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 Porscha. I’m 36 years old and I live in a subsidized housing complex in Jackson, Mississippi. My daughter is in elementary school and about to turn 9. I’m the eldest of my siblings, a brother and sister, and both of our parents are deceased. I don’t have a partner—I’m basically just being a mom, staying on my toes.
I currently work with a senior care company called Heart to Heart. I like working with older people. Sometimes they’re able to get around and sometimes they’re not. But as a PCA (personal care assistant), I’m able to talk and visit with them, we can watch TV together, and hopefully I can provide them with a little peace of mind.
My dream job would be to be a business owner. I’d like to run a shelter and help unhoused folks get their benefits and their lives together. Or have a daycare. I like kids. I’m not saying I want any more of my own, but I like kids! Basically, I’d just like to help people.
To do the kind of work I do, you have to have patience. You have to be an understanding person. You have to be an outgoing person. You have to have a heart. You have to treat people the way you want to be treated. I’m gonna treat kids right, because I want somebody to treat my kid right. I want somebody to treat me and my family members right when we’re old, so I’m gonna treat older people right.
In order to achieve goals, you have to have money, and you have to be stable. I know there are a lot of things I need to do money-wise and savings-wise before I can run a business.
I work from 8 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon everyday, and anytime there is something I can do to earn a little extra, and it’s after I get off work, I do it. I just signed up to work at an election event with Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT). You never know when a tire will blow out or when my baby might need something extra. It’s painful. So this is a good way to bring in some extra cash to save while also getting some people ready to vote.
I get paid $814 every two weeks, so almost $1700 a month. When I started working, my rent rose to $500 and my light bill went up too. After I pay my bills and stuff for my car (it’s not a new car, it’s a 2007), it’s not enough.
I receive $92 a month in SNAP benefits (food stamps), which is not nearly enough to cover my grocery bill for the month. … It’s a relief to know I have that extra income coming in that allows me to take better care of my child.
I felt like I was making money but I wasn’t seeing it. When extra expenses come up—and somehow something l always comes up—I just pray about it. I try not to worry about it or stress about it if I can. My sister and brother and I try to help each other when we are able. I call the light people and see if I can pay my bill down over time, or I pay the car person half of what I owe and ask to pay the other half when I get paid. I make it work.
And prices have gone up. A carton of eggs used to be $4 and now they are almost $10. Gas is $4 a gallon. I remember in the days that my mom was getting gas, a gallon used to be $1.07.
I receive $92 a month in SNAP benefits (food stamps), which is not nearly enough to cover my grocery bill for the month. And that’s why I’m so grateful for MMT—I can go spend cash on some groceries, and my baby and I are still good. Cash is more helpful than SNAP because I can buy groceries with cash, but I can’t pay bills with SNAP. MMT has really motivated me.
Since receiving the money, I’ve been sleeping better. It’s a relief to know I have that extra income coming in that allows me to take better care of my child. I’ve been working paycheck to paycheck, and now if I have enough, we can go do things we couldn’t before. Now I don’t have to say, “If I had enough…”
I take care of bills first, and then with the other money I can do things for my daughter. Her birthday is coming up and I plan on having a blast with her. This summer I’m planning to take her on a trip thanks to MMT. I’m so thankful and appreciative. MMT has made it a lot easier for a lot of people. The program is a blessing.
While in the program, I’m going to get working on my credit. I’d also like to upgrade my car. I want to put my knowledge to something. Eventually I’d like to be a homeowner. Owning a home or having a savings fund for my daughter would be a dream come true. I’d like to have a three bedroom, two bath. I’m gonna claim it!
For now, I’m finding joy in my current home. I have food in the fridge, I have the lights on, I have water, and me and my baby are safe. Home is my peace.
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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