Marcus aged out of the system at 18 with nowhere to go and no safety net to catch him. He couch-surfed for months before connecting with Walden. Within weeks, he had stable housing, a case manager in his corner, and a plan. Today, Marcus is enrolled in community college pursuing a degree in business and working part-time at a local nonprofit. “I finally feel like I have a future,” he says. “Walden gave me the tools — I just needed someone to believe I could use them.”
Jasmine became a mother at 19, just one year after leaving foster care. Balancing parenthood alone while trying to find stable housing felt impossible — until Walden stepped in. Through Walden’s parenting support program, Jasmine gained access to safe housing, childcare resources, and life skills coaching tailored to her situation. She recently landed her first full-time job and is working toward her own apartment. “I’m not just surviving anymore,” Jasmine says. “I’m building something real — for me and my daughter.”
Darius spent years moving from placement to placement, never feeling like he truly belonged anywhere. When he came to Walden at 19, he was guarded and unsure of the future. Slowly, with consistent support from his case manager and access to employment training, he began to open up. Today, Darius works in construction, has his own apartment for the first time in his life, and volunteers with a youth mentorship program on weekends. “I want to be what I never had,” he says. “Someone who shows up.”
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