On the second Wednesday of every month I leave work feeling inspired and having learned something new. Why? Because that is the night I have the privilege of interviewing our community’s not-for-profits during the monthly taping of “Spotlight.” For 30 minutes viewers hear from dedicated staff and volunteers about what their organizations are doing to make Naperville a better place to live.
This month we heard from Monique, who became pregnant at 18 years old. Through the support of her family and Teen Parent Connection, she is successfully parenting her four year old son Jayden. Monique now works for Teen Parent Connection as a Peer Education Specialist. Each week she visits local high schools to tell other teens about the realities and challenges of teen parenting as part of their Peer Prevention Program.
We also heard from Brittany. When you look at this beautiful young woman, it’s hard to imagine that Brittany was beaten unconscious in her car by her husband. That was the final act of domestic violence that sent Brittany to the hospital, and ultimately to the Family Shelter Service hotline. Having found the necessary support to break out of the cycle of abuse and start her own recovery, Brittany has gone from victim to advocate, and is now part of the Speakers’ Bureau for Family Shelter Service.
Growing older can bring obstacles that, for many seniors, make daily life challenging. To ease those challenges, volunteers for the DuPage Senior Citizens Council provide services to seniors both in their homes and in their communities. Whether it’s delivering a meal, making minor home repairs, doing a health and safety check or simply visiting with a senior, these dedicated volunteers are helping Naperville seniors live safely in their own homes longer.
These stories of hope, courage and compassion are just a few of the many featured each month on “Spotlight.”
Visit www.nctv17.com/spotlight/ to watch more interviews with everyday Napervillians who are making a positive difference in our community.
