For Role Model Moms, happiness is a diploma
Unique program helps women overcome challenges of poverty and parenting
One baby kept calling “yay!” during a tribute to the graduates, but no one minded.
Another child started to cry. No big deal.
And as teachers presented this unusual class with their hard-won high school diplomas, a toddler in a pink party dress squirmed out of her grandma’s arms in the back row and slipped to the front to grab a fistful of graduation gown. Her mom’s. At this celebration of 28 mothers from Jane-Finch and Scarborough’s Victoria Village who have overcome the challenges of poverty, parenting and their own academic demons to earn an Ontario high school equivalency at last, children are at the heart of the program.
“I did it because I want to be a role model for my daughter,” said Heather Brown, 29, who earned her high school equivalency recently — 10 years after dropping out — through the innovative Role Model Moms program run by the non-profit Toronto City Mission (TCM).
The program offers free child care and free courses in high school English, math, science and social studies, taught in cosy classes where everyone is a mother — one student had five children — dreaming nervously of going back for an education they hope will improve life for themselves and their children.
“It seemed there was no program that really met the needs of young moms who face very specific hurdles — often living in economic poverty, often without someone who believed in them, often without support if they want to study while trying to provide for their family,” said Dave Addison, executive director of TCM, a Christian outreach charity whose Role Model Moms program is supported largely by World Vision’s Canadian Program and the Sprott Foundation. “We realized child care is the secret sauce.”
Brown was among the latest crop of graduates who donned mortarboards and gowns Thursday night at a Toronto banquet hall to cross the stage in front of their families and receive a credential they have taken sometimes decades to be able to earn.
“A lot of the moms have had pretty negative experiences in school; maybe it was too hard, or there were family life issues — many are women whose mothers died when they were young and suddenly they were taking care of siblings and then they met a nice boy and got pregnant themselves,” said teacher Shelby Hall.
“They often haven’t had many cheerleaders in their life to encourage them to stay in school, but this program is all women, and we’re all moms, which provides a feeling of safety. If you’re late because someone had a poopy diaper, there’s no judgment. They don’t have to make excuses if the work isn’t done on a day-to-day basis. They just catch up. I tell them, ‘We’re all adults here.’ ”
Teacher Chara Benson agreed fear can be the biggest barrier.
“A lot are scared of school; they don’t have enough positive people in their lives telling them they can do it. Just walking into class is a huge step.”
But it’s a step that has led to higher education and solid jobs for many of the 73 women who have graduated since the program started in 2008. They lose their fear and gain confidence.
“A lot of my students have gone on to college, so it’s a nice stepping stone,” said Hall.
Some graduates have gone into nursing and accounting, early childhood education, social services — and one is headed to become an electrician.
“They see the academic world can be very nurturing.”
“We realized child care is the secret sauce.” DAVE ADDISON TORONTO CITY MISSION