She Believed in Me Before I Believed in Myself: Jalayna’s Journey with Healing Vine Harbor
“She believed in me before I believed in myself.”
That’s how Jalayna describes her journey with Healing Vine Harbor.
She came to us as an overwhelmed college student trying to balance school, work, and life. What she found was a community that saw her potential, supported her growth, and walked with her every step of the way.
From driving lessons to mentorship to a room full of women cheering her on, Jalayna built stability, confidence, and a future she’s proud of.
This is what your support makes possible.
One woman. One connection. One life changed.
Compassion in Action: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Healing Vine Harbor
This blog post offers a behind-the-scenes look at the everyday compassion that defines Healing Vine Harbor. While Executive Director Tracey Questell supports her family in New York, the team continues to walk alongside 22 women facing significant challenges. Program Coordinator and Social Worker Victoria Muñiz Randall shares real stories of what support truly looks like: meeting clients after hours for coffee, helping organize a cluttered room to restore dignity, addressing unsafe living conditions, and ensuring no one goes without food. These quiet acts of care reflect the heart of HVH and the deep commitment of staff and volunteers. As the giving season begins, readers are invited to support this work by donating or sharing the mission within their networks.
‘She embraced me’: Nonprofit helps at-risk women learn independence
CHARLOTTE — Latisha Womack has come a long way since moving to Charlotte on her own as a teenager more than 10 years ago.
“I lost my mom when I was eight years old due to breast cancer,” she said. “And my father, he was there. But he wasn’t really there as much as I would like him to be.”
Womack said she was depressed while having adult responsibilities at a young age.
She managed to enroll at Central Piedmont Community College where her college advisor, Tracey Questell, became like family.
“We just grew a bond,” Womack said. “I call her my mom. A lot of ladies call her ‘Mom.’”
Questell said that after years of working as a counselor, she felt a calling to help young women going through tough times.
“I felt like God spoke to me and said, ‘Serve my daughters. Help my daughters.’ That women needed help,” Questell said. “And so I began to start mentoring women. That’s where it started.”