Stories of Hope

My name is Jaleesa. I am a 16-year old woman residing in the Sasha Bruce Youthwork Independent Living Program. This is my story. Prior to coming to Sasha Bruce, I was a stressed and uncontrollable adolescent. I lived from place to place. The dreams I once had...

On June 19, 2007, DeCario Whitfield of our YouthBuild Program testified before the US Congress Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is DeCario Whitfield. I am 19 years old and I am a student enrolled in the...

My name is Carol and I’ve been a resident at Sasha Bruce’s Transitional Living Program for eight months now. Before I came here, I did not have a GED or diploma or a job. I was involved in an unhealthy relationship, and was addicted to drugs. My family had even turned...

Stuart left home after his mother lost her job. “That’s when I branched off,” he explained. “In my mind, I thought let me take some load off her, give her one less mouth to feed. I was staying with cousins and close friends. I didn’t have no stable housing for two or...

I am Jeanette Williams, a 17 year old resident of the Independent Living Program (ILP) within Sasha Bruce Youthwork. One year ago my sister Jaleesa told me about a wonderful program that would help me overcome my fears of becoming lost in the world without hope. Five...

My experience meeting Barack Obama was a once in a life time opportunity. He is an intelligent and funny gentleman. Barack and I painted the Sasha Bruce Homeless shelter lockers and walls. I didn’t think I would ever in a lifetime meet one of our Presidents. It was so...

Alberta Jones of SBY’s YouthBuild Program recounts her experience on our recent field trip to study US immigration history at the Statue of Liberty. And we managed to have some fun, too. “The experience in New York was awesome. We first started out on the road at six...

Sometimes the best gifts are those you have not anticipated. Case in point is this note from Reverend Archene Turner, the coordinator of a youth ministry at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Chruch in Bethesda. Our 9th graders in their coming of age program at our...