Daiveyanah, a mother of two and a guardian to her younger brother, is a graduate of United Way's Parent Leadership Training Institute.
She credits the program with opening her eyes to new possibilities for herself, her children, and her community.
“The opportunity to see powerful, beautiful people of color in my community, actually making a difference," Daiyveyanah shares, “Whether they were community coordinators, case managers, alders, newspaper reporters, judges, or mentors sitting right in our classroom. Every class, I saw someone who looked like me, doing real work, creating real change. They were within arm’s reach and they believed in us."
One of the biggest benefits of the Parent Leadership Training Institute program was connecting Daiveyanah to a village of other parents and community leaders, giving her the network of support to go after her dreams.
She is now applying to become a member of Hamden Town Hall’s Community Development Citizens Advisory Commission, and is also developing an after-school mentorship and workshop program for teens.
“My goal is to build a team that listens to youth. That values their voices. That gives them real tools, real hope, and real community."
Daiyveyanah shared how becoming a parent leader has shifted her perspective:
“This program gave me something I didn’t expect - a completely new vision for my life. It inspired me to take community leadership seriously and helped me become a better version of myself. It brought me one step closer to the dream I’ve had since I was young: to help others."
