Jessica’s Story

Jessica’s journey began with challenges that many adults would struggle to handle. She became a mother at 14 and dropped out of high school. At home, she faced instability as her mother battled addiction.
 
A turning point came when her grandmother passed away. That made Jessica determined to build a life that would make both her children and her grandmother proud. She earned her GED, went to college, and launched a career in the justice system as a Juvenile Corrections Officer.
 
Working with incarcerated youth gave her purpose, but the cycle of reincarceration was hard to accept. Seeking to make a broader impact, Jessica shifted her career into children’s services and later worked at a women’s shelter. Across each role, she saw the same pattern: people lacked the support needed to build lasting stability.
 
That realization led her to SELF. Through the Microenterprise and IDA Skill Development programs, Jessica began building a vision grounded in her lived experience and professional insight. With her business partner, she designed a long-term support model for women facing crisis. Their program goes beyond housing. It includes life skills training, credit repair, parenting education, and financial coaching.
 
 “Find your purpose,” she says. “If you can find your purpose in something, you can find your mission.”
 
Her success shows how SELF helps individuals transform setbacks into strength and create lasting change in their lives.

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