My family split up when I was real young. I mostly stayed with my father because my mom battled homelessness. My mom was homeless because of a drug addiction to Crystal Meth. When my Mom introduced my dad to drugs he became addicted too and eventually

lost his building maintenance business. When I first started to live with my dad, he usually stayed with a good job and I had what I needed to survive.  Then when I was sixteen, he lost everything, his business, house, and car. At this time I got a taste of what it is like to be homeless at a young age. I wasn't ready for this, and had to learn the hard way how to survive on my own.

I was introduced to Ambassadors of Hope and Opportunity (AHO), a nonprofit working with homeless youth, through Vince Chew.  Vince is 20 years old and the AHO youth outreach advisor. Through Vince, I met Zara Babitzke, AHO Founder and Director and she helped me find housing, a private dentist (that is helping me with my gum disease), legal help, an orthopedic surgeon for my broken finger and more.  I am even having opportunities to speak on panels before the CA State legislature about the discrimination homeless youth deal with in housing, employment and law enforcement. 

For almost a year, I was doing really well, but I eventually stopped doing well when I kept trying to help my Mom get off the street and off drugs.  I felt responsible to help my Mom who was homeless.  She would ask me for money and worry me saying she did not want to live. Eventually I was on the street again.  In June 2009, AHO had the Youth Connect where I got all the help I needed in one place on one day.  This was the help I needed to get back on track. AHO continues help me and I am very grateful.  At the Youth Connect, I realized that I wanted to help other homeless youth that are in the same position that I have been. I have been involved with the AHO project ever since as a Youth Ambassadors of Hope and a member of the AHO Youth Task Force team.  This task force Team’s goals are to bring attention, education and funding to AHO. The first project I helped out with was the San Rafael Fourth Street Festival where AHO had a booth.  There, I talked to people who were interested in knowing about what AHO was about. After that I helped with the AHO Car Washes for a Cause, which raised $7,800. I had a great time at doing this and am continuing to help in any way I can.

My goals for myself are to stay on the right track and get my degree in nursing.  My goals for AHO is to help out with all projects and to help keep the heart beating in this one and only non-profit to help homeless youth in Marin county.