When asked what a steady job means to her, Monet smiles and looks at her daughter, “It feels good. It feels really good to be back on track. Everything I’m doing is to make a better life for her.”
As a Security Guard with Southern California Edison, Monet helps to ensure public safety and the protection of generators during power outages. In order to prioritize being there for her family during the day, she opts for night shifts – sometimes working 12 consecutive hours and getting home when many are either asleep or just waking up. This schedule offers her the flexibility to be there for her family.
“I can do things during the day like pay bills, cook, clean, and pick [my daughter] up from school…”
Through her job, Monet is a light and keeps the lights on.
Despite nearly a decade of living in the same apartment and maintaining steady employment, Monet and her daughter lost everything after the onset of the 2020 pandemic. “It was bad. I lost my place, I lost my job… I was homeless for a while.”
Later, as she prepared to reenter the workforce, Monet turned to Chrysalis at the recommendation of a friend. In addition to refreshing her resume and brushing up on her interview skills with support from Chrysalis staff and volunteers, she received financial support to re-establish her guard card, get CPR certified, and secure her firearm permit. She emphasizes that having the funds to do those things made all the difference.
Through Chrysalis’ partnership with Brilliant Corners and our Breaking Barriers program, she also received services that connected her to affordable housing and tenancy support designed to reduce recidivism and prevent a return to homelessness.
“Don’t give up. Keep going. I’m living proof.”
Monet celebrates being a positive role model for her daughter, stably employed and housed, and surrounded by supportive family, friends, and service providers like Chrysalis. She also looks forward to continuing to work with her Employment Specialist to secure a higher paying firearm position in order to build an even better life for herself and her daughter.
The Success Bell resonated throughout Chrysalis’ center as Monet celebrated this milestone and those to come alongside her daughter, Chrysalis staff, volunteers, and clients. After joining the celebration virtually, her Employment Specialist shared:
Monet is a powerful individual who handles tough situations with a smile and a great attitude. It is incredibly encouraging to those of us who need that energy and courage to keep going. Monet had three choices when she entered our program and she chose give it all she had. I have enjoyed working with her, watching her growth, seeing her achieve all her goals little by little, and can’t wait to see more of what she will accomplish!
Join us as we rejoice in Monet’s resilience, perseverance, and the ripples of change she is creating throughout our community by sharing her story!