Our daughter Zi is 25 years old, a devoted mother to her 5-year-old son, and one of the most responsible and hardworking people we know.

When she was in high school, Zi knew that college was not the right path for her at that time. Instead, she made the wise and honest choice to prioritize her mental health and step directly into the workforce. She started at Papa John’s as a shift team member and, through years of steady effort and determination, worked her way up to Assistant Manager, then Manager, and eventually General Manager. Over the past eight years, she has learned how to lead, solve problems, care for people, manage pressure, and navigate all the challenges and drama that come with service industry work. At the same time, she has experienced more than her share of the undermining, exploitation, disrespect, and racism that are too frequently part of the experience of young Black women in the workforce.

Now Zi is ready for a new chapter.

She wants to build a future in healthcare by completing phlebotomy and EMS training. This is not a sudden decision. It has taken a great deal of thought, courage, and persistence for her to reach this point. She has spent months trying to figure out how to balance school, motherhood, and work all at once, but the reality is that getting ahead while carrying all three at the same time has been impossible.

So as a family, we asked a practical question: what would it take to give Zi a real chance to succeed?

We calculated that if she could step away from work for just four months, she would be able to focus on completing her training and preparing for a stable career in healthcare. The total amount needed to cover living expenses during that time is $12,000.

This investment would do more than help her get through school. It would help her move into a field with better pay, long-term opportunity, and health insurance—something that is especially urgent because she will age out of our insurance in May when she turns 26.

We are contributing significantly to help make this happen, but we cannot do it alone. We are asking our community to come alongside Zi as she makes this brave and important transition.

Your support will help a hardworking young mother move from surviving to building a future. It will help her gain the training she needs to serve others in healthcare while creating greater stability for herself and her son.

Thank you for believing in Zi, in second chances, and in the power of community to help someone take the next step.