Front & Center is a groundbreaking Ms. series that 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.
My name is Kiara, and I’m 30 years old. I am a single mother, and my family and I live in a subsidized housing complex in Jackson. I’m a proud mom of four amazing kids: my daughter, who is 10, and three boys—9, 5, and my baby Khalil, who just turned 8 months.
I’ve been working from home as a medical assistant for about two years now after graduating from school in 2022. It’s been a rewarding journey, but my ultimate goal is to become a registered nurse. I’ve always loved learning and the medical field and taking care of people. I’ve started taking baby steps toward that goal by considering phlebotomy first before pursuing my RN.
Turning 30 has been a transformative experience for me. I’ve realized that life is all about perspective and growth. Instead of dwelling on past distractions, I’m focused on building a stable future for my children.
When I learned about the Magnolia Mother’s Trust program, it felt like a lifeline during a tough time when I was recovering from multiple eye surgeries. I have a lot of eye issues and bad vision and currently need new glasses but the cost is just too high, and I’m trying really hard to protect my savings. The program gives you the option of getting $1,000 a month, or $700 with $300 going straight to savings. I chose the second option because I had big goals.
Owning a home has always been my dream. I want my kids to have space to grow and play instead of living in an apartment forever. Through the NACA [Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, an organization focused on increasing homeownership among people of color and other marginalized groups] program, I’m now on the path to becoming a homeowner. I was able to save the down payment thanks to MMT. It’s incredible to think that after enrolling in the program, I’m now going through the process of getting my own home. It has always been my dream to have a house. I want a house with me and my kids. I want them to just enjoy the space and to have more room to move around. I don’t want to stay in an apartment all my life. So I knew I wanted to make that investment in the future, and so I decided to focus on saving during the MMT program.
The process has been surprisingly easy thanks to my counselor at NACA. They guide you through every step and help you understand what you need to do. I attended a workshop at the Salvation Army to get started and paid a membership fee that lasts a year. My counselor has been instrumental in helping me gather everything required for my home purchase.
I only put down $2,700 as my minimum financial responsibility because I wanted to save the rest for future investments on my home. The homeownership program means I don’t have to pay any closing costs and that my credit score didn’t matter. Now I’m just waiting on the bank approval to know what my budget will be. The MMT program has truly opened doors for me and my kids that I never thought possible.
While I haven’t splurged much with the funds from Magnolia Mother’s Trust—most of it has gone toward bills—I’ve enjoyed taking my kids out to parks and even visiting the aquarium in Biloxi. But overall, I try to keep it to the essentials: It’s important for me to prioritize my children’s needs over unnecessary spending on wants. I’m also figuring out other ways to save, like refinancing my vehicle with a better interest rate. I hadn’t even had a checking account in years until the MMT program.
This summer was particularly tough with food assistance; we faced significant reductions in food stamps that made it challenging for me to feed my kids while they weren’t in school. Springboard [the organization that oversees MMT] was offering supplemental cash for each child, but I wasn’t paying attention to the notices for applying for that program so I missed out on that. Thankfully, I was able to go to local food banks to help make ends meet.
I used to get TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families], but I don’t anymore. It’s become so difficult. My sister just tried to apply. They wouldn’t help her do anything. She had to get a childcare voucher in order for her daughter to go to daycare, but they wouldn’t help her until she was actually working, but without childcare, how can she go out and look for work?
(Editor’s note: Mississippi officials have been embroiled in a TANF scandal in which millions of dollars meant for welfare was used for the pet projects of celebrities and politicians, while nearly every application for TANF in the state was denied. The head of Springboard, Aisha Nyandoro, testified on Capitol Hill last year urging leaders to reform the program so that it provided unrestricted cash based on the success of the MMT program.)
When it comes to support systems, I’m close with my mom and one of my sisters, but it’s mostly just us at home. My counselor at Salvation Army has also been a great resource for securing childcare vouchers for Khalil at a daycare.
I got so much more excited about the election when Kamala Harris stepped in as nominee. Honestly, I think we’re going to finally have a female president, so I think everything’s going to be good. I’m betting on Ms. Harris. I know she’s fighting and she’s not backing down and I have seen her debate and if she can have the power to fight, I can keep fighting.
(Editor’s note: This conversation happened prior to the election.)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through all this, it’s that life is about making smart choices and focusing on what truly matters—my children’s future and well-being. I’m embracing growth and looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a family.
