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2007 Face of Success Honorees
 Tina
Determined to start over after escaping an abusive relationship, Tina
knew she had to recreate her life for herself and her children.
Starting with a temporary job working for Community Legal Services in
Yavapai County, Tina found a passion for the law. With help from AWEE,
she created a detailed plan to get her on the right track toward
developing skills to become a paralegal. The powerful combination of
AWEE and additional education proved to ignite the domino effect toward
many celebrated accomplishments. She attended Yavapai College where she
gained skills right
along with much needed self-confidence. After a series of promotions,
Tina now holds an enviable spot as pro-bono coordinator and paralegal
with Community Legal Services, and coordinates the family law ombudsman
program at the courthouse. Tina’s dedication in both school and
work has allowed her to attain financial independence and purchase a
home for her family. Having walked similar paths to many of those she
now supports, Tina hasn’t forgotten what it took to help her move
into the winner’s circle. “Never let anybody control you,
hurt you,” she says. “You are your own person and you
control your own destiny.”
 Iditris
Iditris’ life is a bit like playing pick up sticks – being
successful is interconnected to many other things. But one by one,
she’s celebrating her accomplishments. One connection that helped
in her transformation was AWEE. While recovering from drug addiction
and unable to return to her career in nursing, Iditris knew she needed
to tap into some help. AWEE was the answer. She quickly enrolled in a
variety of programs, including the Skills for Success workshop,
vocational training to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License
(CDL), and utilized the Clothing Bank for clothes to wear to job
interviews. By early 2006, Iditris found a job with the Arizona
Recycling Company as a CDL driver. Her hard work paid off with raises
and she eventually saved enough money so she could afford to move into
her own place and invite family to stay with her. “You’ve
got to stay focused and you’ve got to have responsibilities
around what your goal is,” says Iditiris. “You have to have
determination and the willpower. But you must love yourself
first.”
 Laura
Laura knows what it is to have to pick up the pieces and put them back
together again. At the tender age of 9, she experienced sexual abuse by
her stepfather and tried to escape it with drugs and alcohol. She
married at 19, and by 22 had two children and faced constant abuse from
her husband. She lost track of her trips to the hospital. The broken
arms, crushed ribs and black eyes continued to lead her to drugs, and
eventually landed her in prison. Desperate to find healthy ways to heal
and get back to her girls, Laura participated in every self-improvement
program available, including AWEE’s pre-release Women Living Free
program. It helped her prepare for the transition back into society and
reunification with family. Laura also took part in AWEE’s
post-release program, Paths to Living Free. She secured assistance with
the essentials: rent, gas, clothing, eyeglasses and key referrals to
assist with the custody battle for her two daughters. While her younger
daughter still resides with her ex-husband, Laura’s older
daughter teams up with her to share their story of abuse with people
who have been convicted of domestic violence. “If I can share my
experience, strength and hope and have it change the life of just one
woman, then it is all worth it.” Recently promoted to a program
manager position for an international group that works to end domestic
violence, sexual assault and substance abuse, Laura brings home a great
paycheck with benefits. She bought a new home and little by little has
reconnected the shattered pieces of her life. “There are people
who are willing to help you – like AWEE,” says Laura.
“Just be true to yourself and have a dream.”
 Thary
It could be nursing, pharmacy, radiology or perhaps
business…whatever it ends up being, Thary is a young woman
interested in all that life has to offer. With only Cambodian spoken at
home and the need to help her mom with her two younger sisters, she
ended up a bit behind when she got into Sunnyslope High School. But she
caught up quickly and also got a job at the AWEE office nearby. Once
there, she realized AWEE could be a strategic partner in her efforts to
realize her dreams. AWEE helped her complete grants to pursue schooling
through the Workforce Investment Act funding, as well as connect her to
advisors in the community college system. Whatever the grants
didn’t cover, AWEE did. She fast tracked her way to a Certified
Nurses Assistant. Then Thary pursued training as a pharmacy
technician. Now she is enjoying her work at CVS using her technician
skills to assist the busy pharmacists. After taking the state boards,
she’ll soon be a registered pharmacy technician. But that’s
not her end game. Thary wants to help her mom run a new business, so
she’s considering pursuing a business degree or additional work
in the health sector, including radiology. “AWEE has been like a
family to me,” says Thary. “They help you when you need it,
give you support if you need to talk to someone. They’re there to
listen.” With all of her early success at such a young age,
there’s no doubt she making the right moves to find success.
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