When Diane Roland first told me about the Next Step program, my first thought was, THIS IS IT! The” it” being a program that will help residents make a real change in their lives. As a teacher, I saw so many young students with unrealized potential because of their lack of family support and inferior coping skills. They needed an in depth program to help them learn these skills and given consistent support to make change possible. The educational system is not equipped to supply this, but Next Step is. As a volunteer at Next Step I get to be a part of helping and watching ladies make lasting positive changes in their lives. I teach a class, once each week, working on math skills. What a gift it has been for me to help residents to earn a GED (now called HiSet) and to prepare for possible college. I also volunteer in other areas such teaching smart grocery shopping and career exploration. It is such a joy to work with residents who are ready to make better choices in their lives, grow in their Christian journey, and to see a brighter future.
