For years, recent Getting Ahead graduate Jerinda Staton has carried a dream of owning a home. Now, she’s taking steps to make that dream a reality.

“I’ve wanted to buy a house since I was about 20 years old,” the retiree said. “I want to get to that next step.”

She’s not looking for anything extravagant — just a home that fits the stage of life she’s in now as a single senior. And she’s learning that reaching a goal like homeownership takes patience, preparation and a willingness to keep moving forward.

That’s one of the things she gained through our Getting Ahead program.

A previous Getting Ahead graduate encouraged her to apply for the work group and Jerinda quickly discovered that there was much more to it than she expected. 

“It was very enjoyable,” she said. “I learned a lot about poverty, the causes of it and ways to get help.”

During the 18-session Getting Ahead program, participants discuss 11 resources that we each need to thrive: financial, emotional, mental/cognitive, language, social capital, physical, spiritual, integrity & trust, motivation & persistence, relationships/role models, and knowledge of hidden rules. 

Poverty isn’t just about money, but it is often the first thing people think of when talking about instability. 

Our Getting Ahead graduates have access to continuous growth through free success coaching and a $500 Emergency Savings Incentive Plan. 

Getting Ahead gave Jerinda dedicated time to think about her own goals and the possibilities for her future.

She began working on staying focused, remaining positive, setting realistic goals and staying grounded. She started researching the home-buying process and learning about the many steps involved through federal programs.

And along the way, she discovered something else: some dreams she had pushed aside were still there, waiting for her.

In 10th grade, a teacher told her she had a talent for writing and could be a writer. At the time, she dismissed the idea.

“I said, ‘No, I’m going to be a secretary.’”

Today, she has a very different goal in mind: writing a book about her life and the places and experiences that have shaped her, from North Carolina to South Carolina and California.

She also rediscovered two hobbies. 

“I found that (Getting Ahead Facilitator) Ruth (Wilson) pulled out some things from me that I’d been holding in — a love for cooking and a love for reading,” she said. “It makes you feel good when someone recognizes that talent.”

Ruth encouraged her to stay focused and keep pursuing the goals she had identified for herself.

And she’s taking that encouragement seriously.

“I’ve been putting things off,” she said. “Not anymore. My advice to others now is: ‘Do it! Accomplish your goals.’”

If you think you would benefit from Getting Ahead, apply online at Getting Ahead – Common Heart. Participants receive a $40 Wal-Mart gift card plus free dinner and free childcare (if needed) for every session they attend. Graduates have the opportunity to receive free success coaching and earn a $500 emergency savings deposit into a bank account through our Emergency Savings Incentive Plan (ESIP). 

Call Ruth Wilson at 704-870-0012 or email GA@CommonHeart.org with any questions. 

If you would like to help support the GA program with meal donations, call Detrina Little at Detrina.Little@CommonHeart.org.