“Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” Herbert Hoover.
As I think about freedom, I am reminded of the story of one of our former clients. I’ll call her Alia (not her real name). As a thank you gift to the WCA staff, Alia made a feast and brought it to our downtown location. As I was enjoying her delicious food and thoughtfulness, I reflected on her journey.
Alia had come to the WCA about six months prior with only her children and the clothes on their backs. While living in Serena’s House, she worked hard. She worked closely with a WCA case manager to connect with resources, she worked closely with our Court Advocates as she navigated the legal morass of divorce and custody of her children. Alia and her children worked with our specially trained clinicians to heal and learn how to build healthy relationships. Alia attended and graduated from the WCA’s Financial Education program and earned a position in Create Common Good’s food service skills training program.
Alia’s gift of food to the WCA staff was in celebration of her graduation from Create Common Good. In the period of six months, she and her children were safe, they were healing from years of abuse and building strong, healthy relationships with one another. Alia had a financially stable job, a safe home for her children and they were free from abuse.
That’s what freedom looks like to a WCA client. It was possible thanks to the generosity of our community.
