Success
Story
Elizabeth’s
Story
Two years ago, Elizabeth was desparate. She had to choose
between medical bills and food  for herself and her two grandchildren.
On top of that her car needed expensive repairs.
Elizabeth turned to the Emma Family Resource Center, a program
of Children First. They helped her with food and gave her an
emergency loan for car repairs.
Elizabeth gave back by volunteering. Whether folding clothes,
packing food boxes or simply listening to others in need, Elizabeth
helped her community through the program that was there for
her when she needed help.
“It’s comforting to know that they are there for
people,” says Elizabeth. “You never know when you
might need help; but people in our community know that if they
do, they can find it at the Emma Family Resource Center.”
Sanebia’s Story
Sanebia (“Sane”) was living in Jamaica, where
she met and married her husband, a U.S.  citizen. After the
wedding, she moved to the United States, where she quickly
learned that her husband was not the man she thought.
Sane’s husband would not allow her to work or have friends,
and he never petitioned to make her a U.S. citizen via their
marriage. Instead he used her immigration status to control
her. “Once I tried to call the police,” she recalls, “and
he pulled me by the hair and threatened he would hurt me or
have me deported. I had no money to call my grandmother in
Jamaica, or any relatives, and was too ashamed of my situation.”
Two years ago, after a particularly vicious attack in the
presence of their daughter, Sane escaped and fled with her
daughter to North Carolina. She came to Pisgah Legal Services
and met with staff attorney Mae Creadick. Pisgah Legal Services
helped Sane secure her divorce and full custody of her daughter.
They are now helping Sane with an immigration case. Since Sane
is the battered spouse of a U.S. citizen, she can file her
own petition for residency without the assistance of her abuser.
Pisgah Legal Services helped Sane secure temporary status to
live and work in the United States, and is now working with
her to secure permanent status, a “green card.”
“Because Pisgah Legal Services helped Sane get a divorce,
child custody and eventually work authorization and citizenship,
she has the means to safely end a long-abusive relationship
and build an independent life for herself and her daughter,” says
Mae. “And Lauren, Sane’s daughter, can grow up
without witnessing chronic physical abuse of her mother.” |
