Spring 2006
Christie sought out Open Meadow after years of struggling in public school. Living in poverty with a single mom, she started skipping school in third grade and by fourth grade was getting into trouble. Her mom developed cancer when Christie was in the 7th grade, dying when Christie was 16. Living with her brother didn’t work out. Her best friend was killed in a car accident. Christie was changing residences at a dizzying pace and skipping school regularly by the time she found Open Meadow. 

At Open Meadow Christie flourished; initially very shy, she gradually came out of her shell. “They taught me that my voice mattered,” reflected Christie.

Christie bonded with her teacher/advocate and did well during her year and a half in Open Meadow’s CRUE program, but eventually left to pursue a GED because she was so very behind in credits. Knocking around from one low paying job to another, one day she got a phone call from her former Open Meadow teacher/advocate who told her about a new program at Open Meadow (Corporate Connections) that could help her work toward a career track position. Nearly a year later, Christie is working full time at a downtown law firm earning a very good salary. The law firm’s administrator remarked “She is doing a very good job. She has embraced professionalism, has positive energy, and is open to learning.”
Excerpt from an article written by freelance writer, Sue Clark.