Immerse’s Circle of Support Fuels our Overcomer Summer
For many of the youth we serve, there is so much more to summer than sunscreen and Stranger Things. There’s the people who surround them with love and compassion, who help make summer a meaningful season to heal and overcome despite the sometimes overwhelming odds against them. These are the coaches, mentors, family members, RAs, volunteers, and donors who make up the Circle of Support that every Overcomer relies on to successfully transition into adulthood. The kindness and unconditional relationship they show to each of our youth is a critical ingredient to healing in an Overcomer Summer.
Each youth’s Circle of Support is made up of a diverse team of people who champion our Overcomers on their journey toward healing and healthy adulthood. They, along with many other volunteers, help our youth find healing, realize their dreams, and accomplish goals that might have seemed impossible before their journey at Immerse Arkansas.
Because of the knowledge and empathy demonstrated by every team member, youth like Stella feel like a “priority” as they transition out of crisis and look ahead to their future. “I’m not saying I’m a celebrity or anything, but that’s kind of how I felt when I walked in, and it was just really nice,” she says.
Stella credits her entire Circle of Support at Immerse for making a difference in her life. She stays in close contact with her coach, Shaneka, who regularly texts her with encouragement as she pursues her goals.
“She’s been the main point of contact for me and helps me keep my head on straight and really guides me. I told her, when we first met, ‘you know, I’m stubborn, but I promise I hear you and I’m putting in what you’re saying,” says Stella.
“ I want to thank my coach for being patient with me, for being there, and for offering her advice as much as she can.”
When a youth is welcomed into Immerse, their coach is their primary supporter as they heal and work toward short- and long-term goals. They offer friendship and accountability, and they help youth build the skills they need to thrive on their journey of overcoming.
Another Immerse Overcomer, Amina, says her coach Tosha “really understands what we’re going through.” Because Tosha is also a single mother, Amina feels like her coach genuinely cares for her and each of the young mothers, as well as their children.
“She gets the job done. She doesn’t give up on us. She cares. She really cares, and she cares about these babies too, I can tell.”
Mentors, too, play a vital role in helping our Overcomers transition into a healthy adulthood. They are the unpaid volunteers who regularly meet with our youth to build relationships based on friendship and guidance. These meetings often include fun activities–like meeting for coffee or playing a game of basketball–but they are designed to support each individual youth through the ups and downs of healing, just by being present, engaged, and willing to listen.
Xavier’s mentor is Sharon. “She may be old,” he says, “but she acts like a teenager. She is very modern, cooks a lot, and really is a teen at heart.” He finds her easy to talk to, even though she doesn’t know much about video gaming. In fact, he’s not even sure what his favorite part about their meetings is,
“I just enjoy meeting with her.”
For many of the youth we serve, the Resident Assistants are often cited as an important part of their Immerse experience. “Just by being there, being a presence,” says Stella of her RA, Shay, “she was there for me and gave me a lot of good advice.”
Our RAs offer live-in, daily support to youth who reside in Immerse housing. RAs help youth practice life skills like preparing meals, caring for a household, or addressing relational conflict. They also enjoy fun, family-style activities with our Overcomers, from decorating a Christmas tree to family meals to game nights. For example, Xavier and his RA, Justin, bonded over their shared love of video games. As Xavier describes, “Two words: Fellow nerd.”
And finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the family members, volunteers, and donors who are essential to expanding a youth’s Circle of Support. Because of these trusted relationships, we can help our youth experience this summer as an Overcomer Summer.
We have a lot of fun things planned for our Overcomers this summer like a disc-golf tournament and zip-line canopy tour. With the help of our team’s certified therapeutic recreational specialist, Jimmie, all of these activities are designed to encourage our youth to embrace new experiences and help them build their confidence through exciting challenges and by learning new skills.
Our Overcomers have put in a lot of hard work this year, and we couldn’t be more proud of them for the grit and tenacity they’ve shown to work toward a healthy future. With the help of their Circle of Support, these Overcomers are making this summer a season of renewal at Immerse Arkansas!