Life-changing opportunities
Success takes on a new meaning.
Success at The Mission happens in so many ways.
Sometimes, success happens after many failed attempts. Occasionally, it occurs with a step backwards, followed by a few wavering steps forward on a long journey. Every so often, it begins when a major realization allows us to see ourselves in a new light.
Here are some of those success stories:
Behind the Scenes: Extraordinary Individuals Making a Difference – Arly and Eric
Life can present challenges for many in our community, but encountering Arly and Eric, two exceptional employees at The Mission, can brighten even the hardest of days. Arly Uz-Barragan coordinates our Food Pantry, while Eric Featherer manages the Thrift Store. Together, they form the welcoming faces that greet our community members with warmth and care, each playing a unique yet
Behind the Scenes: Extraordinary Individuals Making a Difference – Kim Maklad
Introducing Kim, our dedicated Liaison Case Manager in housing, overseeing 15 studios and 5 housing units. In the last year alone, Kim played a crucial role in assisting over 100 individuals experiencing homelessness in securing permanent housing—a truly remarkable achievement! Kim works tirelessly to support some of our most vulnerable community members, helping them overcome obstacles to achieve housing stability.
Succeeding Here Is About Your Freedom
When Vida Wright, Vocational Development Coordinator at The Mission, talks with someone starting in our Behavioral Health Program who has been incarcerated and is still striving to recover, the first thing she says is: “Succeeding here is about your freedom.” She quickly adds, “Once you succeed in this program, you will have many freedoms. It can be as simple as
I’ve Been Called a Lot of Things Before…But Role Model Wasn’t One of Them.
When Lenny Territo was in high school, he said, “I started using drugs, hanging out with the wrong crowd, then got in some serious trouble when I was 20, so I ended up in State Prison.” He paused, then said, “I’m sure you’ve heard that story a thousand times.” Then in 2007, he stopped using for over a decade. “I
My Destiny Is Being Here
Cleopatra Patterson came to her calling as a counselor in The Mission’s Behavioral Health Center through a circuitous route. She was “the baby girl,” the eighth of nine children raised by her mom, who was a single parent. “I grew up in the projects in North Trenton, and my mom did an amazing job,” Cleopatra said. “Our family was loving.
When I was finally arrested, I called it being ‘rescued’.
Gregory Kinash grew up in Egg Harbor City, with a foster mother who he adored. “She was my heart,” he said. “She was a beautiful woman. She was always there to listen and to talk to. She taught us responsibility. And gave us love. There were big gatherings during the holidays. She worked hard to make sure we had everything.
