Dametra Williams: From Homeless to Prosperous

Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact. — Robert McKee

Bleary-eyed and groggy, I snap to attention at the sound of my blaring alarm. The clock reads 7am. Of all my waking moments, this one consistently ranks at the bottom of my list.

But day after oh-so-early day, there’s one thing that gets me out of bed and out the door to our San Francisco office: the story of Dametra Williams.

A single mother, Dametra worked full-time while living in a homeless shelter, building up enough money to rent a bad apartment in a worse neighborhood. Her daughter, Yvonne, risked losing a private scholarship due to poor grades. Hope was in short supply.

Then Dametra joined EARN, where she created a spending plan and set savings goals for her future. Eventually, Dametra saved enough money to hire a much-needed tutor for Yvonne, securing the grade-based scholarship that was keeping the teenager enrolled at a private high school.

Soon after, Dametra herself earned a private scholarship to Mills College — and, I’m excited to say, recently graduated. She’s now starting her own business in the Bay Area.

Dametra’s story isn’t meant to be kept in a box (or, in modern lexicon, a private YouTube channel). It’s destined to be shared, to inspire generations of hardworking Americans who’ve got the vision but lack financial resources and know-how.

That’s why in early July, EARN hired Matt Silva, our new Levi Strauss Communications Fellow, to document the powerful stories of our Savers. As he gets his feet wet, expect more videos, photos, and blog posts on our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels — not to mention right here on the EARN blog!

When I walk into work every morning, I’m reminded of the triumph of the human spirit. Now it’s your turn to be inspired.

Until next week,

Charlotte
Social Media Fellow