From GED to Master’s Degree: Promising NGO Founded By Former Teen Mom Destroys Poverty Cycle
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The US teen birth rate is the highest among other industrialized nations. Studies have found as many as 60% of teen moms were victims of child sexual abuse. One-third of earn a high school diploma. Less than 3% earn a college degree before age 30. One-fourth of become pregnant again within 2 years.
Advocates for Adolescent Mothers has a tactical approach toward accomplishing the mission of empowering young mothers to break the poverty cycle.
With Education being one of the most powerful weapons against poverty, our Educational Empowerment Grant Initiative provides teen moms entering college with monetary and socio-emotional support, to help assure their success in completing college and earning a bachelor’s degree or higher. We piloted the Educational Empowerment Grant Initiative last year, and were able to offer grants to 2 impressive young mothers. One of these young mothers has successfully completed her freshmen year of college with a 2.0 GPA and will begin her sophomore year this fall. This young mother is also continuing in the EEGI program for a second year. This year, we will be accepting 2-3 additional young mothers into the program.
EEGI participants receive a monetary grant, participate in informational workshops that impart knowledge about managing the role of being a parent and college student, receive mentoring, and complete a civic engagement component. Through the piloting process, we will develop an evidence based program that will be replicated in other cities nationally.
The Educational Empowerment Grant Initiative is currently funded by the support of generous private donors, as Advocates for Adolescent Mothers has not yet received any grants, and does not have any paid staff. Our founder and president, Lillian Harris, has been volunteering full-time for the organization since January 2012. Harris is a former teen mom who emerged from an impoverished childhood to earn a Master’s Degree from the prestigious University of Chicago. She experienced homelessness multiple times in the pursuit of her undergraduate degree, yet, Lillian will sincerely admit that she is not ashamed of her experiences, and appreciates having had them, as they have led her to part of her life’s purpose.
As Lillian has defied the odds, she is committed to raising a nation of other young women who will also exceed expectations, by earning their college degrees, delaying subsequent pregnancies, and establishing a secure bond and attachment with their children. While 4 or 5 young mothers and their children are expected to benefit from the Educational Empowerment Grant Initiative over the next year with the current level of funding, the number of young moms and children empowered by the program will increase substantially with additional financial support.
Advocates for Adolescent Mothers. Breaking Barriers. Exceeding Expectations. Empowering Young Parents To Empower Themselves. Advocates for adolescent mothers is a movement!
More About This Charity
Region
Midwest
Category
Hunger and Poverty Relief
Name
Advocates for Adolescent Mothers
Mission
Advocates for Adolescent Mothers is committed to empowering young parents by providing them with the tools, resources, and support needed to break the cycle of poverty and prevent child abuse.
Impact
- This Achievement has raised $2200
- This charity has raised $7000 this past year
- 1 Teen mom supported through 1st year of college: Received grant & socio-emotional support. Earned a 2.0 GPA & will be entering 2nd year.
- This charity helped 75 people over the past year and a half
Works In
United States
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