Vision Works, Inc.

This is extremely tough for me, but my heart is bleeding right now! This was my campaign video. Today, I got word that the young man, Treal Rivers who did the video died last night. The pregnant young lady and small child in the video are his fiancée and child. He was the father of two children and had another on the way. 

I met Treal during a campaign event in Hamilton, where we were registering voters. He had never voted or been involved in the political process, but I convinced him that his vote was important. He told me he would do anything to make the world better for his two children, Sincere and Sy’mier, and the one on the way. 

After speaking with Treal for a short while, he shared his love for music with me. He played the song for me on his cell phone that became my campaign song. Treal told me that he wanted to turn his life around, so that he can be a better father to his children.  When I asked what has hindered him from being the father he desires to be, he shared with me that he has struggled with an addiction, which has impacted every aspect of his life. He spoke candidly about his addiction and the years of trouble that it has caused him. What concerned me was that he said that while he has served time for his addictive behaviors, he has never been involved in a drug and alcohol treatment program. This struck me as strange, and when I suggested that he try that, he seemed motivated and even excited that there might be hope for him to do better in life.

The reason I chose to use his song for my campaign video was because aside from believing in the cause, Treal was extremely talented, and had a sweet and gentle spirit. I immediately swung into action, trying to help him get his life on track. With the help of Treal's father, within a week, we had produced the the video, and prepared the music for production. I also sent Treal a list of treatment programs, and began the work to help get his music published. All of his legal trouble left him struggling to find work, and we were in the process of helping him start a business.

Two weeks ago, Treal reached out to me and said, "Hello Miss Vanessa this is Treal I'm just calling to ask about the coming up elections what are we doing this weekend to up your votes..."  He was thoroughly engaged and it was all hands on deck for him! 

I am so heartbroken!

Treal was a young man. He didn't have life insurance, and had very little time to work and earn social security. My heart bleeds for his children. I wish we could all work together to help do what Treal really wanted to do. He wanted to give his children a better life. I know that funds are limited and people don't have much to give, but it would be such an awesome blessing if we could all chip in to help lay him to rest. 

It was such an honor to let Treal know that he mattered, and to see the hope in his eyes when I told him I would do all that I could to help set him on the right course. 

My commitment is to help his children in every way that I can, and my commitment is to train young men who share some of Treal's struggles to help them launch businesses, get them registered to vote and show them how to engage in the political process. 

Please consider donating what you can to help! We need far more money than what I have asked for in this Gofundme appeal, so if you have the capacity to give more, it would be greatly appreciated. 

Dr. Vanessa Enoch

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Want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money to benefit Vision Works, Inc., and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Vision Works, Inc.: Vision Works, Inc. is a social justice advocacy organization. We seek to be a catalyst for change in the local and national community. Our goal is to eliminate disparity and systemic oppression, and to ensure equal and civil rights of all people. We endeavor to educate the community and expose injustice and eliminate discrimination, disparate treatment, and marginalization in all its forms, and to promote equity, social political and economic justice.