Success Story Spotlight: Griselda

Twelve years ago, Griselda was a young single mother of three, working multiple jobs just to make ends meet. She had left an abusive relationship, was battling alcoholism and depression, and was drowning in debt. “I was close to giving up,” she recalls. “I rarely saw my children, and I felt completely alone.”

When a member of JPP told her about the program and how it could help her children academically, mentally, and physically, something inside her said, I need this. Even though she couldn’t attend meetings for nearly a year due to her work schedule, she knew she had found a lifeline.

Griselda remembers feeling like an outsider at her first JPP meeting, young, tired, and unsure of herself. But her coach, Steffannie, saw her differently. “She asked me about my goals,” Griselda says. “No one had ever asked me that before.”

Through JPP’s sweat equity model, showing up to meetings, classes, and coaching sessions, Griselda began to rebuild her life. Her children joined in activities like fly fishing and museum visits, made friends, and received mental health support. Slowly, she began to heal and see new possibilities.

With the support of her coaches, Steffannie, Maria, and Suzanne, Griselda set and achieved goals that once felt out of reach.

She became a U.S. citizen.

She earned her associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistance.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration.

She overcame alcoholism and focused on building a stable, healthy future.

She joined the Beyond Home transitional housing program, where she is now preparing for homeownership.

“The word that comes to mind when I think about my coaches is trust,” she says. “They taught me to trust myself again and to believe there are people who want to see me succeed.”

Griselda didn’t just transform her own life; she became an advocate for others. She joined JPP’s Family Advisory Council (FAC) to help shape programs and support Spanish-speaking families. “FAC has made me feel more connected to the community,” she says. “It’s about leadership, collaboration, and making sure families’ voices matter.”

Looking ahead, Griselda’s next big dream is to buy a home. She’s focused on increasing her savings, improving her credit, and continuing her education, possibly pursuing a master’s degree. But more than anything, she wants her children to achieve their goals. Her daughter is pursuing a medical assistant program and dreams of becoming a pediatrician. Her youngest son is passionate about music and hopes to join the Advanced Band in high school. Her oldest son is thriving in a GED program after struggling in a traditional school setting.

“I simply want my children and I to find happiness and achieve self-sufficiency.”

A Message to Other JPP Families

“I was lost and overwhelmed when I joined JPP. I lived in survival mode and doubted myself constantly,” Griselda shares. “JPP was the village that helped me raise my children. They believed in me when no one else did. If you’re thinking about joining, be ready to work hard, be vulnerable, and embrace change. It’s worth it. JPP has been my support system, my guide, and my family.”