“Thank you, Aviva, for giving me this Transformation Award today. And thanks to all of you who have come to support Aviva tonight. I’d like to tell you a part of my life story and what Aviva means to me.
I grew up in a single parent household which was really hard, especially because my mom was raising four kids on her own. My mother had to be BOTH parents. I spent most of my time after school hanging out or in activities like sports. Sometimes staying after school also meant trying to stay out of trouble, because there was a group of friends that would always pressure me in negative ways. When I resisted their peer-pressure, they pushed harder. I tried my hardest to avoid trouble, but the people I surrounded myself with were a bad influence and sometimes that pressure was more than I could handle.
Then in high school, in 10th grade, my life changed for the better. I joined the football team and that kept me on a straight line until I graduated. I needed to maintain at least a 2.0 grade point to stay on the football team and being the only girl on the team increased my determination to prove myself. I still had ups and downs, but I pushed through with sweat and sometimes tears, and made it! I graduated from high school.
A year later, I gave birth to my daughter Allie. After high school, my grandmother who had struggled in many ways, including with housing, got a Section 8 housing voucher. She invited me, Allie and my younger sister to move in with her, knowing that I was having problems with Allie’s father. My grandmother had used drugs on and off all her life. My mom thought that it would be good if we went to live with my grandmother so that Allie wouldn’t witness my arguments with her father. My mom also thought that having her great-granddaughter at home might help my grandmother change for the better. Well, that’s not what happened.
Allie, my sister and I moved in with our grandmother, and within one month my grandmother who had begun using again, kicked us out. I had to pack our things and leave in one day. I had been homeless once before and had found shelter at Rainbow House. After Rainbow House, I went back to live with my daughter’s father because I really wanted to make it work, but it just didn’t.
Then, I found Wallis House, and my life took a real turn for the better.My experience at Wallis House was the greatest blessing. It is the best thing that has ever happened for Alli and me. I even miss living there sometimes! I met some amazing people who changed my life forever. The resident staff – Maricela, Mario and Walter – were especially important to me. Each of them gave me really good advice.
Unlike other times and situations in my life, I had no problem with anyone and didn’t get in trouble when we lived at Wallis House. I just loved the environment and appreciated how much the staff did to make us feel as comfortable as possible. They gave us 3 meals a day and snacks. We felt really at home and cared for Wallis House. There was so much more for us than I could have ever expected. Even Wi-Fi access. I couldn’t believe it!
It was such an amazing experience. It was life-changing. I learned a lot about myself and other people. But mostly and most importantly, about myself and what I wanted for my daughter and for my life. I was able to save money and make plans for our future. I was very thankful then, I am now, and I always will be. I hope that one day I will be able to give back to Wallis House.
Today I live in my own 1-bedroom apartment with Allie. I’m living a life I never thought I would. Allie is in preschool. She is happy and healthy. I now work as a paraprofessional with Special Education kids. I love it and plan on growing with it, maybe even going back to school to get a degree in Special Education. The team at Wallis House will always have a special place in my heart! Not only did they change my life as a mother, but they gave me the tools to create a better life for my daughter. I plan to keep reaching and growing from here on out.
The support I received at Wallis House was a second chance to restart. A chance I might have never had. My heart is filled with joy and appreciation. I don’t even know how to thank you. I do know that I want for others to have the opportunity I did and I hope that the life I am building and sharing my story will somehow make that possible.”
-Justina Duran, Wallis House Resident & Transformation Award Honoree
Justin’s Acceptance Speech Delivered at The Art of Giving – May 7. 2022