My name is Angela Majette and I am 26 years old living on my own. I’m a mother of three and have been attending Family Partnership on and off for 8 years.  Family Partnership to me has been more than a stepping stone organization. It’s a center that helps us find what’s important to help my family. Without all of the staff’s love and support they show everyone who attends, guiding us in the right direction, I wouldn’t have made it this far. They treat all their participants with respect and let them know that what they think and do is important in the center. Everyone’s opinion counts; all staff and other parents really care about parents meeting their goals. When I first started to attend Family Partnership, I was a teenage pregnant mother who really didn’t have a direction. Society gives teenage mothers a mind frame that they won’t make it in this world. I became very depressed and scared I wasn’t going to be able to survive as a mother. Attending Family Partnership makes me feel like I belong, as well as helps me to understand the center is my stepping-stone in becoming a successful single parent.

Once I start attending the program they helped me by putting my goals in motion. They include workshops that are beneficial to us dealing with being a parent and getting back in the job force. My favorite workshop is nurturing, with strategies to help you take better care of your children and most importantly yourself. The classes are designed to take the knowledge we learn with us when we are ready to leave the center. Nurturing became my aid to value my time at the center, home and with my kids. Also to set a clearer mind frame on what I need to do to succeed in life for my family. Family Partnership continually provides seminars about parenting, opportunities in post secondary education and training, computer literacy to help acquire a better job and to facilitate job searching. The staff taught us the value of programs that are out there to help people like me to get ahead.

Throughout the years attending Family Partnership, I learned ways to interact with my children and how to respond to them; and as a mom, I can be fun and still set boundaries.  My children can prepare for regular schooling by interacting in activities, doing things on a schedule, even learning to play and share with other children. Together it gave my children and me something to look forward doing, just us, activities to enjoy one another’s company. Being a parent sometimes can be hard and you forget that there needs to be time to play as a family. I believe Family Partnership has taught me this, and I can continue till this day to show my children attention and love.

As a teen I was not focused and just lived day by day not giving much thought to my future. Now I know am a stronger parent as well as a more focused adult. I am now taking online classes in business management as well as getting ready to go back to work.  My children and I now have a great relationship, which helps us to be a stronger family.  If it weren’t for Family Partnership giving young people like me a new look on life I wouldn’t be where I am today and for that, thank you.