A groundbreaking Ms. series, Front & Center first began as first-person accounts of Black mothers living in Jackson, Miss., receiving a guaranteed income from Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT). Moving into the fourth year and next phase of this series, the aim is to expand our focus beyond a single policy intervention to include a broader examination of systemic issues impacting Black women experiencing poverty. This means diving deeper into the interconnected challenges they face—including navigating the existing safety net; healthcare, childcare and elder care; and the importance of mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
What I am bringing in now with my job helps pay my car note, plus my car recently needed repairs. Working helps with food and daycare expenses. I am grateful to have recently moved into a new subsidized housing apartment. I applied when I was pregnant and was called three months after I had my baby, which was a relief because before that we were living with my mom, and I wanted my own place for me and my kids.
I’m part of the Magnolia Mother’s Trust this year, so that money will help me offset the lost income of going back to school part time. It was a revelation to be able to cover multiple things in one day that I would’ve had to space out for weeks before. I bought diapers, paid my car note and the light bill. That feeling of being able to take care of things has relieved a lot of stress. Before, it was so hard. I would cry in the shower so my kids wouldn’t hear me.
In the short term, I’m trying to celebrate the wins where I can. I just got a promotion to lead decorator at work, and my car will be paid off next month. And I found out I got back into school. So there’s a lot of good, joyful things happening in my life right now.