UPDATE - One Less Stop on the Bus
By Colin Denby Swanson, MFA MBA
Executive Director, Mainspring Schools
Published Dec 3, 2024
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Update to my previous article, 32 Stops on the Bus, about a single mom who moved to Austin for family reasons, abruptly lost her housing and her partner, and was given 90 days to find a job or face eviction from the shelter.
In order to get a job she needed childcare. In order to get childcare, she needed.... a job. And two years to make her way through an extensive tuition subsidy waitlist.
She happened to call the Family Services Director, Anisha, at Mainspring Schools , who realized that there happened to be a single open spot in our #EarlyHeadStart program.
When the mom, Crystal, arrived to fill out enrollment paperwork, Anisha noticed that she was scraping the bottom of her last cannister of formula, and even having to dilute the mixture. WIC hadn't kicked in yet, and there wasn't enough left to get through the week.
Crystal walked away that afternoon with childcare, connections for employment, and arms full of essential supplies.
And she returned each day, 32 stops on the bus, to drop off her child, and 32 stops back. Ninety minutes each way.
Over the last few months, Anisha has supported Crystal's determined effort to find stable housing. Together, they ran down every possible social service, every possible resource. They made phone calls and appointments, were turned away, made new appointments and went back, fought off negativity and misinformation, got on waitlists, got on more waitlists, met with case managers and therapists and advisors and agencies and apartment managers and -
And then.
Last Wednesday, 24 hours before Thanksgiving, Crystal and her children got the keys for and moved into their own long-term stable housing.
The picture above is the family in their new living room. We are working with sponsors to make sure they get supplied with dishes, cooking equipment, linens, and basic furniture. One stop down, 31 to go.
Crystal said to me yesterday that she never gave up. And in fact she always made space to help others even as she navigated one of the most challenging years of her life.
"It can happen to anyone," she said. "I see this every day on the bus. People who have experienced worse than I have. People who are struggling."
She continued, "And sometimes what they need and don't have is a village."
So much to be grateful for as part of Crystal's village.
I am grateful for colleagues like Anisha, who speaks with authority and care and does not back down.
I am grateful for a dedicated team who to Mainspring's mission with passion and unrelenting perseverance.
I am grateful for families and caregivers who meet us with authenticity and joy, and who partner with us in trust to build the best foundation for their next success.
I am grateful for the supporters, partners, donors, Board members, Advisory Council members, and visionaries who make Mainspring's high-quality early education and 2-Gen approach possible.
If you would like to be part of our 83-year old innovative effort, please click here:
