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Joi Williams, FSH Graduate and Current Board Member Shares Her Journey. I definitely didn’t know it at the time, but on December 16th, 2008 my journey to becoming part of the Family Scholar House family began! I was in my third year at the University of Louisville pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. My son was 1 year old at the time and I was working nights at UPS. It was certainly challenging to manage all of that, but we had a tremendous support system and lived in a healthy environment, so we were doing just fine.

As fate would have it! I have always loved the mission of Family Scholar House! However, it wasn't until a November day in 2016 when Megan, a scholar at the time, walked into my office. It was her job shadowing day. From all the social impact sector organizations, she chose me. Not that she knew me or anything but fate must have had it, we were meant to meet each other. I was so impressed to see a young lady who wanted to learn more about our international community! At that time, I was working with several local organizations that aided assistance to refugee and immigrant families.

“This is my season to prepare for my future.” Destiny said when asked how she balances being a full-time parent and a full-time student. However, Destiny is not just any full-time student, she is pre-med at the University of Louisville, preparing to become a neurosurgeon. Even with such a demanding schedule, Destiny is sure to prioritize her 6 year old son. She makes sure to never miss a ball game. Determined and focused to give them the life they have always wanted, Destiny is projected to graduate with her Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience in December of 2022. Before moving to Family Scholar House in 2018, Destiny was living with her father and working three jobs. She decided she wanted to go back to school, and she knew Family Scholar House is where she wanted to be to accomplish her big dreams.

I’m sure most of you can remember that first day of school excitement, where you get to see the friends you haven’t seen all summer and show off your cool new shoes, pencil pouch, or backpack. Thanks to all of you, our kids were able to feel this excitement alongside their peers because you made sure they had everything they needed to start this year off on the right foot.

Ana moved into Stoddard Johnston Scholar House in 2011 with her daughter, seeking a safe space to grow as an individual, mother and student. During their time as a resident, Ana and her daughter took advantage of Academic Coaching, Family Advocacy, childrens workshops and networking opportunities provided. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, as she transitioned out of housing, she enrolled in the Master’s program at Spalding University and completed her practicum with FSH. After completing her MSSW, Ana joined the FSH team as a Family Advocate for our Downtown Scholar House Campus.

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to dedicate my time and serve through AmeriCorps VISTA at Family Scholar House. AmeriCorps members partner with nonprofit organizations to tackle our nation’s most pressing challenges. For me, this was the homelessness crisis in Kentucky. While serving through AmeriCorps and working full-time at their local nonprofits, members receive a living stipend equal to the poverty line in their respective communities. In Jefferson County, this amount is less than our minimum wage. This is done intentionally so that AmeriCorps members experience the poverty in which the people we serve are living.