Program helps at-risk women graduate

BLOOMINGTON — Tanella Mahoney brought her month-old son, Kendall, to her graduation. Formerly homeless, she knows well what a difference it makes to have a diploma and a stable place to live.

“If you are going to do something, don’t give up in the middle,” said Mahoney, 22, of Bloomington, who also has a 5-year-old daughter.

She is among six young women, homeless and pregnant during their education, to earn a high school diploma with the help of transitional living programs at Project Oz.

The women graduated from high school or its equivalent — Mahoney, for instance, graduated from Youth Build McLean County — and received help with housing, self-sufficiency and job skills from the nonprofit agency that helps at-risk youth.

“For every one of them, we have to turn away 10. We don’t have the resources to help them all,” said executive director Peter Rankaitis.

In the past, only one or two students a year received their diplomas at the same time. This year, with more students reaching the goal, the agency recognized the milestone with a celebration lunch.

“They are great young women and I think there are going to make it,” Rankaitis said.

The formerly homeless women all have “relatively stable living situations” now and a chance to earn a better living with their high school diplomas, he said.

Mahoney got her own place in November. She hopes to attend Heartland Community College this fall and eventually become a social worker.

About 100 homeless and runaway youth in McLean County are among an estimated 1 million across the nation, Rankaitis said. In McLean County, the Host Homes program provides up to 14 beds for homeless and runaway youths, he said.

Erin Washburn, 20, earned her diploma three months ago. The mother of two is now attending Paul Mitchell The School, a cosmetology school in Normal.

A new job kept Nora “Erica” Shelton from the graduation celebration, but the 21-year-old mother of two hopes to continue her education and eventually become a preschool teacher.

“If it wasn’t for Project Oz, I wouldn’t be a graduate,” said Danisha Beard, 18, who hopes to become a registered nurse. She was pregnant with her second son, living place to place, before transitioning into adulthood with the help of Project Oz, said Alicia Girard, a Project Oz maternity transition specialist.

Lindsay Felts, 21, “wanted to be independent, and get my life on track.” She earned her diploma through Midwest High School’s online program at Project Oz. The mother of three work at a restaurant and plans to start at Heartland this fall.

Mike Donnelly, a Project Oz youth interventionist based at Normal Community West High School, has known and mentored two of the graduates since they were freshmen. “Not every community offers this. Bloomington-Normal offers a lot of second chances,” Donnelly said.

Iras Lloyd attributed her motivation to “Mr. Mike” and to her baby daughter, born when Iras was a sophomore. She got her diploma and worked at a fast-food restaurant, learning to manage her money. She wants to become a certified nursing assistant or work in aviation technology.

“Since her daughter’s birth, Iras’ goal has been to graduate high school on time while being a wonderful mother. She has done just that,” said Ryan Davis, a Project Oz transitional living specialist.

Funding and help for the Project Oz transitional programs also is provided by Unit 5 schools, Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, United Way of McLean County and the federal government. “It took all those resources jointly to get this to happen,” Rankaitis said.