A unique coalition came together in New York City to talk about restoring the American Dream. New Door Ventures’ Program Director, Ciara, and a New Door graduate, Nicole, were among 100 people selected to attend the Opportunity Nation Summit, a national conference held in Harlem, to hear and share stories of people who worked hard to rise up from difficult circumstances to achieve their dreams. Opportunity Nation is a cross-partisan, multi-sector campaign for a better America—where everyone who works hard has access to economic and social mobility, where the place you start off in life doesn’t determine where you end up.

Nicole spent most of her childhood bouncing between relatives because of her mother’s severe drug addiction. In her early teen years, Nicole’s father and grandmother both died from drug overdoses, forcing Nicole and her two younger brothers to stay with their mother again, despite the unstable home. When child protective services removed Nicole’s brothers from her mother’s custody, Nicole chose homelessness rather than be taken into foster care with them. 

Nicole was determined to have a better life than what she’d experienced before, and she sought help.

She found supportive housing with Larkin Street Youth Services, and finished her high school diploma through an alternative school. Nicole looked everywhere for work, but jobs were and are scarce in San Francisco, particularly for youth with minimal experience and education. She applied to New Door’s Ally program and immediately embraced the chance to gain real skills and work experience.

Nicole thrived in the Ally pre-employment training and was placed at a local university’s student center for her Ally job internship. She was inspired by the opportunity to witness other young people striving for excellence. With few other positive adult supports, Nicole connected deeply with her case manager, Ciara, and began to believe in herself. She graduated from the Ally program in 2009, with new confidence and pride.

Almost two years later, Nicole was a perfect candidate to attend the Opportunity Nation Summit as one of 50 “young leaders”, with all expenses paid. Her journey from poverty and instability to her newfound strength and leadership is now an encouragement to many of her peers who face the same struggles. Since graduating from New Door, Nicole completed a successful one-year internship at the San Francisco Airport, continues to take a full load of classes at City College, and was nominated as a Youth Warrior by the San Francisco Youth Empowerment Fund for her leadership and positive role-modeling in the community. She was also invited to sit on the San Francisco’s Youth Advisory Council, to help shape local policies that affect youth. She continues to receive mentoring and support from Ciara, but has made powerful strides toward independence and success.

Nicole’s story is a real and beautiful example of how a person can seize opportunity with the help of committed individuals, like Ciara at New Door, to overcome overwhelming difficulties and move forward in work and life.

*All events are true and accurate, but names, dates, and photos have been changed to protect anonymity.