She Believed in Me Before I Believed in Myself: Jalayna’s Journey with Healing Vine Harbor
When Jalayna first walked into the counseling office at Central Piedmont Community College, she wasn’t looking for a life-changing moment. She was just trying to stay afloat.
As a college student juggling classes, work, and the weight of personal challenges, she felt overwhelmed and unsure of her path. What she didn’t know was that the appointment she made that day would open the door to a community that would change the direction of her life.
And at the center of it was one person: Ms. Tracey Questell, Founder & Executive Director of Healing Vine Harbor.
“I felt lost… and then Ms. Tracey found me.”
“Ms. Tracey discovered me at a time when I felt lost,” Jalayna shares. “From that moment on, she took me under her wing.”
What began as a conversation became a lifeline. With patience, love, and wisdom, Tracey helped her navigate school, work, and life’s challenges—always with compassion and belief in what was possible.
But the support didn’t stop there.
Tracey opened the door for Jalayna to meet other women who understood what she was going through, women who offered her something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
A Community That Poured Into Her
Through Healing Vine Harbor, Jalayna gained connection, encouragement, and a circle of women who truly saw her.
She became part of a community that included:
Ms. Alicia Verdun, HVH Board Chair
Victoria Randall, one of HVH’s social workers
Yazmin, her EmpowHER Works mentor
And many others who offered guidance and unconditional support
Being surrounded by women who believed in her created a foundation of trust and belonging, an essential part of the healing process HVH fosters.
Life-Changing Support, Rooted in Love and Dignity
What makes Healing Vine Harbor special is the way support is offered with dignity and genuine care.
Jalayna recalls moments that went far beyond traditional case management:
Healing Vine Harbor paid for her driving lessons when she couldn’t afford them - so she could have access to reliable transportation
Ms. Tracey constantly sought out opportunities to help Jalayna grow
She supported her throughout her entire college journey
She even threw her a college send-off party, a deeply personal reminder of how loved she was
Video from Jalayna’s College Sendoff Party. Listen for the advice she received.
Through HVH’s workshops, resources, and one-on-one support, she learned not only how to build stability but how to believe in herself again.
“The financial lessons, resources, and support shaped the way I navigate life today,” she says. “I am the woman I am because of them.”
“They saw potential in me before I could see it in myself.”
This is the heart of Healing Vine Harbor.
We meet each woman where she is.
We walk alongside her.
We help her uncover the strength she already holds inside.
For Jalayna, that belief became a turning point.
“I honestly don’t know where I would be today without Ms. Tracey and Healing Vine Harbor,” she reflects. “My life is forever changed because they believed in me.”
Why Stories Like Jalayna’s Matter
Every day, women in our community face overwhelming barriers, including housing instability, financial strain, trauma, and a lack of supportive relationships. Many feel invisible.
But with the right support, everything can change.
Healing Vine Harbor exists to offer:
Crisis stabilization
Safe, stable housing assistance
Job readiness and transportation support
Life skills through the TALK Workshops
1:1 case management by trained social workers
Mentorships
A community that builds confidence and restores dignity
Stories like Jalayna’s show what is possible when women are surrounded by people who believe in them.
Help Us Support the Next Young Woman Who Feels Lost
Every gift—large or small—helps a woman find stability, community, and hope. It helps her step into the future she deserves.
If you’d like to support young women like Jalayna, you can make a gift today or share this story with someone who may not yet know about the life-changing work happening here.
👉 Healing Vine Harbor | Kindful
Because when a woman feels believed in, supported, and surrounded by community, she can rise.
And just like Jalayna, she can become someone she is proud to be.