blog and news
read incredible stories of impact
Marie’s Story – Escaping Domestic Violence and Finding Hope
“Where is it! Where is the gun Marie! You better give it to me, or you’ll regret this! You can’t leave me, you can’t leave us! You won’t!”
Marie was silently huddled with Lea, her four-year-old child, tucked inside the back corner of her daughter’s closet. She struggled to keep the stifling air of the small room from making Lea cough, for fear of sparking the attention of her boyfriend. Eventually the yelling died down. Her boyfriend, Mike, had fallen into a drunken slumber at last, after hours of terror and abuse. Marie calmly put Lea to bed and rolled Mike’s wheelchair to the bedroom, lifting him into bed for the night.
East Valley Men’s Center Undergoing Renovations
A New Leaf’s East Valley Men’s Center recently began major construction of several areas within the facility, including bathrooms, showers, laundry room and community space. The project continues through the fall and will be completed in January 2018.
A New Leaf and AWEE Join Forces
A New Leaf and Arizona Women’s Education and Employment today announced that A New Leaf will make AWEE part of its organization as a key community program. AWEE is one of Central Arizona’s leading providers of workforce development and employment assistance.
A New Leaf Hosts Professional Advisor Breakfast
If you are in the finance industry as a CPA, financial advisor, estate attorney, insurance broker or banker, please consider joining us for an informative breakfast session to learn more about charitable financial planning.
Life as a Nomad: Renee’s Story
For Renee Williams, struggling with homelessness was like chasing the flicker of a light on the horizon with only shadows to guide her steps. She stumbled through obstacles: evictions, empty bank accounts, a strained co-dependent relationship with her husband, and a nomad existence as she parented her two children. It was a chaotic way to live, and she felt an intense depression gnawing at her every time she opened her eyes in the morning.
CEO Blog: 4 Reasons to Work for a Nonprofit
By Michael T. Hughes, Chief Executive Officer
Did you know that the nonprofit sector is now the third largest segment of the U.S. workforce? The sector has grown by 20% over the last 10 years in contrast to a growth rate of 2-3% for the for-profit sector, according to PNP Staffing Group. Arizona’s nonprofit industry – some 21,000 organizations strong – is a thriving force in the economy and growing bigger every day.
Cool Aid: Make a Difference This Summer
We live in a desert hot zone, filled with extreme weather that strikes our most vulnerable neighbors the hardest. Triple digit temperatures afflict the homeless or elderly disproportionately. They can’t afford basic tools essential for summer survival: air conditioning, hydration or shelter. The heat puts them at risk of stroke, dehydration, and even death.
Mila’s Story: Tears of Thankfulness for Her Children
Sometimes a family follows a well-set plan for their lives. Find your soulmate, get married, decide together on the number of kids you will have, plan your expenses, pick out all your children’s names in advance, and perhaps even buy a home to raise them in.
Jessica’s Story: A New Life at La Mesita Community
This is the story of Jessica, a young woman who has found hope, courage and strength through A New Leaf. Her story could be that of thousands of others.
Betty Lynch: Leader, Community Servant, Survivor
“Do you really know your next door neighbor?” This question is how she would always begin her story. She would remember to mention everything. Everything from the casual put downs, to the intense shouting, to the uncontrollable rage of her abuser. She would relive this experience every time she shared it, but it was always for the benefit of the listener. She’d relive the helplessness, the hopelessness, and the fear.
A New Be-leaf: Alyson’s Story
Alyson’s heart was pounding harder and her vision was narrowing as she brushed the vivid color onto the canvas. With each and every precise movement of her paintbrush, the details of the mural began to form a whole. Days turned into weeks as shapes formed across the canvas, buildings of historic Mesa slowly painted onto the long trapezoid-shaped wood material, each creating a brilliant image of the heart and soul of downtown Mesa.
Meet Dr. Duane Wooten
In a modest medical office three stories above South Phoenix, Dr. Duane Wooten sits behind a large desk scattered with paperwork. He has run a successful pediatric medical practice in Phoenix for 31 years. “I’ve helped a lot of people – nearly 35,000 children,” he explains.
Gail’s Story: Finding Hope at A New Leaf
As a single parent of a child, Gail, had done everything right. She had gone to college, received a degree, and secured a good paying job. She was the proud mother of a son, Mateo. While her parents lived in Tucson, Gail was especially close to her mother’s family – Gail’s aunts, uncles, and cousins – who lived in Colombia. Gail decided to take a chance and move to Colombia and pursue a dream of teaching English and living close to her family.
Unaccompanied Children – Your Help Is Needed
Chances are you’ve read reports lately of migrant children being sheltered by local nonprofit agencies. It’s a compelling story, and any parent would want their child to be safe and protected. A New Leaf is on the front lines caring for unaccompanied children who need help at this critical window of their lives.
Diane’s Story – Just a Call Away from Help
My name is Diane. I was a survivor of domestic violence and now I am a case manager at A New Leaf’s Centralized Screening Domestic Violence Hotline. I screen calls from victims of domestic violence in Maricopa County and out of state.
Meet Pearl, a Survivor and Activist
My name is Pearl, and I am a Mobile Court Advocate for A New Leaf, helping survivors of domestic violence find protection and security – or whatever else they may need – through the courts. As a survivor of domestic violence, I choose this career because I want to empower people who are facing what I faced.
Mental Health Month: A New Leaf Heals Hearts and Minds
May is Mental Health Month. It’s the time each year to raise awareness of mental health and recognize the caring medical teams that work tirelessly to help so many people in our community. One of the most important issues among healthcare professionals today is care for children and teenagers who struggle with their mental health.