A Real Beginning
With that, Lorrie closed the door and took with her all the burdens Lisa had carried for the past nine months.
Watching Crystal take such great care of her daughter, she knew that she’d made the right decision coming to a place that could give her baby real food and a place to sleep each night.
Lisa awoke to the sounds of two women whispering loudly next to her bed, but by the warmth in the air, she could feel that there were many more people around her.
Even though she had only met them last night, Lisa felt like she could trust them.
Lisa was already planning how she was going to move the furniture around so her baby would have more room to crawl around and she would have her desk in a position where she could see everything.
Lisa had indeed already figured out the logistics and made a plan; she just needed somebody to tell her she could do it. And Randy did just that.
Four years later, Crystal, Lorrie, Abby, Jane, Randy, Sandy and many other friends that Lisa made along the way, all watched and clapped proudly as Lisa walked down the graduation aisle and shook with each of her amazing and not-so-amazing professors. Little Lisa clapped the loudest, proud of her mom.
Resources
Embrace Grace
embracegrace.com
“Embrace Grace exists to help inspire and equip to love and encourage single and pregnant young women and their families.”
Young Life, Young Lives
younglives.younglife.org
“Support pregnant + parenting teens, through mentorship, community.”
UN Women
(unwomen.org)
“We are the global champion for gender equality. UN Women is the UN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential.”
Empower Her Network
(empowerhernetwork.org)
“WE OPERATE FROM THE EXIT RAMP FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.”
She Recovers
(sherecovers.org)
“SHE RECOVERS® Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity and a global grassroots movement serving more than 325,000 women, and non-binary individuals who identify with women’s communities, who are in or seeking recovery from mental health issues, trauma, substance use and related life challenges.”
Global Fund For Women
(globalfundforwomen.org)
“We envision a world where movements for gender justice have transformed power and privilege for a few into equity and equality for all.
We fund bold, ambitious, and expansive gender justice movements to create meaningful change that will last beyond our lifetimes.”
Planned Parenthood
(plannedparenthood.org)
“Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide.”
Center for Reproductive Rights
(reproductiverights.org)
“The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization of lawyers and advocates who ensure reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights for the dignity, equality, health, and well-being of every person.”
Institute For Women’s Policy Research
(iwpr.org)
“A just future begins with bold ideas.
We win economic equity for all women and eliminate barriers to their full participation in society. As a leading national think tank, we build evidence to shape policies that grow women’s power and influence, close inequality gaps, and improve the economic well-being of families.”
Society For Women’s Health Research
(swhr.org)
“The Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) is dedicated to promoting research on biological sex differences in disease and improving women’s health through science, policy, and education.”