Grant Applicant: Every Woman Works

7/14/2018

The feature below is brought to you by Every Woman Works, an organization that is in the running to receive a See Beautiful Grant. For more information about all of our giving initiatives, please click here.

To learn more about Every Woman Works please visit their website: here.

Kamp Kids SEE BEAUTIFUL!

How Every Kids Kamp got started…

Hello See Beautiful Community!

My name is Sonia and in order to share about what we do at Every Woman Works (EWW) and the program this grant was written for - Every Kids Kamp, I will have to share a little about my background. As mentioned in our SEE BEAUTIFUL application, Every Woman Works is a job readiness program serving a portion of Atlanta's disadvantaged and displaced women as they move from homelessness (to include homeless female veterans), alcohol and substance abuse, domestic abuse and system dependency to a life of self sufficiency.

In January of 2013, as an Army veteran of 9 years and combat veteran, I found myself homeless due to PTSD, depression and anxiety. While at a transitional housing program in Atlanta called Mary Hall Freedom House (MHFH), I was referred to Every Woman Works - a holistic job readiness program for women. Even though I needed help, I didn’t know how to let others in because of the walls I had built due to challenges I’d been facing.

The staff at EWW helped me to break down those walls and find healing as I took the necessary steps towards gainful employment and regaining my identity. This was in 2013.

That summer, I was employed but still in transitional housing. The most challenging thing about being in transition with a child(ren), is knowing that you’re receiving the help and support you need emotionally and mentally but not having the necessary resources to help your child(ren) as they transition. I found an AMAZING summer camp 2 hours south of Atlanta called Camp Grace for my then 9 year old son Michael. After spending a week with nothing but unlimited fun tailored to him, as we drove back to MHFH, I literally heard… “Is Michael the only child in transition that needs camp?” So I’m having this conversation with God like, “G, really? I’m homeless right now dude AND you want me to take other kids to camp? I’m barely making ends meet in taking care of the one I have! Come on, really?” I know, G and I have a unique relationship.

One day at EWW, I shared with a board member that my son Michael had the most amazing time at Camp Grace and I mentioned how much it costed for him to attend. She was blown away and wrote the check that provided sponsorship to take 7 kids to camp. That’s how Every Kids Kamp was started. Since then, I have been partnering with other camps throughout the Atlanta Metro area that cultivates relationships with these kids for years to come.

Every Kids Kamp serves not just the children of the women at Every Woman Works but MHFH, AutoGift and kids from several other nonprofits as well as children in low income families or families facing financial hardships.

How are you creating more beautiful?

There is nothing more beautiful than helping to change a child's heart and mind from doubt, fear, and hopelessness to acceptance, inclusiveness, fun and love. One week in nature, surrounded and supported by kind, authentic, loving people, free to just be kids and play, creates beautiful, lasting memories for children whose life experience have been challenging thus far. I am the mother of one of those boys who experienced the saving grace of summer camp and his life has forever been changed because of it. His mind was expanded and challenged and camp provided him with opportunities to discover who he is truly meant to be. As the mothers of these children are breaking the cycle of dependency, their children are experiencing the potential that life has to offer and I am helping pay it forward so other kids (and parents) can experience the change that summer camp brings.
Since graduating from Every Woman Works, I’ve started Every Kids Kamp, served on the board of Every Woman Works and currently serve as their Camp Director (this is a volunteer position). I’m also on the board of directors of Mary Hall Freedom House and another non-profit called AutoGift where we gift single moms with minor children, and no access to a vehicle, with ownership of debt free transportation. We’ve also partnered with Camp Grace for the past 5 years.

We are so excited to be a part of the SEE BEAUTIFUL community, and even more excited to learn about all the other amazing programs that are creating beautiful in the life of others. Please visit us at www.everywomanworks.org or take a look at our brochure to learn more about who we are and what we do.

Thank you guys for SEEING and SUPPORTING Beautiful!

Summer 2016

Summer 2015

Written by Sonia Simon of Every Woman Works

23 Comments

Ramona

7/14/2018 04:06:53 pm

As a graduate of EWW, I must say the program completely changed my life and help me over come a lot of challenges I faced. Every Kids Camp and been a blessing over the years. Providing a safe, fun, life changing experience for my child year after year. I am truly thankful for these two amazing organizations they have been a total blessing to my life.

Kimberly Barnes

7/14/2018 04:17:01 pm

Sonia Simon is one of the most giving and self less. She always thinks about others and how she can make their lives better. She has personally been a blessing to me and My Children.

Sonia

7/16/2018 03:42:06 am

Thank you for the support Kimberly!

7/16/2018 03:39:03 am

Thanks for commenting Ramona!

Gloria Marshall

7/14/2018 04:17:20 pm

Great Job Sonia...kudos to you Lamp Kids See Beautiful and the Staff at Every Woman Works.

7/16/2018 03:44:19 am

Ms. Gloria, you are one of those behind the scenes people that helps to get the kids to camps. Thank you for all you do.

Wychella Williams

7/14/2018 04:41:42 pm

I started volunteering at Every Woman Works in 2010. I was so touched by the impact the organization was making in the community. I wanted to be a part of the process so I left my job and started working full time at EWW. It was very rewarding to leave work everyday knowing someone’s life was transformed. I believe EWW is a blueprint organization that offers a “wholistic approach” which fosters change that leads to a better life not only for the women and children but everyone connected.

7/16/2018 03:46:47 am

The lessons you've taught are still being being passed along. Thank you for being committed to the cause Chella!

Gwangi Dorsey

7/14/2018 05:05:50 pm

My name is Gwangi Dorsey and I and my daughter were awarded the opportunity to be apart of Every Kids Camp. I came to EWW by way of DFACS because I was unemployed, depressed, prideful and I did not know how to start over.

After attending a 3 month session, I learned so many things there. Although, it took a while for me to be gainfully employed. EWW yet offered me continued support after my sessions were over. One of those support systems were Every Kids Camp.

Although Ms. Sonia and I were not in the same class, she took my daughter to camp for the first time, away from.home, at 6! I was scared, yet excited. I was confident that all would be well, but a little afraid to let her go.

Oh! When my baby arrived back home she had such an amazing story to tell, with tears in her eyes. She cried " I want to go back to camp with Ms. Torrie! I was jealous for a minute. ""Who is Ms. Torre?"

As she chanted and quoted scriptures and cheers all the way home, I knew that we were truly blessed for the opportunity.

Through the years she has learned so much there, to include, team building, self confidence and it has built her faith in God. It has also taught her how to take care of herself away from home. Hands down, this camp is perfect for our youth. We are raising leaders and Ms. Sonia Ms. Tillie and EWW are so awesome and does a great job rebuilding women and preparing their children.

7/14/2018 05:10:37 pm

Awwwww, Ms. Torrie was her first camp counselor! How sweet!

Sherita

7/14/2018 05:07:31 pm

Camp Grace has been a blessing to me by way of my daughters participation. Sonia is a blessing and I am grateful for her bringing camp grace into our lives. Every woman works is a powerful organization that I was a graduate of. The blessings that have come from graduating from EWW are insurmountable. Supporting the opportunity to allow another child the camp grace experience is giving a child the opportunity to get to know Christ for themselves. When my daughter told me that kids were getting save there, I said you are going every year as long as they allow it. Every woman works is a faith based organization and it is the reason I have maintained self sufficiency in a way I couldn’t imagine at the time.

Jamila Sampson

7/14/2018 05:13:45 pm

Sonia Simon is truly a godsend. Every Kids Camp was something that I did not realize that we desperately needed. I'm a single mother of three, and my children had some behavioral issues in school after I divorced, moved and had to change their schools.

Every Kids Camp gave me time to regroup and gave my children an opportunity to unwind. I had never been able to afford summer camps until Sonia shared this program with me.

They had so much fun that they told their friends about it. They want to go every year!

I'm grateful for Sonia Simon and her commitment to create opportunities for other women in transition. Because of her efforts, every kid CAN go to camp!

Thank you, Sonia!

Melanie Jackson

7/14/2018 05:32:09 pm

Beautiful organization doing great work through amazing people like Sonia!

Meisha

7/14/2018 06:26:04 pm

I’m so grateful to Ms Sonia and Every Woman Works for taking my son to Camp Grace twice now. It’s been an unforgettable experience for him. What they provide these children is an opportunity for the kids to experience nature and comradeship building their self esteem. I just love them for this.

Ada Simon

7/14/2018 06:58:11 pm

It is a blessing to hear how the team of EWW is opening up their heart and their resources to bring joy into the heart of families. Keep up the good work.

JENNIFER L JOHNSON

7/15/2018 04:57:27 am

Sonia has a heart to volunteer. She is kind, patient and loving. It's great that there is a camp for our younger generation to experience Christ and make lasting memories. Blessings to Every Woman Works, Sonia and Camp Grace!

Andrea Sharp

7/15/2018 08:43:32 am

My steps were divinely ordered to serve as a volunteer, and before I knew it I was working for this phenomenal organization. In the 5 years I worked there not only did I witness the ladies, their children, and their circles being impacted by their student's transformations, but my perspective and mindset was changed for the best too. All of this was birthed through a God given vision through a mighty woman of God and difference maker-Ms Tillie! When Sonia entered the program in 2012 her gratitude, humility, and compassion for others was evident to us all. She was so taken by what she received at EWW to change her life's view, and changing her thoughts on what she could accomplish with her life that she wanted to do anything she could do to influence others to receive that too. Wherever she could serve to help the vision grow she volunteered. As a single mother she desired to fill the need of summer activities for the kids. She accepted the call to bless other children at EWW and her community with a week of fun, and development at Camp Grace. My nephew was one of those kids who was graced go and it gave him a new confidence that all things were possible for him! Every Woman Works affects everyone who connects with this program in a dynamic way that is never forgotten. EWW leaves an imprint on your heart to be a help to others forever, and Sonia Simon is one example of the thousands of women who have been touched forever through Every Woman Works.

Kathy

7/15/2018 11:19:43 am

I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer for Ms.Sonia Simon, of EWW this past week at Camp Grace. All I can say is WOW!!! what an amazing organization. Sonia's love for these kids and their families is unconditional. The relationships and trust she has built with families, some of which have language barriers is truly amazing. I myself never attended sleep away camps as a child because for 1 my parents couldn't afford it and 2 they didn't trust. Sonia has provided a safe haven in Camp Grace. It's where children are given the opportunity to gain independence, courage, patience, build genuine relationships, have fun being a kid; and most importantly honor Christ. She understands how important it is to impact and influence; to make a difference. She's part of the community where she once was. The community a lot of families she now provides services for. She's eager to create life long memories for children who may have never had the opportunity. She has a heart of gold and her work is endless.

Joyce Cole

7/15/2018 07:39:58 pm

Sonia is a God-sent Lady! I can see the strength, grace and beauty of her life in operation as she interacts with parents and kids. It spills over to my grandchildren, who have had the awesome opportunity to be a part of the Kids Kamp at Camp Grace. I can't describe the spiritual and positive effects it has on them. Both of them have asked the Lord Jesus in their hearts! Praise the Lord & Thank you EWW!!!

7/16/2018 03:50:49 am

Thank you for commenting Ms. Cole!

Letcia link

7/15/2018 08:33:22 pm

Thank you Mrs. Sonia for giving my child this oportunity to enjoy this camp. this camp tought my child so many things And most imortantly How to be independent And it also gave him a Lot of self confidence. I Belive firmly that we should keep supporting these types of programs so that our children in the future can keep enjoying this camp.
Thank so much mrs Sonia

7/16/2018 03:49:32 am

Leticia,

This means a lot! Thank you for taking the time to comment. Your boys are amazing.

Derica

7/16/2018 04:34:38 pm

This is so awesome. Sonia is truly a blessing to everyone she encounters!