Empowered by Two-Gen
By Diana Murillo,
Marketing Specialist
Amidst the COVID pandemic, Deisy, a single mother of two young girls, faced several challenges. After having two strokes in 2021, she was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a heart condition that had gone undetected her whole life. After a third stroke, she required heart surgery. Due to her health, she was unable to work at her newly acquired position as a paraprofessional. Facing health and financial issues led her to experience depression and anxiety. Deisy’s parents were a huge support for her and her daughters during this difficult time.
After attending a community meeting, Deisy connected with CHS, where she found additional support and resources. Despite all the hardship she was facing, Deisy remembers being excited when she was contacted about joining the first planning meeting for Two-Gen, recalling how her heart was full of joy and pride as she was eager to contribute to her community.
Two-Gen is a multi-generational program for single mothers with children, designed to disrupt the cycle of poverty by building and strengthening protective factors and increasing their capacity to thrive. The program helped Deisy by connecting her to resources available in our community, including CalFresh benefits. Reflecting on her experience as a participant, she says, “I had navigators that gave me the emotional support I needed to keep pushing forward and set goals that would improve my life. I became more resilient and had a strong sense of belonging.”
As an active participant in the Two-Gen Program, Deisy became an advocate for herself and her children. When a navigator position opened within the program, she was encouraged to apply. Her career goals were shifting, and in many aspects, she was already an advocate for the program, so turning that into a profession was a natural transition. Deisy’s commitment to her work is evident in the passion she brings to her responsibilities as a navigator, which she further illuminates when she says, “My favorite part of my job is working with mothers and helping them find their spark in life, empowering them, and working at Ceres Partnership with my team.”
Deisy is excited about creating a positive change in her community through Two-Gen. One of her goals is to continue to expand the program, specifically for Spanish-speaking mothers.
For Deisy, being a part of the Two-Gen program’s design team is incredibly rewarding—not just as a participant, but now also as a Navigator. She expresses this fulfillment when she explains, “To feel that my voice is heard and be able to represent our single mom community gives me a powerful sense of pride and is fulfilling to my heart.” Deisy shares her story to show the positive impact the Two-Gen program has had on her life and on the lives of other participants. “Thanks to these programs, people are guided to the resources they need. Programs like these are important to build stronger communities, stronger people, and stronger families.” Within the Two-Gen program, Deisy found a “village” full of support and resources for herself and her daughters. Now, as a Navigator, she gets to be a part of that support team for other moms.