It Takes A Village: Initial Written Reflection

Motherhood is one of the most challenging, fulfilling, and demanding journeys that any woman can embark upon. Between late night tummy aches and never seeming to have enough diapers to spare, this fact reigns especially true when parenthood is entered alone and at a young age. With societal stigmas bearing weight upon their shoulders, it seems as though young, single mothers have no one else to turn in such a crucial time of need. A common saying is that it takes a village to raise a child; but what happens when that village has a sole population of one?

This is where Step By Step, a local mentoring ministry for at risk single mothers aged 14 to 24, steps in to provide these women and families with a place for solace, guidance, and most importantly: love.

Immanuel Baptist Church

Directed by the compassionate and lively Tanya Torp, Step By Step (SBS for short) presents teen and young adult mothers with a safe haven free of judgement. As soon as these mothers walk through the doors of Immanuel Baptist Church, they are loved as they are, and they are loved well. Step By Step offers them a number of programs directed toward healing and spiritual growth, including mentorship, support groups, workshops on parenting, life skills, etc., Bible studies, weekend retreats, crisis intervention, and more. One of the organization's goals is to empower the women in the program to meet their ambitions and support one another in their adversities, and to ultimately transform their lives for the better.

My first service learning experience with this group took place this previous Thursday night, September 10th. As a volunteer, my duties are focused on interacting with the children while their moms participate in group activities. I was placed with the 3 to 4 year olds, and I can honestly say that it was an absolute blast! The children were provided with a meal, a room full of toys, and some new best friends. From reading books about farm animals to dramatically playing pretend in the indoor playground, the volunteers and I worked to ensure that our kids had the time of their lives. For a few hours, I watched as Step By Step became their village: loving, caring, sharing, and having fun. Despite any and all hardships that may exist in their lives, the kids at SBS have an evident passion for life, and I'm so thankful to be able to witness it for the rest of the semester.

With their tagline, "Got kids?", SBS is very active on social media. For further contact information, please visit their website or their Facebook page. I can't wait to see what next week has in store!