We Congratulate Diane Feenstra

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Meet Diane Feenstra, one of our mentors who has been supporting and empowering a young mom. 

Diane is a loving, generous mentor to a teen mother. Diane was paired with her client, Susie (name changed for anonymity) , about 1.5 years ago. Over this time, the two of them developed a very close, loving relationship where Diane advocates fiercely for Susie. She provides encouragement and support, and empowers this young mom to become all she dreams of.

When the Diane and Susie first started working together, Susie was painfully shy and controlled by her abusive boyfriend. Since she and Diane met, Susie has blossomed into an independent and more confident young woman. Her transformation is nothing short of

remarkable! 

Diane drove Susie everyday to an internship through GA at a childcare center last summer, ensuring she arrived on time and was prepared for her day of work. On their 15 minute drives, they developed a trusting friendship, allowing Diane to help Susie understand

the dynamics of her relationship with her boyfriend. At the completion of her internship, Susie was offered a job at this childcare center, which gave her the financial ability to live independently with her daughter. 

Knowing Diane was by her side is what really allowed her to consider ending the relationship with her boyfriend. Over Christmas, Diane helped her client move into a temporary hotel until an apartment became available, which she and her daughter

moved into at the start of 2022. Diane helped her acquire all the necessary items for a new home, including advocating to get her some new donated furniture. 

Once she settled into a new place, Diane provided driving lessons to Susie, helping her get her driver's license.

While these achievements may seem small, for Susie they are life-changing. Without Diane by her side, encouraging and supporting her, none of this would have been achieved. Susie's trust in Diane and her small steps forward have helped her gain confidence. More

importantly, this confidence taught her she is deserving of kindness from others, and she is a capable young woman. Diane has empowered Susie to reach for dreams she never thought were possible.

Perhaps Diane says it best when describing how she feels about mentoring: "It has been by far one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences I have ever been a part of. My mentee has so much potential to become anything she wants to be in life. She would love

to go back to school when it’s feasible. I can’t wait to be there every step of the way to help her achieve a better future for her and the baby."

We are thrilled for this honor that Diane received, and we are so proud to have her on our team!