“I was the first resident at Our Fortress Homes Girls’ house”

I did not know then that I would become a Social Worker, but I knew that I wanted to be successful. The years that I spent at the Our Fortress, wasn’t that bad. At first I had that whole house and the staff to myself. Another girl came and we went from 2 to 8 girls quickly. I never lived with so many people in my life, it was always something going on from the time we got up until it was time to go to bed but it always felt like home. My mother picked me up every weekend for visits and even though foster care was not ideal, she got along with the social workers and staff and they worked together to support me. My staff celebrated every accomplishment from birthdays, proms, my first job, high school graduation and college send off. Mrs. Lola was so proud when I became a Social Worker. I will always be grateful that I was placed in a program that cared about us.”

~BK

“Our Fortress taught me a lot, but one thing they taught me that I will take to my grave is blood does not make you family, love does”

I use a lot of what the staff taught me and a lot of the lessons got me to where I am today. I got my first ID, went on my first job interview learned how to make baby shower meatballs and if we didn’t learn anything else they taught us hygiene. They drilled hygiene in our heads all day every day. I now have my own place and am about to have a baby. The staff would be so proud of how clean my house is.

~ JB

“I’ll never forget Our Fortress Group Home because it was the only group home who had staff that made it feel like family, it felt like home”

I was facing challenges within my family and navigating teen hood. So many laughs and tears I shared with staff and the other girls. Being there made me forget a lot of the challenges that I faced. Our Fortress shaped me into the woman I am today. Back then I may have not understood, but I am more then thankful for what Our Fortress did to help me in that chapter of my life and I will forever cherish them.

~JG

“Our Fortress was my best placement. We were like family like real family.”

My first Thanksgiving there, Ms. Sharia and Ms. Sherrie cooked dinner, we sat at the dining room table together, prayed and went around the table to say what we were thankful for. At that time I could not think of anything because my life was so messed up. At that moment I knew this place was different and I can now say I'm thankful that I was placed with them. On Christmas we actually got good gifts, wrapped under the tree and we wore matching pjs. Ms. Sharia made us breakfast it was all love. Me and the other girls all put our change together and put it in Ms. Sharia’s stocking; she cried lol. My time there was too short they really loved us like really live us. I miss it there.

~ LP

“Our Fortress was my first time living with people that wasn’t family”.

My first day, Ms. Sharia told me that this was more than a group home, that we are 1 big dysfunctional family trying to help each other get to the next steps in life. I felt loved there, Ms. Danielle, who I called Ester would laugh and play with us. Ms. Kenyatta was our fly aunt that made us do our chores. Ms. Sherrie was the enforcer but she loved us. Our Fortress was really like family and they showed us a lot of love.

~DH

“Our Fortress was a place that I felt safe, cared for and loved. I felt that I had people by my side listening to me and they made me feel comfortable using my voice and speaking up for myself.”

I learned how to grow and be an independent young lady. I want to thank all staff that works there for being a mother figure that I never really had. People that loved me even though I was not their own. I will miss that place but forever grateful for that opportunity and awesome experience. Thank y’all for all the support and helping us to be better young ladies.

~ KR

“When I came to Our Fortress, I was coming from a bad placement and I was in a horrible headspace. I didn’t feel safe, supported or cared for before I got there. Our Fortress completely changed that for me”

The staff were kind and it honestly felt more like family than a facility. They treated us with respect, listened to us and made sure we had everything we needed. We even got allowance every week and they took us places so that we could actually enjoy life and have normal experiences. I felt cared for, understood and supported in a way I hadn’t felt in a ling time. I am grateful for what the staff did for me. This group home helped me heal, feel safe again and believe that people truly can and do care.

~K

“Our Fortress accepted me during after hours, when no other program would. I had already been to most of them anyway. I came in the middle of the night and was only suppose to stay for the weekend because I was 18 years old. I ended up staying at Our Fortress for 5 months and wish that I could have stayed longer while I was trying to finish my GED program.”

Because I was older than the other girls, they gave me my own room and a leadership role. The other girls looked up to me and that made me see myself differently and I was more focused on finishing school. I had been placed in 72 different homes, some family and Ms. Davida told me let this be my 73rd and last. I kept that goal and left Our Fortress to go to independent living. I will always remember how Ms. Davida and Ms. Fleurette advocated for me in my independent living meeting so I could get my apartment. Ms. Lola was always sweet to us and made sure we had nice clothes, shoes and she never left the house without asking when are the girls getting their hair done. Out of all my placements, I never felt supported like I did at Our Fortress. It was my best placement, besides independent living. The last day I was there, all the girls were sad to see me go, I felt real special because they were my little sisters. I each of them something of mine and the girl who gave up her single room for me, she got her room back. Our Fortress is a great place and now that I have children of my own, I know that I will be strict on my girls like staff was with me.

~ SB