“I was given another opportunity” Mary was forced to grow up way too soon … when she became a teenage mother. She missed out on normal rites of passage like going to prom, playing sports and dreaming about what she

“I was shown Grace” Abusive instead of loving. Dismissive instead of attentive. Critical instead of understanding. Chris’ stepfather was anything but a positive influence in his life, instead afflicting the young boy with pain, confusion and self-loathing. As he grew

“I’ve become a new version of myself” Happy. Healthy. Safe. Carefree. Sadly, these are not words Breanna would use to describe her childhood. From as early as she can remember, her story was one of sadness, confusion, loss and despair.

“I had to make a choice” In a household dominated by her mother’s battle with substances, Tiffany’s childhood was toxic and chaotic. Without the attention and protection she needed, she fell victim to bullying by other children and older siblings.

“It was God who saved me” James loved playing baseball; he excelled at it, too. Almost as much as the game itself, he enjoyed coaching younger kids and helping them develop their skills. So after college, when he failed to

“The Best Decision of My Life” At 6 years old, Duan saw a man get shot as he got off the school bus. He witnessed another murder at the age of 16. While these events offer graphic insight into the

“It took me losing everything”   An only child, Sheila was raised by a single mom who abused alcohol and suffered a string of broken marriages. “There were a lot of people in and out of my life, and a

“I had no sense of belonging.”   Alone. On her own. With no one to talk to – much less to guide her – Kie’Arra found herself homeless at age 15, after enduring a traumatic childhood. “When I was 6

“I am beautifully and wonderfully made.”   Born to a woman barely more than a child herself, Venus enjoyed a happy, if unconventional, upbringing. The young mother and daughter were “adopted” and cared for by an older couple whom Venus

“Without Him, I Have Nothing.” As a young man, raised by his grandmother in Chicago, J.B. understood the bleak outlook for kids in the inner city where gangs, substance abuse and violent crime were prevalent and often the only means