Success Stories

Alpha an Asset for Alicia

(The following is an excerpt from a letter sent to Alpha House of Pinellas County from a former resident.)

Hi,

My name is Alicia Ledford (previously Walker), and I was at Alpha from September1999 through October 2001. I just wanted to update you on one of Alpha's "success stories." I was 16 when I came to Alpha and gave birth to my son, Brian in March 2000. I am now married for going on 6 years and have 3 beautiful children. Brian is now 7 1/2, and in addition he has a 4-year old sister and a 2-year old brother. I think that Angela Wilson had the biggest impact in my life; we even went through 2 of our pregnancies at the same time. She was always there to talk to me. I still try to keep in touch with her.
 
I am 24 [now] and hold a great job. I moved to North Carolina in 2004. When I was at Alpha, I achieved my degree as a computer specialist, and am now using it in all aspects of my job. One of the counselors got me a job with an oral surgeon, and I worked there until I was put on bed rest with the pregnancy of my daughter, afterwhich I was a mental health tech at PEMHS.
 
I am including some pictures of Jasmine and the baby, RJ. I will send pictures of Brian at a later time. Please forward this to Angela Wilson as well.
 
Thank you,

Alicia Ledford
Product specialist/Senior Tech
Viewsonic Corp.
Raleigh, NC

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ASAP Provides the Right Help for Christy

(The following testimonial was received from ASAP Homeless Services, Inc.)

If it was not for ASAP Homeless Services I don’t know what I would have done. I felt lost, scared and confused. I was unemployed homeless with four children, no family in the area and no where to live. The day I walked through ASAP's doors and met Karen Butler (Director of ASAP), I felt I had another chance. Karen and the staff gave me the direction I needed to succeed. ASAP is not like many shelters that only give you a place to sleep. ASAP actually cares about you! The staff helped me realize why I [was] in the situation I [was] in, and helped me deal with it and ...find a way out. I am now gainfully employed. I am happy to say, after many long hours, Karen found me a three bedroom two bath house. I am...moving...next week.

Christy S.

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Brookwood Inspires Isolated Teen to Become an Impassioned Teacher

(This article was published in Brookwood Florida's Brookwood Bridge - Spring 2008, and is reprinted here with permission.)

Thirty-year old Chrystal Osborn is a friendly, upbeat young woman with an engaging smile. To meet her today, you wouldn’t think she was once a sad and lonely foster teen. But years ago, at age 15, she moved to Brookwood Central after the collapse of an unstable home environment. She remained with us for two critically important years.

On a recent visit, Chrystal reminisced about her time in our program. She remembers it being rough at first, trying to adjust to so many rules and not feeling happy about living among so many other teens. But gradually she made friends, even a best friend, and developed a closeness to several staff members, especially to Tami Wiggins, which she said made things a whole lot easier.

Looking back on it today, Chrystal remembers her stay at Brookwood as being a lot of fun. She said if she could go back to any time in her life, next to college, it would be to her Brookwood days. What stands out in her memory is the caring staff, special outings, festive holiday celebrations and what she described as "beautiful birthday parties." Chrystal said that our Levels System (of increasing privileges) and our Life Skills packets -- focusing on independent living training -- helped her a great deal, especially as she lacked a stable family of her own. In fact, to her, Brookwood helped to foster the whole idea of family.

After leaving Brookwood, Chrystal -- who did well in school and knew since her senior year of high school that she wanted to become a teacher -- enrolled in college, choosing Math as her major. In 2000, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Math, and afterwards completed her Master’s at a college in Virginia. Before relocating back to Florida, Chrystal began a Ph.D. program in Mathematical Physics at Delaware State University. Since her real passion is teaching, she hopes to finish her doctorate at the University of South Florida with a focus on Mathematical Education.

Today, Chrystal is Chair of the Mathematics Department at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, where she teaches Advanced Placement Calculus, Honors Calculus and Statistics to 11th and 12th graders. This is in addition to raising her two adopted daughters: three-year old Heaven, and ten-year old Inaeja. And, as if she weren’t busy enough, this Spring she will find time to accompany 30 of her students for a 10-day perspective trip to Greece.

Over the years, Chrystal has remained close to Brookwood staff member (and surrogate mom) Tami Wiggins, and she visits as any grown daughter might, in between a busy and fulfilling life. We are all very proud of Chrystal, and proud of the fact that she remembers her Brookwood home in such a fond and positive way.

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