By the 9th grade, Leslie was reading at an advanced college level – and she was already an alcoholic. Caught in a downward spiral, Leslie turned to drugs, broke into people’s homes, spent time in jail, and eventually lost custody of two children.
After spending several weeks in a recovery program, she was referred to Opportunity Junction, a United Way grantee that fights poverty by helping low-income adults gain the skills and confidence to support themselves and their families.
Since graduating from Opportunity Junction’s Job Training and Placement Program, Leslie has landed a job as office manager of a local business. She has gotten off welfare and food stamps, and she is providing for her children.
In the video below, Leslie tells the story of her struggles in life and journey to recovery. Today, Leslie says, “I’m not just a proud mother; I’m a mother my kids are proud of.”
