A Chance to Live Our Dreams

Everyone should have the space to dream and dream big because that kind of positive manifesting helps us create the world we want, a better world. That’s why we curate a space for JP families to dream.

2022-2023 Jeremiah Program Alumni Fellow Lavasha Smith and her son, Tyzjaun, also known as Ty, are living a beautiful life pursuing their dreams. Vasha and Ty have stayed involved with JP since they graduated in 2014, and we’re so grateful because they are integral to the JP community. Their stories are powerful and inspiring. When they were asked to share their stories at JP Minneapolis and St. Paul’s annual “Bash!” celebration in 2023, they graciously accepted and wowed the room. We’re proud to share their stories here.

Note: The text has been edited for clarity.

Lavasha’s Childhood: The Beginning of the Dream

Ever since I was a young child, I would sit and stare out the window and imagine what life would be like 10, 20, even 30 years ahead. When I was in eighth grade, a friend and I would sit in my living room in our bathing suits and sunglasses, lying on beach towels, and pretend we were in Hawaii. We’d imagine our feet being buried in the sand and hearing the ocean waves roar. I dreamt the same dream year after year until one day, that dream turned into a reality: in 2017, I was finally able to travel to Hawaii, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences yet! Dreaming became natural to me, as I had a mother who never stopped believing in my grandiose ways of thinking as a young child.

My mother was 15 years old when she got pregnant with me, and being a pregnant teenager in a mainstream high school was not acceptable in her community, so she was sent to a school for pregnant girls. When my mother had me, she had limited support and had to learn about life on her own. She did her best to make sure I had everything I needed and felt supported, whether it was the multiple activities I was involved in throughout high school or just providing space and mocktails for my fairytale trips to Hawaii. The way my mother parented me showed me nothing was too big to achieve it if I believed in it.

Pursuing and Pausing the Dream

In 2009, my senior year of high school, I dreamt of going to college, and that fall, I was enrolled in the Augsburg Advantage at St. Kate’s (AASK) program. A partnership between St. Catherine University and Augsburg University (then Augsburg College), the program helped me prepare for college with academic support. My first semester of college was a breeze; I was excelling in classes, making new friends, and learning what it meant to live independently.

One day, I went into the doctor’s office for a checkup and learned that I was pregnant! Things immediately shifted, and in the months to come, my son’s father began to distance himself and told me he “wasn’t ready to have a baby” with me. Friends who I’d had for years became acquaintances as our lifestyles were now different, and the hardest pill to swallow was my father’s reaction when he found out. His attitude toward me went from sheer disappointment to what felt like disowning me. In fact, he didn’t even look my way when I came around him pregnant, and it would be years before we would have a relationship again.

Those experiences caused my dreams to fade, and I even put them on pause. There was simply no room to live out fantasies; I had to get out of my head and put things into action because there was now a life I was solely responsible for — my son, Tyzjaun.

Jeremiah Program: Reigniting the Dream

I was around seven months pregnant when I learned about Jeremiah Program through a family friend. By that time, Ty’s father had come back into my life — but not without his own baggage. When I got the call from Jeremiah to come in and do the interview, I was shocked. I couldn’t believe there was a program where I could not only get secure housing but also continue pursuing my education, which I thought would have to be put on hold. Jeremiah ignited a spark of hope.

During my time at Jeremiah, I was able to participate in empowerment and life skills classes that helped me end a toxic and emotionally abusive relationship with my son’s dad. I was able to meet other moms who shared similar experiences, and we created a village of support for each other. Jeremiah provided a safe, secure, fully furnished apartment for my son and me and a space where I could do homework and study without distraction. During my time at Jeremiah, I made Augsburg College’s 2013 Dean’s List, was honored with the 2014 Jeremiah Sheroes Award, received several academic all-star awards, and received other scholarships, grants, and awards.

Through the coaching I received from the family coaches, I was able to get help with purchasing books for classes, cover letter and resume support, and even support applying for apartments after graduation. Jeremiah made a huge contribution to not only my life but my son’s life as well.

Life after Jeremiah Program

Jeremiah has not only allowed me to continue dreaming; it has allowed me to live those dreams. Since graduating, I have obtained my master’s degree in organizational leadership from St. Mary’s University and published a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Youth Development. Professionally, I am living my dream by helping other Black folks in the region create wealth on their own terms as a program manager at Nexus Community Partners. Personally, I continue to develop strong, healthy relationships and sisterhood that I have built with other women, both in and outside of Jeremiah. In addition, Ty and I have traveled both nationally and internationally, and we add to the list every year. Most importantly, I’ve learned to also support my son with his own dreams, just as my mother did with me.

The Fireworks: The effect of Jeremiah Program

I want to thank those who have supported me in this journey. Thank you to my ancestors, who paved the way and created the vision; to the elders, who passed down stories and didn’t give up fighting; to my mother, who nurtures, loves, and believes in me; to my son for being the BEST self-reflection and fun-spirited person he is; and my village, who carries me, listens to me, and covers me in hardship.

So you see, Jeremiah didn’t save me — the seeds were already planted. Jeremiah provided a space where it was safe to dream, a space where I could imagine the future I wanted for my child and me and dared me to live them out. Jeremiah sparked the dreams within me so that I, my son, and the generations to come after me can enjoy the fireworks!

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