Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea has selected seven single mothers to win their 2024 Live Your Dream awards, to be presented March 12.
Each will receive a cash award they can use for anything enabling them to complete their education, including rent, medical bills, child care and car repairs.
“We’re very excited to be able to increase the number of Live Your Dream awards from the five we gave last year to seven,” said Laura Knapp, Live Your Dream program chair. “Our volunteer Club members and some very generous donors responded to our fundraising efforts and made this possible for these deserving women.”
The winners are:
Serena McCallister, 26, of Santa Cruz is awarded the Gwyn Larson Humanitarian Award in memory of a beloved and long-serving member. This award is given to a student pursuing a human services career path and is dedicated to helping others. McCallister is a single mother of one child who has struggled with medical disorders and is now on a path to recovery. Her primary focus currently is a substance use disorder counseling certificate.
“This program is a very direct path to being able to work in the community and help these people,” she wrote. “As soon as I finish this certification, it will open many doors into the field of my dreams.”
Lenada Hernandez, 32, of Santa Cruz is a single mother of one child who experienced homelessness for many years. Her goal is to work with at-risk youth and those recovering from addiction. She is studying psychology and communication to better understand how to actively listen.
“I’ve learned if a person is not feeling seen or heard, they will shut down and potentially stop seeking help,” she said.
Victoria Van Voorst, 32, of Capitola is a single mother with one child who is studying computer applications business technology. She has a Medical Front Office certification and believes further studies will increase her opportunities for long-term employment.
“My end goal is a permanent position in a doctors’ office setting,” she said. “This work will give my family the stability we need while also being realistic and meaningful to me personally.”
Bianca Lindahl, 24, of Aptos, has one child and is studying for a degree in psychology. She has been interested in psychology as a career path since she was 16. She plans to complete a master’s degree in order to open her own practice.
“My biggest career goal is to become a clinical psychologist,” she said. “On top of my interests in the cognitive aspects of the human mind, I also carry a lot of love for people and helping them is very fulfilling to me.”
Hailey Gregory, 32, of Aptos, has one child and is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. She has dreamed of going to college from a young age, but her single mother with three children meant the family lived paycheck to paycheck. When she was 14, their dire financial circumstances required her to begin working full-time. After marrying young, having a child and then getting divorced, her educational dreams seemed even further away.
During the pandemic, she lost her job and felt the panic of not being able to make ends meet. But her young daughter inspired her to pursue her educational dream. She took the opportunity to enroll in criminal justice classes, which has opened her eyes to many of the problems in policing.
“My hopes for myself are to be part of the change to help make the world a better, safer place for the generations to come,” she wrote. “I hope to work in the criminal justice system and to help rebuild and reform.”
Marjorie Jackson, 41, of Aptos, has a son and is studying for a bachelor’s degree in human services. She is motivated by the fact that she and her family have experienced trauma, poverty and homelessness.
“My education is putting me on the right path for success in my desired field, by teaching me how to work with survivors and clients,” she wrote.
One winner, age 33, asked to remain anonymous. She is a single mother of two, studying cosmetology. She is dedicated to working with natural hairstyles and is specializing in braiding and loctician services (working with locs, also known as dreadlocks). Her goal is to receive a state license which will allow her to work in a professional salon.
“I proactively sought out education opportunities, participating in numerous classes led by professionals in the natural hair field,” she wrote. “These experiences enhanced my skill set and also earned me the trust of the natural hair community, allowing me to cultivate my own clientele.”
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To be eligible for the Live Your Dream award, women must be heads of their household, enrolled in or have been accepted into a bachelor’s or technical training program, and demonstrate need.
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training to achieve economic empowerment. Soroptimist is a coined Latin phrase meaning Best for Women.
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For information, see www.best4women.org, or email [email protected]