizbeth. Photo by Lorine Parks
Each awardee received a big bouquet of bright flowers, courtesy of the talents of Mia Zimmerman, who did the spring flower table decorations too. Thanks, Mia.
Portia, age 33, said she lives with “two roommates, but they don’t pay rent: my children.” Her mother, Tomia, nodded agreements as Portia told how she now goes to Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Portia works for the state of California and wants to become a CAL-State OSHA inspector, specializing in enforcement. That means going to the site of any reported infraction and making sure it has been corrected.
OSHA, the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, looks after worker’s safety and working conditions, and also elevators and amusement park rides. So Portia will be looking out for all of us.
Nadia, 43, brought her 20-year old daughter for company. “My boys decided she should be the one to come,” Nadia said. Melany, the 20-year-old, and her older brother, 22, have moved out and share an apartment, so that shows that Nadia has been successful in raising them to become self-sufficient.
Her 13-year old boy still lives with her, and she is in her last semester at Azusa Pacific University, studying to be a teacher to special needs kids. She is working with special needs children right now and know this is the life she wants. But Nadia has student loans, and needs to repay that debt.
How do Soroptimists, whose mission is to make life better for women and girls, manage to come up with the funds for these awards and the other scholarships they give? Downey Soroptimists are known for putting on fun parties like Casino Nights, that are money raisers, and they work hard all year get high quality silent and live auction prizes donated for their glamorous evenings.
The Downey community always looks forward to attending, and they draw the members of other service clubs too.
Members present at the dinner, like Dorothy Pemberton, Linda Haines. Gigi Saab, Ellie Eck, and Judy McDonnell, are long-time Soroptimists. Sharing the enthusiasm with them are the current wave, Dr. Nina Smart, Melissa Barger, President Judy Gallardos de Cisneros and Blanca Rochin, who is principal of Downey Adult School.
When I asked the awardees how they heard about the Soroptimist grant, the three who are enrolled in the DAS named their Principal Blanca. Portia, who goes to Cal State Dominguez Hills, heard through her school counselor, and another through a friend.
Desirée, 23, goes to DAS and is studying to be a medical assistant. She brought along her sister, Denise, who is enrolled in the same program. Next semester she will be an extern at an Ob-Gyn office in Downey, and hopes to get hired into that group. She needs to pay for daycare for 2-year-old daughter Raine.
The evening began with an address by Monalisa Okojie, founder of Upward African Woman Foundation, stunning in a black lace top and black skirt with orange and black print panels extending from the waist. Dr. Nina Smart, smart in a yellow frock, introduced her.
Past District Governor of Soroptimist Linda Haines and speaker Monalisa Okojie. Photo by Lorine Parks
“Women are the backbone of their community,” said Monalisa. “Women hold the key to educating their children, the next generation. And we can help them to start small businesses with a small loan at very small interest rates.”
Monalisa’s Foundation, a non-profit California organization, empowers women and children who live in substandard conditions, primarily in west Africa. “Our goal is to empower women to be entrepreneurs, through sustainable educational programs and childcare services” she said.
“These recipients are primarily the victims of cultural, mental, sexual, physical abuse and neglect,” said Monalisa. “If we all work together we can change women’s lives.”
“This is one of our wonderful events,” said President Judy, “that we work so hard all year to achieve. It directly impacts and improves the lives of those we honor.”