Buckner helps single mothers on the road to self-sufficiency

Posted: 6/15/07

Buckner helps single mothers
on the road to self-sufficiency

By Whitney Farr

Communications Intern

The women traveled a dark road. They spent years trying to get somewhere but always ended up in the same place. They were single moms struggling to provide, and their road was filled with potholes—unpaid bills, little mouths to feed and employers who required higher education which, due to responsibilities, they could not attain.

But Buckner Family Pathways, a self-sufficiency program based in Dallas, was out on the road in front of the group, filling in potholes with things like rental subsidies and child care, making the road of life a little smoother.

Five graduates from the Family Pathways program were honored at a recent graduation brunch for their accomplishments. Each woman stood with tears in her eyes and gave a testimony of life-changing experiences.

Family Pathways Manager KaSandra Jones exchanges a heartfelt hug with graduate Karina Espericueta.

“I have never been one to finish anything,” Kimberly Evans said. “But today I stand before you and I have finished. I never knew what God had for me, but now I know—I am meant to be a teacher.”

Women who thought they would never get the opportunity to work for an academic diploma have gone above and beyond.

“I’ve already got my degree, and I’m going for another one,” Robin Cole said. “I’m very thankful that Family Pathways helped me meet my challenge.”

Karina Espericueta used to live with her two children and her mother. She never believed that she could make a better life for herself.

“The best thing about Buckner Family Pathways is the encouragement from the staff,” she said. “Every time they see us, the encourage us, saying things like, ‘You can do it.’”

In the past she had daunting jobs with odd hours and thought she could never get anything better, she said. But now, “I have the confidence that I can do whatever I want.”

Espericueta is moving from Family Pathways into her own apartment and will begin saving money to make a down payment on a house for her family. She earned her degree as a licensed vocational nurse, something she never could have done without the support of Buckner, she said.

Espericueta also talked about the impact Family Pathways has made on the lives of her children—Matthew, 7, and Carolina, 9.

“My kids have learned the kindness of people and how these people love to help others,” she said. “In the future, hopefully they will be that way.”

Leslie Melton mentioned the life-changing role Buckner played in her 4-year-old daughter Emily’s life.

“Family Pathways gave my daughter the opportunity to have a normal life,” Melton said.

Before entering the program, Melton and her baby lived in a halfway house in Oak Cliff. She was trying to recover from a long battle with drug abuse and had nowhere else to go. About 17 female drug users lived in the three-bedroom house at any given time—a dangerous environment for her and her baby, she said.

“This place is all about the kids,” Melton said, after explaining about all the activities, opportunities and attention the children receive. This past year, her daughter Emily was surprised with Christmas presents, a new and exciting experience for her, she said.

As Melton shared details and stories about her hardships in the past, she admitted she had some trust issues. When she first heard about the program, it was hard for her to believe anyone would want to help her without expecting something in return.

“Everyone was so nice. I wondered what they were up to,” she said with a laugh. “But after being at Family Pathways I’ve learned that not everyone is out to get you.”

Melton admitted that she has spent many years “on the opposite side of the law,” but now, after earning her degree in criminal justice, she plans to become a probation officer to help people like her former self.

“I’m so proud of me.” she said. “Anyone that knows me, where I’ve been and where I’ve come from, would be proud of me, too.”

Jasmine Dabbs shared a similar story of success and hope. She recently graduated from high school and received a scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas, where she will attend in the fall. She thanked KaSandra Jones, manager of Family Pathways, for a program that provided the things she will need during her freshman year of college—everything from laundry baskets to spiral notebooks.

In addition to the Family Pathways program in Dallas, Buckner also provides support to single parents through Buckner Family Place in Lufkin, Midland and Amarillo. Like Family Pathways, the programs are designed to help families achieve lasting self-sufficiency, break the cycle of domestic violence and eliminate patterns of spousal and child abuse and neglect. The programs provide accessibility to child care, rental subsidies, counseling, tutoring and vocational placement opportunities to help participants.

The mother in Family Pathways agreed; the driving force behind their success is their children.

“They are the reason that I live, get up in the morning and go to college,” Evans said. “Because I want to show them the path they should follow.”

The road for these graduates used to be a roundabout, but Buckner provided an exit ramp. And now, after their hard work and perseverance, they are on a road that is headed straight for their dreams.

“This program will definitely help those who want to do something with their lives because the support is extraordinary,” Espericueta said.