Cracking the Code to Flourishing: Deborah’s Story

“I Want Everyone to Know It’s Possible”: Deborah’s Story

Deborah was working as a paralegal when COVID hit. During the lockdown, her two youngest children started struggling in school. “I had to make a choice,” said Deborah. “My family or a little bit of money.” So she quit her job to support her kids.

Then came the setbacks. Deborah applied for unemployment but was denied. With no income, her family was forced out of their home. For three long months, they were homeless. “We were looking for places to live day to day. It was a struggle,” she said.

But Deborah was determined to get back on her feet. “I said, ‘I can’t let this happen again.’ Because it tore my family apart.” She went to work on her resume and looked for new opportunities. Eventually, she found out that City of Refuge offered free coding classes. 

Cracking the Code  

Deborah was eager to jump in with both feet. “I said, ‘I don’t know all this stuff, but I don’t care—I’m going to learn it.’” In class, she learned how to build websites and heard from guest speakers in the tech industry. 

Compared to the challenges she’d endured, the class was a cakewalk. “I can’t say I had any fear,” she said. “What I was going through was scarier than learning to code. That was scary—having no home and not being able to properly provide for your children.” 

After Deborah completed the course, the next step was finding a job. City of Refuge provided a liaison to help her find a great opportunity at Capgemini, a multinational IT company. 

“I want to let everyone else know that it’s possible.”

Throughout her experience, Deborah felt deeply supported by City of Refuge. At one point, her bills piled so high she wasn’t sure if she could complete the course. Thankfully, City of Refuge provided some financial assistance to help bridge the gap. 

Even after she landed her new job, Deborah says CoR has remained a huge resource. “City of Refuge has been really helpful,” she said. “I can speak to anyone, and if it was personal and private, I felt safe enough to share it.” 

As she looks back, Deborah is overwhelmed by the transformation she’s experienced. 

“It means a ton to me to be where I am right now. I feel safer. I feel wanted. I feel like I belong. And I want to give back now. I want to let everyone else know that it’s possible.”

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