The COVID-19 Relief Loan Fund is offering loans up to $3,000 for businesses impacted by the pandemic. Read on to learn how you can take advantage of this for your business.
Has COVID-19 affected your small business?
Eligible businesses must be located in the City of Roanoke, be at least two years old, and have less than 25 employees. Give us a call to find if you have questions about your eligibility.
Today it seems like even entry-level jobs require some form of work experience. It’s a Catch-22: you won’t be hired without experience, but you can’t gain experience without being hired. Marquayna Hamm lived that journey. She went from working at a job that didn’t inspire her to landing a job at Roanoke Memorial Hospital—and she did it with the help of TAP Books.
Marquayna always wanted a job that helps people, and she knew she needed to build her résumé. While searching online, she came across a job posting for TAP Books. It seemed like a win-win. She would get work experience toward her career goals and help support TAP’s programs in the process.
Beyond our mission
TAP Books is a social enterprise that opened in 2018. Staff scan, file, and warehouse donated books in order to sell them online to generate profit. This financially supports other TAP programs. Its mission extends beyond simply generating financial support—according to Ben Wilborn, the program’s coordinator, it’s also about providing reliable work to encourage growth in job skills. Staff contribute to the business in a variety of ways. With an open mind and an “outside-the-box” mentality, they have the chance to strengthen the program, gain valuable work experience, build their résumés, and the opportunity to convert their skills into something of greater value. That’s exactly what Marquayna did.
A typical week as a TAP Books employee
In a typical week, Marquayna helped in all aspects of the business: accepting donations, scanning, organizing, shelving, and shipping books to buyers. In the process she learned both hard and soft skills, gaining computer experience, researching, mastering the software, and learning work communication with customers, donors, and colleagues. “Her consistency is the biggest attribute that she brings,” says Ben. “She is always happy and brings a positive outlook. I have been happy to work with her.”
New beginnings
Today in her new position at the hospital, equipped with experience from TAP Books, she has a job in which she gets to help people get healthy. Ben says he’s proud that Marquayna is moving forward in her growing career. “She has worked to develop an A+ résumé,” Ben says, “and secured a new job because of her efforts.”
To find out more about how to donate, volunteer, or work at TAP Books, go to www.tapintohope.org/books.
First-time Homebuyer Q&A
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Being a first-time homebuyer comes with a learning curve and purchasing your first home is a big step. It’s normal to have some questions along the way. Our Housing Counseling program has the answers for first-time homebuyers—and can help for free!
The program offers assistance in the form of:
A First-time Homebuyers Education Workshop
Pre-purchase counseling
Mortgage default counseling
Refinancing assistance
Check out this Q&A with TAP Housing Counselor Sierra Sallah, who addresses some common concerns among our clients.
I am not sure what my options are when it comes to receiving help with my homeownership needs; Where do I start?
It pays off to ask! Many clients I work with are not aware of their options. They may have already started the home-purchasing process and accepted a payment option, but are unsure of what they have actually agreed to.
A client told me that the greatest benefit of partnering with a housing counselor who has their best interest at heart is that they have extensive pre-existing knowledge and can ask questions that the client might not know to ask.
Do I need to meet any qualifications or be in a specific phase of the home-buying process to participate?
TAP meets you where you are. Clients do not need to meet any particular qualifications or be in a particular phase of the home-purchasing process to qualify for the Housing Counseling program. All of our clients can receive one-on-one counseling.
Do I need to purchase a home within a specific timeframe when participating in the Housing Counseling program?
There is no pressure to adhere to a timeline. My ultimate goal is to help a client complete the home-buying process within 18-24 months, but as life changes, so can timeframes.
I also refer clients to outside resources, such as realtors, financial institutions, mortgage officers, and other local agencies to encourage them to stay on track with their goals.
Does my home need to already be in foreclosure to receive assistance?
Your home does not have to be in foreclosure for you to be eligible to receive delinquency or default counseling. If a client is past due on their mortgage payment, then I will assist them in exploring all avenues to become current and stay current on their payments moving forward.
The Second Chances Clothing Closet started small, but with the belief that small efforts can make big impacts. Beginning as a clothing drive offering donated men’s suits for job interviews, it now operates year-round at 118 S. Lexington Avenue in Covington, providing free clothing for men, women, and kids, housewares, and even furniture. The success of Second Chances is largely due to the work of Angie Campbell and Sarah Burnette.
Thinking bigger
A “labor of love” is how Angie describes Second Chances. Before it even had a name Angie and Sarah were involved in the closet’s early development, when it focused on providing job interview attire for TAP Virginia CARES clients. Steadily, the donations started to include clothing for all genders, ages, and needs. Both women saw the potential for growth, and decided to enlist some help from the community. “Angie was instrumental in recruiting area businesses,” says Sarah. Angie soon found the Covington branch of Balchem Corporation, who generously remodeled and—via employee vote—named the new Second Chances Clothing Closet.
Opening doors
On November 30, 2020, Second Chances officially opened. It has since served 50 families in the Alleghany Highlands, allowing clients to come and “shop” for themselves and anyone in their households. From the outside, clothing may seem like a small gesture to a struggling family, but Sarah and Angie know that it can change someone’s confidence and outlook on life. Through the closet, people can get needed items—such as suits, shoes, and winter coats—with “the respect and dignity they deserve,” says Sarah. The goal of Second Chances isn’t simply to provide clothing, but to improve quality of life and break the cycle of generational poverty.
Eyeing the future
These two women have done everything possible to keep the success rolling. “Sarah has sacrificed hours to bring the closet together. She has tirelessly given her heart and love to this project,” says Angie. The story doesn’t end here—Angie and Sarah are constantly thinking of ways to innovate and improve. “There are so many ways we all can help others,” says Angie. “I encourage everyone to think outside of the box. You never know whose life you will impact.”
Second Chances Clothing Closet is always accepting donations, especially for children’s clothing. To make a donation, call 540-962-6328.
TAP’s Financial Services component offers a way for clients to become financially independent through an array of programs, including offering personal finance coaching, providing small business loans, assisting in the purchase of a house, and maximizing annual tax refunds. Now, perhaps more than ever, these programs are important avenues to give people the opportunities to succeed, even in difficult times.
The last year has been tough on everyone. We were all hoping for a fresh start with the new year, but the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still linger. Communities across the Roanoke Valley and beyond are still feeling the effects of high unemployment, affecting financial independence. Small businesses are struggling to stay afloat. TAP recognizes both the need to help and the need to keep clients and staff safe.
Encouraging entrepreneurs to become financially independent
Financial Services’ business loan and entrepreneurship programs assist businesses ranging from those with several employees to home businesses. Throughout the pandemic we’ve recognized the need to continue these programs.
While we are still providing low-interest loans, business plan assistance, and business coaching, things look a little different. Whenever possible, we are meeting with clients using virtual platforms. If those options aren’t available, we do allow in-person meetings when needed. During these meetings, clients and staff wear face coverings and respect the CDC’s guidelines on social distancing. This way, entrepreneurs can continue to pursue their small business dreams. We can get the economy back on track while keeping safe.
Free tax assistance
Each year, TAP offers free tax return preparation at its annual Tax Clinic. A team of certified tax preparers maximize clients’ refunds and secure any additional deserved benefits, such as earned income tax credits. The 2021 Tax Clinic opens on February 5, but this year, we are offering no-contact tax preparation. Taxpayers can either set up a virtual appointment or use our drop-off services. For the latter, clients schedule a drop-off time, collect the necessary tax information, drop it at the Dumas Center, and return for confirmation of filing. Despite the challenges, we expect to serve the same number of clients, assisting them in receiving their maximum refund quickly, easily, and safely.
Housing counseling
TAP’s Housing Counseling services help clients purchase their first homes through free workshops and one-on-one counseling. The program also offers down payment assistance for eligible clients as well as mortgage default and foreclosure prevention assistance. This year, our popular homebuyer workshops have moved online. In partnership with Virginia Housing, we are offering self-paced modules that go over the ins and outs of buying your first home. For potential homebuyers with more specific needs, our certified housing counselor continues one-on-one appointments. These sessions can be scheduled virtually through several platforms or in-person as space allows for proper social distancing.
We know that the community is struggling right now. Things are different but we are working hard to provide the same services to anyone who needs it and to do it safely. Community donations make this possible. Find out more about supporting TAP’s Financial Services or other TAP programs.
Mental Health in a Pandemic
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A Shoulder to Lean On
We’re now almost a year in to the pandemic that stopped life as we knew it in its tracks. As families around the world are feeling the strain, some right here in our own community now have a new shoulder to lean on.
Monique Worrell, a licensed clinical social worker and TAP Head Start’s behavioral health coordinator, recently started a mental health support group for Head Start and Early Head Start parents during these trying times. As she puts it, “Our current challenging times come along with increased stress, financial hardships, and social isolation that can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms and depression.”
Monique hopes that by providing a community of support, as well as a series of workshops focusing on mental health and wellness topics, local families will have the tools they need to better manage the “new normal.” The workshops span an array of topics that many families may currently be struggling with, such as How to Deal with Your Child’s Behavior and Emotional Support for Virtual Learning.
Small Steps Make a Big Difference
While these workshops certainly provide invaluable information, one of the most important things a parent can do for his or her family is to make sure their own mental health is in check. Monique emphasizes basic mental wellness tips that anyone can follow, including:
Setting limits on when and for how long you consume news, as well as verifying sources and making sure they are reputable;
Following a daily routine, including getting dressed and practicing good hygiene;
Taking care of yourself through exercise and mindfulness; and
Doing meaningful things in your free time such as reading a book, crafting, organizing your home, or journaling.
Above all, Monique says it’s important to stay connected with others, maintain your social networks, and reach out for help when you need it. Whether it’s an email to friends and family, participating in a virtual support group, or calling a peer support line, sharing how you’re feeling and connecting with others who may share your experiences can go a long way in alleviating the feelings of isolation and anxiety that many are experiencing.
Lastly, you can remain confident that TAP will continue working hard to create communities of support for those who need it most—in the good times and bad.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
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Our Partners Make a Difference
We would like to thank our corporate sponsors, whose contributions have helped lead the way in our Bringing Hope Home campaign. Our sponsors, shown below, collectively contributed $40,000 toward the campaign.
Their generosity has directly benefitted the people TAP serves, helping us to offer life-changing programming in the areas of education and employment, domestic violence and family services, housing, and financial services. Thank you, sponsors!
Empower Sponsors
Courage Sponsors
Inspire Sponsors
Special Thank You to Bob Fetzer, president of Building Specialists, and the following companies:
To join these sponsors in supporting our Bringing Hope Home campaign, make your gift today!
TAP Assuming Care Local Mentoring Program
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After decades of serving the community, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia (BBBS) will close effective January 31, 2021.
Despite the unfortunate closure, Total Action for Progress (TAP) is honored to assume care of the program. TAP will facilitate the program’s 50 current matches. This will ensure children in the Roanoke Valley continue to receive services and mentoring.
Mentoring Program Will Live On
TAP will also take on the after-school tutoring program, outdoor adventures, and in-school mentoring programs. These programs are partnerships with public school systems and Roanoke City Parks and Rec.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) model of one-to-one mentoring carries a great financial expense. The BBBS board decided it is no longer financially feasible to continue under affiliation with the national organization. This is due to declining grant funding and donations over the years, and the difficulty of fundraising during a pandemic.
From BBBS Board President
“While this was a difficult decision, after careful consideration we feel this is the right move to prioritize our children and the mission,” said Laura Carini, BBBS Board President. ”While we are sad to close the area’s largest and longest-running youth mentoring program, we are confident it is the right choice. We are forever grateful to TAP and confident the organization provides the experience and resources necessary to best serve our children.”
— BBBS Board President
Introducing “Superhero Kids”
TAP will not use the name BBBS due to the expense of the affiliation fees. The mentoring program will become a component of TAP’s Super Hero Kids program, which focuses on healing trauma and restoring hope and connections for youth in our community. The mentoring component of Super Hero Kids will be called Super Hero Kids Connections.
The program will operate under the supervision of TAP Housing & Human Services Director Stacey Sheppard. TAP has many years of experience leading mentoring programs, including Virginia CARES, Y.A.L.E. (Young Adult Life Enhancement), and more.
From TAP’s CEO
Annette Lewis, TAP president states, “TAP commends Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Virginia for its outstanding history of providing opportunities for the lives of both children and adults to be enriched. We regret that BBBS has to close and will do our best to continue the important mentoring work that has begun. TAP also looks forward to working with the current partners and adding new ones.
— Annette Lewis, TAP President & CEO
What is the Bringing Hope Home Campaign?
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In October 2020, we announced a new fundraising initiative: Bringing Hope Home.
This annual campaign was created to raise support for TAP. Funds that you contribute will go directly to programming that uplifts people right here in our community.
Our History and Our Future
For 55 years TAP has been helping people in southwest Virginia to live full and prosperous lives. We’ve proven we’re an organization that can change lives.
Since our founding, we have refused to accept poverty amid prosperity. TAP is constantly innovating to find the most effective solutions to the many-faceted problem of poverty, because we recognize that prosperity by itself will not get rid of poverty.
Bringing Hope Home in the News
Big thanks to all the media outlets who attended our campaign announcement! Click on their name to read and watch their coverage.
Head over to the Bringing Hope Home campaign page. There you’ll find out how the donations will be used, our campaign goal, the local businesses who have sponsored the campaign, a list of FAQs, and more.
2020 Cabell Brand Hope Award Recipient: Ted Edlich
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This year we are honored to award Ted Edlich, TAP’s former president, with the 2020 Cabell Brand Hope Award. His dedication to TAP’s mission has extended into his retirement years as he continues to give back to his community.
Early Life
Ted Edlich grew up in Greenwich Village in Manhattan and has spent most of his life in southwest Virginia. After serving as a middle school teacher and Presbyterian pastor, Ted came to TAP where he acted as Head Start director, director of community organization, and director of training before becoming president and CEO.
Dedication to TAP’s Mission
During his four decades at TAP’s helm, Ted helped to create education, employment, housing, and business development opportunities for thousands. Under his leadership, TAP served as an incubator for projects that have been replicated throughout Virginia and the nation. He has been committed to justice and reaching out to help families gain a good foothold in life.
A Passion for Learning
Aside from being a leader in human and community development, Ted has a passion for learning. His academic record includes degrees from the University of North Carolina, Union Theological Seminary, New York University, and Yale University, and an honorary Doctor of Letters from Washington & Lee University. He is also a licensed counselor, personal growth facilitator, and group development facilitator.
Widespread Recognition
Ted is the recipient of many awards. Among them is the Humanitarian Award from the National Coalition of Christians and Jews; Robert M. Coard Award for Innovation from the National Community Action Partnership; Southern Christian Leadership Conference Martin Luther King Jr. Award; and a resolution of recognition by the Senate and House of Delegates of the Virginia General Assembly. January 9, 2015, was officially named Ted Edlich Day in the five cities and six counties that TAP serves.
Not Slowing Down
Since stepping down from his position at TAP, Ted continues to be involved in consulting, counseling, training, teaching mindfulness meditation, writing, and public speaking. His book, Navigating the Nonprofit Rapids: Strategies and Tactics for Running a Nonprofit Company, was published in 2016 and features forwards from Senator Mark Warner and former Congressman Bob Goodlatte, among others.
In his spare time Ted has earned a first-degree black belt in Chinese Kempo Karate, climbed mountains across the country, and does water color paintings of places he has visited. He is also a family man devoted to his wife, five grown children, and four grandchildren. He is a good friend to many.
Seizing the Future—One Woman’s Journey to Recovery
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Even small dreams can feel out of reach when we grow up without seeing others able to attain them. That dynamic makes recovery from substance addiction seem almost impossible.
Recovery is difficult even at the best of times. For children raised in homes struggling with addiction, a life without substance use—and the possibilities that come with such a life—can seem laughable. For Alisha Smith, her success now would have seemed laughable or even downright strange at one point in her life. As she puts it, “I grew up in a home where addiction was the norm and everyone else was just strange if they didn’t live like us.”
Learning The Hard Way
Alisha had to figure out a great deal for herself from a very young age. “My father left when I was about one year old,” she says. “My mother overdosed and passed away when I was 11.” She says that despite these traumas, she still looked for ways to feel normal and stay upbeat. “I started to cheerlead and that pretty much occupied my mind and body in a positive way,” she says. However, drinking—a common pitfall of teenage life—also became a way for Alisha to occupy her time. “I discovered I liked alcohol at age 16 but didn’t start heavily drinking until I was about 18,” she remembers.
“When I was 16, I drove to Tennessee, where my father was incarcerated,” she says. “He made empty promises that he was coming back to Roanoke. He did, in fact, come back—and brought a whole family with him.” Alisha says that her father eventually “became my party buddy and partner in crime.”
School became less engaging for Alisha. “I stopped trying in school and I lost my spot on the cheerleading squad,” she says. “At age 20, I met the father of my child and started using intravenously. I was in and out of trouble, and locked up in jails for about four years, off and on.”
The Road to Recovery Isn’t a Straight Line
It was during one of these stays in jail that Alisha began to plan for a life without substance use. “When I was released this time, I knew I wanted to find recovery,” she says. She remembers that, at the time, “My daughter was with my cousin and I wanted her back.” That was a powerful motivator. “I did stay clean for almost two years but relapsed on alcohol,” she says.
She remembers that first relapse well. “I relapsed on alcohol on a Sunday and that Friday I caught a gun charge because the guy I was dating at the time brought it along, shot it near my face, before he passed out drunk. I moved the gun for safety reasons but it was still in the possession of a felon—myself,” she recalls.
Alisha says that it felt like she “hit an all-time low…and I was back using for a year and a half.” She says that from that moment, things continued to spiral downward. “In that year and a half, I overdosed multiple times. I finally violated my probation and they sent me to Botetourt Jail,” she says. With her life reaching a critical moment, she once again made the decision to take back control and make big changes.
“I was in there for three months but it felt like an eternity,” she says. “In that time, it took me over a month to detox and feel like a human being again and then I was able to connect with my friends from Narcotics Anonymous.”
Making the Change Stick For Good
Staying clean, however, was going to take grit and determination because life still wasn’t done throwing challenges at Alisha. “When I was released, I decided I needed to swallow my pride and accept any help that came my way,” she says.
“I was still working this whole time to see my daughter and in December of 2019 they terminated my rights and awarded my cousin the right to adopt her. I had over a year clean and that didn’t matter.”
Despite the disappointment, this was a huge moment of triumph for Alisha’s recovery. She recalls feeling “completely defeated,” but she stayed strong and didn’t use. “Instead,” she says, “I got stronger.” She then heard about the TAP RESTORE program, which helps women in recovery to build skills and supports them as they pursue new employment opportunities or careers.
Turning the Corner
As Alisha got to know the program staff, she knew right away that she could use the tools the program had provided to keep building on her momentum. “I met with [RESTORE case manager] Kimberly once and we talked and I knew right then that the program could benefit me and that she truly wanted to help,” she recalls. The more Alisha shared about her life experiences, the better the program staff were able to customize the program tools. She told Kimberly about her dream of working in a recovery environment and Kimberly connected her to a local and free Peer Recovery Specialist training. “Throughout that training, which was two weeks long, Kimberly bought supplies for my classes. She gave me gift cards for gas to get to whatever job I was working. The program gave me a gift card for clothes to start new jobs. I wouldn’t have gotten through those hard times without that help.”
Building Blocks of Success
Alisha was able to translate that help and that early momentum into continued success in recovery and in her career. “Today I am a residential aide at Pinnacle Treatment Services,” she says. “I adore my job and the staff that surrounds me. I have a great relationship with my daughter and even though I do not have her, we are seeing each other and that’s enough for me at this point in time.”
The biggest change in Alisha hasn’t been her recovery, or her material situation, so much as it has been her developing a powerful inner strength and resilience—which helps her stay strong on good days and on bad days alike. She says, “People—us addicts—think that when we get clean that we get all the things that life has to offer. We feel like we should get the car, the license, the husband, the kids back, the perfect job, and that all will be right in the world again. Sometimes that is true and sometimes it is not.”
Bright Future
Alisha is looking forward to a new career helping other people in recovery. She says, “Since I work in a peer-centered field, I can now get certified. I look forward to sending other people like myself in Kimberly’s direction. I’m looking forward to marriage and a bigger house. Those are things I never in my wildest dreams imagined. They weren’t possible until now.”
Alisha’s story can teach us so many things: it reminds us that there is always a way back up from rock bottom; it reminds us not to take the people and the opportunities in our lives for granted; and it inspires us to keep looking for chances to make positive changes in our own lives and communities.
Programs like RESTORE can be the catalyst, but big change comes from people deciding to push themselves forward. It takes time. It takes patience. But, most of all, it takes the ability to envision a better future—and believe in it enough to act on it.
Ashley’s Story
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Ashely is a single mother; a survivor; a woman achieving her dreams—how your donations helped make it happen.
Poverty has a deeply disenfranchising effect. Your gift to TAP brings hope and opportunity to people in need. Watch the journey of a single mother who escaped domestic violence and overcame disaster to create a new path for her family with the help of TAP and people like you.
Your gift helps people in our community
TAP is a 100% local organization and all funds donated to Bringing Hope Home will go toward helping people right here in southwest Virginia.
“I thought, ‘You know: I am at the bottom. I might as well go for my dreams.'”
That’s how Ashley Wade describes the moment that she decided to follow her dream to be a doctor. It was an ambitious goal, especially considering how she had just uprooted her life. A single mother of four, Ashley was technically homeless, having returned to Roanoke to stay with family after a tornado had forced her to relocate from Greensboro. Ashley is an admittedly driven person, and she wasn’t motivated to simply restore her status quo—she wanted to use the setback as a chance to build an even better life for herself and her family. Our SwiftStart program gave her exactly the tools she needed to completely recalibrate the course of her life in just two years.
Domestic Violence Survivor: Learning to walk again
In Greensboro, seven years ago, Ashley had felt like the chaos of her previous life was finally settling. She had gone to Greensboro with her four children after domestic violence left her in the intensive care unit at Roanoke Memorial Hospital, relearning how to walk. In Greensboro, she found a job in human resources at the post office. While she dreamed of one day becoming a heart surgeon or anesthesiologist, the post office job provided for her kids and, importantly, was stable.
In April 2018, a tornado tore through the city and uprooted Ashely’s family once more. Unsure of what else to do, Ashley came back to Roanoke. She and her kids spent the next 12 months without a permanent home, relying on the care of family. “We had nothing of our own. I’ve never not been able to provide for my children. Depending on others was hard for me to do,” Ashley says.
Why find just another job?
As Ashley struggled to find another stable job, a thought struck her: Why find just another job? With literally nothing to lose, she knew that this was the moment to pursue the dream of becoming a doctor. She couldn’t put it off again.
To be a doctor, Ashley would need at least three things: a medical degree, job experience in healthcare, and the support to pursue both while raising four kids. A friend directed her to the Roanoke Higher Education Center to find help. It’s there that she recognized TAP on the directory.
“TAP has a lot of resources,” she remembers thinking, “and they offer a certified medical assistant program.” For Ashley, this was perfect. In need of a job, she knew that Carilion is a big employer in Roanoke, and in need of experience, the CCMA program could get her foot in the door of the healthcare field. She went into the office to see how TAP might help. Quickly, Ashley enrolled in SwiftStart.
As part of our focus on providing the whole family with services, we created SwiftStart in 2015 as a pilot program with the support of the Department of Labor. Designed to address the needs and barriers faced by both parents and children, its goal is to assist working parents to secure higher-wage jobs. The program helps participants find childcare and can pay for it while parents train for careers in healthcare, information technology, or advanced manufacturing.
It was the perfect opportunity for a single mom, new to the area, seeking to start a new career in healthcare. Ashley recalls her time in SwiftStart as frenetic. She was training for her medical assistant certification and taking classes at Mary Baldwin College (also in the Higher Ed Center). She credits the always-friendly SwiftStart staff in helping her adjust to the life of a mom/student/healthcare professional. “They were amazing. They always met me with a smile, and they always came through no matter what I needed,” Ashley says.
The Two-Generation approach
For Ashley, TAP’s two-generation approach meant enrolling her two-year-old in our Early Head Start program, which provides critical early education for young children up to two years old, as well as finding appropriate childcare for her other children at another local agency. The childcare took something off her plate. She says that children can feel their parent’s stress and the relief from worrying about her kids allowed Ashley to focus on school. “It was fun for them. They were able to get away from whatever we had going on in our family and just be kids,” Ashley says.
“They had solutions to all my problems…”
Childcare, of course, isn’t the only barrier for working parents. Searching for housing, getting needed car repairs, and simply finding the time to tend to the family are common roadblocks. Often, these problems hinder a job search or career advancement. “The SwiftStart staff is very resourceful,” Ashley says. “They had solutions to all my problems. Without them, I couldn’t have finished the program.”
The group supported each other like a family
Soon after Ashley met her fellow SwiftStart participants, including several other single moms, they began bonding over shared experiences. Some of her favorite memories in the program are the times when the group supported each other like a family. “Classmates were going through their own struggles. But in that class, we would help out the next woman. We were there for each other no matter what,” she recalls.
The thought of her kids kept Ashley running through the late nights. One of her top priorities is to be a role model to them. “Success is having a goal. I wanted better for us. I wanted to show my kids that Mommy’s never going to give up. No matter how hard it is, just never give up,” she says. While juggling all the responsibilities, she continued to work hard, and the hard work paid off.
I wanted to show my kids that Mommy’s never going to give up.
– Ashley, TAP Swiftstart participant
Ashley was offered a job before graduating from the program, pending her passing the final certification test. “My proudest moment was when I finished the test and saw that I passed. After all the long days and all the homework and studying, proving that I had the skills and knowledge was the best part,” she says.
Ashley started her new job as a certified medical assistant at Carilion in September 2019. She and her kids live in a house and the family has a new car. While she is proud of these achievements and loves her work, this is only the beginning for Ashley’s new life. “Before coming to TAP, I had less confidence about the future. It was fuzzy, but now it is a clear, bright picture. I feel like there are endless opportunities,” Ashley says.
Looking back on how far she’s come, Ashley has a clear message to those in her position: “Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Come to TAP. It will be the best thing you do for you and your family.” She’s already encouraged three friends to sign up for SwiftStart. Convincing them was easy after they saw her success.
For all her hard work, Ashley is also grateful to those who helped her when she felt at her lowest. She’s paying it forward. Ashley often mentors the current SwiftStart cohort. She feels like she can help those who feel hopeless. “I want to help others, especially single mothers, get on the right track,” she says.
The programs we offer are critical to building a stronger community. They help people like Ashley and countless others overcome what may seem like impossible challenges. About TAP’s programs like SwiftStart, Ashely says, “It’s important. It’s going to make a big difference in the long run for our community. And we need it. We really need it.”
After 55 years, we are continuing to help people in the Roanoke Valley who, like Ashely, are chasing a dream. “Go to TAP,” Ashley says. “TAP is empowering; TAP is liberating; TAP is helping me become a doctor.”
