Next month marks the one-year anniversary of Thrive Prince George’s - a 2-year $4 million guaranteed income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and increase upward mobility for foster youth and seniors in Prince George’s County.
As we celebrate this milestone, we’re excited to spotlight Maiava, a Thrive Prince George’s participant who shared with us her journey and dreams as an aspiring homeowner and advocate for seniors in underserved communities. In the interest of protecting her privacy, Maiava’s last name has been withheld from this piece.
My name is Maiava. I am a 64-year-old Black woman and have worked since I was 14 years old. I have two sons and five grandsons. I am semi-retired and as a Life-time learner have earned degrees in the following: Associate’s in Accounting and Management, Bachelors in Communications and Leadership, and a Master of Science in Communications Studies.
During the 1990’s, I found myself a single mother with two sons. I had always been an honor student with diverse talents and abilities. With those attributes, I successfully built over twenty years of experience in office operations.
It’s Never Too Late to Pursue Your Passion
By 2007, My sons had grown up, and my husband, their Dad, and I reconciled. As fate would have it, I thought it to be the perfect opportunity to get my secondary education. I was forty-seven years old and thought I could become a successful CPA. I completed my dual Associates in Accounting and Management in 2011.
This coincided with death of my husband in April 2011. With the promise that I would get a Doctorate by the time I turned 60, I dealt with my grief by going back to school. In 2012 I joined a women’s empowerment group for support and was hired as a Community Liaison for the SC HIV Task Force, a contractual position that allowed me to become a paid advocate.
However, I was unaware that civic engagement would become my passion. I enrolled in Columbia College in South Carolina in 2012, and during an elective communication course, I learned about the women’s Suffrage movement. I was moved to tears.
At that very moment, I had an epiphany, and I became an advocate and a Communications major. My overall attitude changed from survival mode to someone determined to make a difference for my family and community. I went on to acquire a Master’s of Science in Communication in 2017 at Walden University of Social Change.
How Thrive Prince George’s Has Impacted My Life
Being a part of Thrive Prince George’s has helped me lower my debt and help my mother get rid of credit card debt. I’ve been able to work part-time and receive therapy because of burn-out. I’ve also saved enough to use the NACA and Section 8 Homebuyer programs to purchase a Townhome or Condo. Becoming a homeowner was a dream that my husband and I shared until he passed away in 2011.
The money I’m able to save from Thrive Prince George’s will help provide first generation homeownership for my family and assist me in starting a non-profit for Senior Advocacy and Resources that will serve PG County communities. This is important to me because seniors in underserved communities are often unable to leave legacies for their families. I am currently completing a Grant Writing certification toward this mission.
The Community Foundation is proud to partner with United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) to help seniors like Maiava through Thrive Prince George’s. Together, we are building a brighter future for seniors in our community.
For more information about Thrive Prince George’s and how to get involved, visit our website at https://www.togetherweprosperdmv.org/thrive-prince-georges