Leticia’s Story

Meet Leticia! Leticia is a mom of eight who found community, confidence and herself at CWEE. In just a few short months at CWEE, Leticia has committed herself to achieving her goals and has made inspiring progress. This fall, she was the featured participant speaker at CWEE’s Back to the 80s Bash and shared in her own words more about her story and her reflections on her time at CWEE. Here is what Leticia had to say:  

“When I first came to CWEE, I wasn’t sure what it would be like, and admittedly, it felt like a waste of time. I didn’t know why I had to sit in the classroom and take part in the four-week Career Readiness cohort.  

That changed once I got here and realized I wasn’t alone. After day one, it felt safe and like I could breathe here. I wasn’t just “Mom” here. I wasn’t doing the laundry or making the food; I could breathe. 

After the first full week, CWEE really felt like home. I told my daughter that it felt like home and that that probably sounded silly. She reassured me and said “No, it doesn’t. They made you feel like you belong.” I realized quickly that I wasn’t being judged at CWEE and no one made me feel less than. I have always felt like I mattered at CWEE and like I was just in a different place at the moment, but that things were possible for me. 

I really looked forward to coming to CWEE. I looked forward to Tuesday. I never lost focus on my kids but I really needed to come to CWEE for me. I learned that that was okay, and it was okay for me to be both myself and Mom. 

When I heard the story of our Social-Emotional Learning Teacher, Renee, I felt less alone. For a while I felt like everyone had a perfect life, except me. After that, when I went to career readiness and I was sitting in class on “resume day” crying and staring at a blank screen, I felt the team’s support. The cohort teacher, Nick, noticed something was wrong. I told him that I had nothing to write and that my experience was taking care of my family. He immediately said, “I can work with that!” I remember saying “What do I do as a mom?” and he said, “What don’t moms do?” It was hard at first and I felt like being a mom wasn’t enough, and Nick really helped me see the value and transferable skills of being a caretaker. Nick has been really supportive. He got my “ugly cry” and still believed in me. 

I’m proud of my time at CWEE and I am happy to share that I received two interviews during the 4-week course and am now enrolled in the GED program. I am also in a paid CNA program through Denver Health and love taking care of people. After completing these programs I want to focus myself on my family business. I didn’t have the heart to do it before I got to CWEE and now I know I am going to do it.  

I have eight kids, three out of the house and in college, and five boys still at home, with one graduating this year. I am so proud of my family and of taking care of them. With the support of CWEE, I know it’s okay to also take care of myself. I was 15 when I had my first daughter and I asked her, “How can someone find their self after so long?” She said, “It’s because you found great, supportive people and you never lost yourself, you just forgot and needed someone to help pull it from the back of your brain!” 

I love CWEE – they don’t see you as a case the city sent; they see you and treat you like a human. No matter what obstacle, we find a way and the staff at CWEE actually cares. I haven’t walked into a place where everyone knows my name in a long time and CWEE is that; they care about and know everyone, and I’m grateful for CWEE and am glad I continued in the program.”