We were giving our moms the resources that they need.
I’ll never forget, February 17, and I know the Lord move fast, but I ain’t know he moved that fast. Here they come, in March, calling me and telling me that I’ve been accepted in the program and that, it was emotional because, and I didn’t know how I was going to make it, how I was going to survive. So, as I got to talk to Ms. Aisha more and Ms.
Here in Mississippi, our federal minimum wage is 7 dollars and 25 cents an hour. You know Tamara talked about being a care worker. I believe Tamara worked and made about 10 or 11 dollars an hour. There is no place that you can live within this country where you can have safe housing that’s affordable and survive off of 10 dollars an hour or 7 dollars and 25 cents an hour.
And I also think that that is by design of how we have set poverty up in this country to make it so where you are not seeing yourself and all that you are capable of, and not only all that you’re capable of, all that you’re already doing, because I think poverty’s also designed to take away your power and your voice, and that’s how we keep individuals impoverished, not just, you know, the financial aspect of it, yes, but then also, you know, with the individual’s belief that it’s a individual...
Nicole, it’s really such a pleasure to have you with us, and you are telling a very important story, an important story about your life, and you know, you were once a teen mom, and you overcame extreme odds, graduating with honors from the college of William & Mary, and as you say, while working like hell to create a safe, secure life, you know, for yourself and for your daughter., which helps teen parents prepare for and navigate the challenges of college while raising children.
Next, check out NicoleLynnLewis's piece on the crisis of student parents dropping out of college—or not applying in the first place—and how colleges and universities can best increase supports for student parents post-COVID.