Front and Center is a groundbreaking series of op-eds—published by Ms. and created in partnership with the Magnolia Mother’s Trust—which aims to put front and center the voices of Black women who are affected most by the often-abstract policies currently debated at the national level. The series highlights the success of Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT), which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing.
What possibilities could open up for low-income families if financial survival weren’t always top of mind? What dreams would these mothers and families be able to pursue? What activism and community leadership might arise? The series will answer these and other questions, by placing one mother’s story front and center every other week. The first-person accounts in this series are available for reprint. Find additional guidelines at the end of this story.
My name is Catrina. I live in Commonwealth Village—a subsidized housing complex—in Jackson, Miss. I am 36 years old and I have a daughter who’s 4.
I’m working for Madison County schools right now as a substitute teacher, which I really enjoy. I like the flexibility. I’m able to pick different schools and substitute for different teachers so I get to meet new students. I enjoy being able to help and encourage them to be the best that they can be.
If I could have any job in the world, I would like to have an after-school care program where kids could come and do their homework. I’d have an area for them to play in and I would provide snacks. I’d pick them up from school and drop them off at home afterwards if need be, because sometimes with parents things happen! I would really like to be able to provide that.
The main thing stopping me from being able to accomplish that right now is my finances. Before I began with Magnolia Mother’s Trust, I was bringing in about $700 to $1,000 a month, which only covered the bare necessities. And with the fluctuating costs of gas and food, I just tried to budget as best I could. I wasn’t able to pay off any of my outstanding debt. I couldn’t even pay one whole bill, I’d have to break it up into payments. Now that I’m in the program, I’m able to send a payment to each debt collector and pay something towards what I owe.
One of my goals for the program is to be able to pay off a big portion of my debt which is a combination of student loans and things that have piled up over the years. Right now I’m in the income repayment plan for my student loans where I make a zero payment until I start making a certain amount.
Another thing I want to work on while I’m in the program is my transportation issue. I have a little old car, but for now it’s getting me back and forth where I need to go. Gas is expensive though and my church has a van that picks me up and takes me back home for no charge.
I have to remind myself that whatever situation that I’m facing, it could be worse. Yeah I have a little old ’99 Honda, but I could be catching the bus. I have my own vehicle for my daughter and me and for that I’m very thankful.
I would like to have an after-school care program where kids could come and do their homework. … The main thing stopping me from being able to accomplish that right now is my finances.
I’ve applied for Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) at least twice, and both times I haven’t met the requirements.
Editor’s note: TANF officials in Mississippi are currently embroiled in a corruption scandal involving diverting about $80 million in welfare funds to celebrities and pet projects of state leaders.
I took a year off at the beginning of the pandemic because my daughter has asthma and that’s what the pediatrician recommended. Her SSI (supplemental security income) money was about $700 a month and TANF said that amount put me over the bracket of eligibility. And then early this year when I was only working two days a week, I was rejected again. They said I still made too much.
It seems like you can’t get TANF if you’re making over $300 a month. No one can live off of that.
This is my first month being a part of Magnolia Mother’s Trust and it has already made a huge difference physically and emotionally. I’ve been a part of other programs that Springboard has offered, and I really wanted to be a part of this program. I’ve been sleeping better. I’ve been eating better.
My current SNAP benefits are $188 a month. But if you’re trying to eat healthy, you and a child, that’s not enough for 30 days. If I was eating basic food like noodles or microwave dinners—things that I shouldn’t be eating every day—I could probably make it through the month with what I receive. But with MMT, I’ve been able to pay out of pocket for certain foods so we can eat healthier meals.
I’ve already noticed a difference in my body. I’ve actually lost three pounds! That may not be a lot to some people, but it’s a lot to me. I’m trying to do better in every area of my life: spiritually, financially, physically.
To the politicians who say programs like the Magnolia Mother’s Trust shouldn’t be expanded because it’ll stop families from working, I want to say that there are people who are working, who want to better themselves, who are trying to move out of the unsafe apartment complex that they’re in, or start a business. These programs help with that.
It seems like you can’t get TANF if you’re making over $300 a month. No one can live off of that.
Another goal I have while being a part of the program is to take my daughter on a trip. She’s never been to the beach or to Disney World so I’d like to do that for her. I also plan to enroll her in gymnastics this month. She likes to dance and do flips, and a couple of months ago I saw that a ballet studio was having free trial classes where you can go and try it out and get the feel for different classes. My daughter went all week and thought she would be going back, but I didn’t have the money. I wanted it for her so bad. So I’ve been looking and calling different places. The ballet classes are still too expensive—$400 a month—but I found a gymnastics class that’s only about $100 with the registration and fees.
I find joy in the small things. I saw an event on Facebook for a Princess and the Frog event. You dress up and bring lawn chairs or blankets and go watch the movie. I found this princess dress for $10 that came with the whole nine yards: a braid, a wand and gloves! When my daughter saw it, she said, “Mom, you’re the best mom ever.” It was so touching and so heartfelt, the words you want to hear from your child! She brought a friend and they loved it. It was a night to remember.
Front and Center pieces are free to republish, under the following guidelines:
- To ensure context isn’t lost, at the top of your reprint, include a line that reads: “Front and Center is a series of op-eds—published by Ms. magazine and created in partnership with the Magnolia Mother’s Trust—highlighting the success of Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust program, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing. The series aims to put front and center the voices of Black women who are affected most by the often-abstract policies currently debated at the national level.” (You can use editorial discretion to alter or shorten the text slightly.)
- You may also republish the photographs included in this story.
- If you share republished stories on social media, we’d appreciate being tagged in your posts. You can find Ms. on Twitter @MsMagazine, on Instagram @ms_magazine and on Facebook. Springboard to Opportunities is on Twitter @SpringboardToOp, on Instagram @springboard_to and on Facebook.
Have questions on the series? Read more here, and direct specific questions to Katie Fleischer at kfleischer@msmagazine.com.
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