Tyra Sabathia

I feel like at some point in time, life was wild, crazy, and fun, and then there was a part of me that was like, I don't know what I want to do, I just want to have fun and trouble. And then I was able to lock in, and I felt like I got a second chance at life at some point. I found something I love to do, and this is what I want to do. I don't even know if it was a specific person or a specific moment, but I think it just came from seeing that something needed to change, and being like, I can help with that. Being the change that I wanted to see, I think, is where it came from.

I would say to lead with kindness and care, and you really have to push your own beliefs and thoughts to the side, and really listen. Listen with intent. You have to come into the position with an attitude that's really selfless. Meet them where they are, because you just never know. You can only focus on what you can control, and everything else tends to either work itself out, or it's gonna take time for some things to go in effect.

What I would like to see in the future are more services for people, because housing them is one thing, but there's a lot more to unpack there. Housing people is probably the easiest thing to do, to acknowledge that you've displaced a whole demographic of people, but what I would like is help to integrate them back into the community. People are being housed in a community that once was theirs, but no longer is. They're being housed in communities that are now surrounded by businesses that they can no longer afford to participate in or spend at, grocery stores that are overpriced. I wish there were more services to help people integrate into a community that no longer looks like it used to look. In my buildings, I notice a lot of people suffering from mental health issues, and they don't feel like they belong, identity issues, and they're struggling with their money and their funds, unable to pay rent because they want to participate and be a part of the community but aren't able to.

I take my wins and use those to help me push past the losses or the struggles. Those wins are huge for me when a family is housed and they have been searching for years and couldn't find housing. I kind of hang on to those wins and remind myself of those wins when I'm in positions where I feel like I'm struggling or I'm overwhelmed by something. I just try to remind myself why I'm doing this and what I'm doing here in the bigger picture. My daughters are my world. I just love pouring into them and seeing them become great humans. I believe in being patient with yourself, enjoying your youth, and being the change you want to see. My father always told me to leave the world a better place than how you came in it, and when you align the passion with purpose, true purpose, pushing that passion even through the challenges that may come with it, it's fulfilling.