Clarissa Charles
A Chicago native, Clarissa Charles was already well established in her career as a paralegal with a BA in Business Administration & Technology. Like many of us, though, she didn't feel quite fulfilled in that first career and longed to pursue her real passion. Eventually, she decided to take the leap she'd been putting off for a long time--to move to Atlanta and pursue her passion. She wanted to become a licensed hair care professional.
A big detour...
The man Clarissa was dating at the time had agreed to help her with the move to Atlanta. She packed all her things into a UHaul, and they hit the open road. Before she knew what was happening, she found herself in Alabama--not Atlanta. It turned out, because this man himself lived in Alabama, he thought he could persuade Clarissa to move there as well. In the middle of the night, Clarissa realized that she'd virtually been kidnapped, was all alone and with the resources she needed to find her way out of the situation.
The day she met Grady...
Clarissa found her way to Atlanta and was summarily dumped off at Grady hospital because she was not feeling well. That began one of the longest days and nights of her life as she found herself amongst people whose arm bands were being checked for whether or not she should still be there. She pled with a kind social worker to let her stay overnight because she couldn't imagine sleeping outside on concrete.
Finding her way…
The next morning she was taken to a local Atlanta shelter where she began to rebuild her way into a new life. Before it was over, she lived in two different shelters and graduated with honors from Atlanta Technical College. She knows that there may be folks who are reading this story who would wonder why she didn't call on her family during that difficult time. The answer is quite simple. They had their own challenges going on, and she didn't want to burden them.
What does Clarissa have to say about her life now?
I am still a work in progress and while I’ve made mistakes and some poor decisions, I’ve made a multitude of great healthy choices in which I can stand with pride. My increased spiritual, mental, and professional growth and development over the years have contributed to allowing me to be confident to seek and stand in my own truth. I truly view my life now as being more fulfilling. Successfully accomplishing my life-long dream to become a hair care professional has been only one of the great moments of accomplishments within my journey. I’ve been blessed to work and live amongst wonderful, talented people along the way and have not taken any gifts and additional blessings for granted. Living my life and exploring the world in a way that makes me feel happy and whole is simply amazing! The stability of my emotional and mental health matters. That said, my focus is to continue to allow myself to heal, be more vocal and confident in establishing (and enforcing) my boundaries, and protecting my peace. My mind and heart are now clearer than ever before. I am now free!
What do she want to say about ACSS?
Navigating in a land of the unknown, The Atlanta Center For Self-Sufficiency provided some key educational, employment, transportation, housing, counseling, and technology resources I needed. They played a very intricate part in helping me gain the tools necessary to stand and stay the course towards self-sufficiency and success. I didn’t feel as though I was just a number or a name on a sheet of paper just for them to receive funding. The staff were genuinely concerned for my progress across the board. They inspired and encouraged me to truly tap into the who, what, why, and how of the person I left in Chicago, the person in Atlanta, and the person I am to become. They’ve gone above and beyond in being personable, considerate, caring, respectful, professional, and helpful. I can still taste the delicious food, and the taste of success, on graduation day. I have so much to be thankful for and may God bless them all!
Post Script…
It came as no surprise to us to learn that, since the COVID19 pandemic hit, Clarissa has been busy. Even though her salon was closed, she quickly figured out she could still make her skills of use. Clarissa has produced nearly a hundred face masks for friends, family, and some for sale. When her salon re-opens, hopefully not before mid-May, she will have more available for clients and fellow suite owners as needed. We applaud her service and ingenuity!
