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.
My name is Donyale, and I’m 31. I have three children—two boys and a girl, who are aged 12, 8 and 6. I don’t have a partner. My closest relationship is with my sister who lives up North and I also have a brother. That’s about it for family.
I work at Jackson Public Schools, which is convenient because my schedule lines up with my children’s school calendar. For the most part, I enjoy my job, but it’s not my dream career.
If I could have any job in the world, it would be something related to art and creating things. I love to do abstract paintings, make key chains and decorate cups. I have an Instagram with some of my creations. Crafting allows me to zone out and escape to a different place.
Financially, things can be challenging. My monthly income is around $1,200 to $1,300, but I’m hoping for a raise soon. I do my best to budget, but my current income just isn’t enough to cover all monthly expenses for a family of four. To make ends meet, I sometimes turn to a side hustle on top of my regular job, like DoorDash.
During the summer, providing food for my family with the kids all being home can be a struggle. We take advantage of the summer feeding programs and food banks because my children love to eat, so these resources are a big help. The cash disbursements I received this summer from Springboard made a major difference; it allowed me to get a little extra breathing room and not have to worry as much about where our next meal would come from. And to not have to do anything difficult to get the funds like a big application or interview was really helpful.
If Mississippi had allowed the $40 EBT benefits, I believe many families would struggle less to find their next meal, especially with the rising cost of food. Policies that help parents out like that are so important because there’s a lot of added costs with the extra food and cooking when kids are home during the summer.
I did get TANF benefits (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) with my first child, but they have a cut-off of how long you can get it, and I maxed that out 12 years ago. It was beneficial for me while I had it, and I wish that they allowed you the opportunity to stay longer on the program if you have kids later on down the line instead of having a limit.
Healthcare is another area of concern. My children are covered through Medicaid, but I no longer qualify. I have a little coverage through my work, but there’s a lot that isn’t covered. When I get sick, I try to rely on a rainy day fund I’ve been saving to pay for those expenses.
The Magnolia Mother’s Trust (MMT) has been a game-changer for me. The money I received made a huge difference in my life and my children’s happiness. We were able to go on more family outings, like visiting arcades, which brought us a lot of joy. When I found out I was selected for the program, I was very excited and grateful. I chose the option to set aside a big chunk of the monthly funds into savings, which I’m glad about because it helped me build a bigger rainy day fund that gave me peace of mind once the program ended.
Looking forward, my goals are centered around continuing to budget wisely and plan for the future. One thing that could still make a huge difference in my life is consistent financial stability and support—I really wish our government would invest in things that help people like guaranteed income, stimulus checks and affordable housing.
Despite the ups and downs, I find joy in my kids. Making sure they’re healthy and running around, smiling and stuff. I know it’s a cliche, but that is my biggest joy: healthy children.
