Laniya’s Story
A Journey of Hope
“It’s going to be fine, you and me.”
Laniya Barker, a member of the Sister Visitor Center client team, didn’t always feel that way. It took the support of others, a little bit of time, and a whole lot of faith to get there.
She was talking to her two little boys, DeAngelo and Amenadial, ages two and three, when she said that. Not that they were old enough to understand, of course. But the fact that Laniya believed that, and spoke those words to her children, was a sign of how far she’d come.
Growing up, her mom was a people-pleaser, so Laniya became one herself. She lost a sense of control of who she was and what she wanted to be.
“No one ever listened to me, heard me, believed in me,” she said. “So I stopped talking.”
After the birth of her second child, Laniya suffered from post-partem depression, a condition that can affect 1 in 8 women. She felt sad, empty and tired. She became anxious and short-tempered with people.
“I wanted to be someone different,” she said. “I prayed to God to move me,” which she meant both spiritually and literally.
INSPIRED BY GOD
Inspired by God and the love she has for her children, Laniya picked herself up and sought help. She found daycare for her kids and attended workforce development classes at Goodwill’s Power of Work program. Power of Work placed her at Sister Visitor Center as a volunteer to learn job skills like time management, setting goals and being held accountable for her actions.
“God put me where I needed to be,” said Laniya about finding her way to SVC. Working with clients, many of whom are her age and have similar stories, she has learned to listen. “I want people to feel heard.”
By listening, she has built empathy. Laniya also likes that she is held accountable for her work at SVC. That requires her to communicate better with her team members, and also be willing to accept feedback. She has learned to be more patient with clients, and how to work better with others.
“I didn’t like anybody, but now I do,” she said with a big, infectious smile.
Laniya has been with SVC for almost a year now, continuing her volunteer work while completing her education at Jefferson Community & Technical College. “This place (SVC) is life-changing,” confided Laniya. “I just got a new apartment, and I just got baptized.”
And as far as raising her two little boys, she’s going to listen to them, be a more empathetic mother. “I want my children to talk to me about everything,” she said. Which is a lot different than the world she grew up in.
If things keep going the way they’re going for Laniya and her children, she’s right. Things are going to be just fine.