Ethel didn’t have a stable family or parents as a child. She entered foster care as an infant and grew up in the system experiencing trauma through abuse and neglect until she was adopted by extended family at 16. Later, as a working single mother in Savannah, Georgia, she realized there were many things about herself, parenting, and life skills that she didn’t learn growing up. She wanted her three young children to have what she did not, and she worked hard for it. 

Ethel began attending Parent University in 2010 after being invited by a friend. At the time, her children ranged in age from 2 to 8 years old. Ethel took advantage of everything Parent University had to offer. She attended classes on relationships, handling conflict and anger, improving communication skills, stress management, and classes for aspiring homebuyers on how to build credit and get a mortgage. She gained parenting skills from classes at Early Learning College on early childhood development, community resources (diapers, childcare, etc.), literacy and STEM activities, and health education. In addition to offering classes, Parent University helped to remove obstacles (transportation, childcare, and meals) and offered an encouraging environment where she could meet and learn with others in the community.