Arizona
Hilda Jessica Mendoza Carreno
Hilda Jessica Mendoza Carreno is a Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
participant nearing the end of her second year of her FSS contract.
A single mother of two, she has conquered many personal barriers and
accomplished much in a relatively short time. Hilda is employed full-time
at Lessner Dental Laboratory as a Dental Lab Technician whose primary
job is to prepare all incoming models for the delicate processes involved
in producing dental prosthetics. She is quick to smile and I cannot
help feeling impressed as I listen to her switch back and forth smoothly
from English to Spanish as she explained each process she performs.
I marvel at how far she has come in mastering a second language. Ms.
Carreno's position at the dental lab started out as part-time, but as
a result of her hard work, persistence, and the dedication she devotes
to learning her craft, she earned a full-time position. A recent $1
per hour raise shows that she continues to more than meet the lab's
expectations. Spend five minutes with the ambitious 25-year-old and
you will come away with a deep feeling of respect for her accomplishments
realized in the face of so many roadblocks. Growing up in a matriarchal
household with three generations under one roof, Hilda's father spent
several years in prison and did not return to the family after his release.
Flaring tempers and violence were not uncommon in her home and at the
age of 18, she turned to drugs as a means of escape. After a year of
cocaine and marijuana use, Hilda realized drugs were not the answer
and stopped using them. Currently sharing an apartment with her mother,
brother, and her two other children, Hilda is fiercely determined to
purchase her own home and leave the city's public housing program. She
is strong and tenacious. There is no doubt in my mind that she will
attain this goal also. Hilda graduated from the Dental Lab Tech Program
at Pima College on May 17th. She is a wonderful example of what can
be accomplished when one is given the opportunity.
Sponsored by:
City of Tucson Community Services Department
Tucson, AZ
2001
Sherrie Garth
Ms. Garth, a single mother of a 16-year-old daught, obtained her B.S.
in Family Studies from the University of AZ and will receive her Masters
in Social Work in May 2000. Ms. Garth works part-time as a family and
individual therapist at the Family Counseling Agency. She also works
part-time as a case manager and advocate for services for older and
disabled adult program. She gives lectures and provides training on
the subject of diversity. She has also written articles for the Family
Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Newsletter. In the summer, she coaches and provides
education for 60 adolescent youths. She served in the United Way Consortium
to develop a Welfare to Work assistance program. She was instrumental
in partnering Unidos Para Servir (UPS) and FSS, and she serves a mentor
for UPS participants. Ms. Garth was runner-up for Regional NAHRO FSS
Participant of the Year.
Sponsored by:
City of Tucson Community Services Department
Tucson, AZ
Beatrice Segura
In the face of rather imposing obstacles, Tucson FSS Participant Beatrice
(Bea) Segura clearly demonstrated what resiliency, determination, and
truly focused effort can produce. A single mother of four children,
Bea fought her way to welfare freedom. Despite having to survive past
episodes of domestic violence and recent threats on her life. Furthermore,
she had to endure the heartache of seeing her teenage son incarcerated
in a youth facility. Despite the fact that her low wages called for
creative domestic budgeting during the early years of her FSS contract,
she established a goal to save a modest amount from each pay check and
purchased a more dependable vehicle for getting to work. Bea has been
a Secretary for many years with the Arizona Department of Economic Security's
Child Care Administration when she realized one of her professional
dreams and was promoted to her current position of Case Manager. With
that promotion, she was able to raise her monthly FSS escrow savings
contribution to nearly $200 monthly. In September 2000, a little over
a year later, she had accrued an escrow account of over $2200. During
2000, Bea participated in the FSS Home-buying Counseling Program in
preparation for her lifelong dream of owning her own home. In September
2000, Bea received 3 to 1 matching IDEA funds to combine with her escrow
account toward a down payment and a new home.
Sponsored by:
City of Tucson Community Services Department
Tucson, AZ
2001
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