When Latasha became a mother at 42, she was stepping into a completely new chapter of life.
She had worked since she was 14 years old, building a career as a nursing assistant and caring for others. But severe arthritis eventually forced her to leave the profession she loved. Living on disability income and adjusting to a future she had never imagined, Latasha suddenly found herself navigating two major life changes at once: becoming a first-time mother and learning how to live with a disability.
“I worked all of my life,” she says. “I never thought I would stop working, and I never thought I’d be going back to school to get my GED.”
Then her daughter, Mirakle, arrived.
As Mirakle grew, Latasha noticed some developmental concerns. Around 18 months old, her daughter wasn’t communicating in the ways she expected. Rather than waiting and hoping things would improve, Latasha did what she has always done: she advocated for her child.
“I’m the type of parent that when I see something, I don’t let it go,” she says.
That decision set in motion a circle of support that would become life changing for both mother and daughter.
Her pediatrician listened carefully and made referrals. Speech therapists began working with Mirakle. Occupational therapy followed. Later came developmental assessments, mental health supports, and services through St. David’s and Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). Her NAZ coach helped connect Latasha to another resource that would make a critical difference: a braided NAZ Scholarship and Early Learning Scholarship administered by Think Small.
The scholarships allowed Mirakle to attend a high-quality early care and education program that met her developmental, social, and emotional needs while providing a nurturing, structured environment where she could learn, grow, and build relationships.
“I wouldn’t have had the finances to afford child care without the scholarship,” Latasha says.
“Think Small, St. David’s, NAZ, her child care program, all of them played a part in helping raise her,” Latasha says. “Doing it by myself, I don’t think I would have been able to do it.”
Over the next several years, Mirakle made remarkable progress. Speech therapy helped her communication skills flourish. Mental health supports helped her learn to manage her emotions. Child care teachers and specialists worked alongside Latasha to help Mirakle reach developmental milestones and prepare for kindergarten.
Today, at age five, Mirakle is ready.
Her mother describes her as a natural leader, someone who encourages other children when they’re having a difficult day.
“If another child is upset, she’ll tell them, ‘It’s okay. It’s okay to have a bad day,'” says Latasha. “She turns negative situations into positive ones.”
To prepare Mirakle for her first day of kindergarten, an entire team came together to support her transition, including therapists, early educators, and special education professionals who had been part of her journey. Thanks to years of intentional support, she was able to enter school with the social-emotional skills, confidence, and services she needs to succeed.
But the impact of the scholarships reach beyond kindergarten readiness.
While Mirakle was learning and growing in a quality early learning program, Latasha was able to focus on goals of her own. She found support through a group for single mothers, began addressing her own mental health concerns, and enrolled in GED classes. With just a few tests remaining, she is now closer than ever to earning her diploma.
In fact, it’s her daughter who keeps her motivated.
“She’s inspiring me,” Latasha says. “As she goes to school, I’ll be able to help her with things. I never thought I would go back to school to get my GED, but now I want to.”
Mirakle’s journey began with a mother’s instinct. When Latasha noticed developmental delays, she didn’t wait. She asked questions, sought answers, and kept advocating for her daughter. Along the way, a circle of support grew around them.
Mirakle entered kindergarten ready to learn, and Latasha is working toward completing her GED. While the scholarships ended when Mirakle started kindergarten, the circle of support around the family remains.
“These programs are gems,” she says. “Even when you’re done, they’re still there for you.”
Think Small believes every child deserves access to quality care and education needed to enter ready for kindergarten. If you’d like to support this work, please consider making a donation today.
Think Small is a Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) partner organization helping families living in north Minneapolis access quality early learning through scholarships, outreach, advocacy, and more.
