Aracely’s mother immigrated from El Salvador by herself in hopes of a better life. She fell in love and had Aracely. Over the past four decades at Haven Housing, we have seen how the gift of a fresh start isn’t just a new place to call home, it’s a new mindset and set of skills for pursuing our goals and overcoming obstacles, which are passed on from parent to child.
Today, Aracely describes herself as a first-generation American-born Latina woman. She is the first member of her family to attend college and graduate school, where she’s earned a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She has worked hard for her success in the field of organ transplantation and donation, and knows that she has not made it this far alone.
Family and friends give her joy, especially her mother who she considers her best friend. That closeness stems from all of the experiences, good and traumatic, that they’ve gone through together.
THEN AND NOW. Aracely with her mother.
“I was three years old when came to stay stay at Haven Housing so I don’t remember too much, but I remember that I was scared and confused,” Aracely said.
For Aracely and her mother, Haven Housing was a place of respite. Aracely’s birth father had grown increasingly abusive and her mother felt like she had nowhere to turn until a friend connected her with Haven Housing. In the middle of the night, Aracely and her mother left her home with little more than the clothes they were wearing.
Only three, Aracely doesn’t have many specific memories of Haven Housing, but some things stand out to her. She remembers that although she was scared, the staff were kind to both her and her mother. When she turned 4, the staff celebrated her milestone with cupcakes.
“This is the first birthday party I can ever remember, so it stands out,” said Aracely. (We hope current shelter guests remember their Haven Housing birthday celebrations just as fondly!)
After a few months at Haven Housing’s St. Anne’s Place emergency shelter and the chance to heal from the trauma of abuse, Aracely’s mother was able to secure housing with a friend. There, she saved money and eventually moved herself and Aracely to a place she rented on her own.
Looking back, Aracely feels gratitude that Haven Housing was a respite for her family when they needed it most, and wants people to know that it is OK to ask for help.
“Something I’ve always learned from my mom and growing up is that you need to be strong when you can, but none of us can do everything by ourselves. There comes a point where it is okay to ask for help.”
In the next several years, Aracely hopes to become a mom and raise her family in a diverse community. She plans to take the lessons she has learned to grow her leadership in her career which is dedicated to helping others in their time of great need, when they need life saving organs and tissue.
Aracely’s future is bright.