The Eleanor Network | Portrait of an Eleanor Woman: Ammadiyya and the Neighborhood Writing Alliance

A network of resources to support economic self-sufficiency

Giving Women a Voice

Women touched by the Eleanor Foundation's programs and services have some incredible stories to tell about their families, their experiences, their success. Read about the Eleanor Foundation's partnership with the Neighborhood Writing Alliance.

A Dream Realized—Through Writing

Share |

May 26, 2010

Eleanor Women juggle work and caring for their families. Often they must set aside their dreams. But sometimes, you meet someone whose aspirations are energizing—someone who is living their dreams.

Meet Ammadiyya King. Retail customer-service employee. College student. And newly published writer. Writing has been Ammadiyya's outlet since she was nine years old. Last summer, the Chicago native graduated from Harold Washington's hospitality program, earned a promotion and raise, and was looking for an artistic endeavor. That's when Sandi Brown from the Center for Working Women at Housing Opportunity for Women, an Eleanor Network member, told her about a creative writing program.

Less than a year later, Ammadiyya wrote and published two poems in the Neighborhood Writing Alliance's Journal of Ordinary Thought—an award-winning journal whose community workshops Eleanor Foundation sponsored to give voice to working women's dreams. She shared her stories at a release party with Eleanor partners, donors and friends.

"I felt overjoyed and so blessed," she recalled of the benefit. "I was at a loss for words seeing so many people, from downtown and community centers, investing in something that helps one another."

"Lots of people say your dreams are crazy, but that's how they come true. Open yourself. The worst thing that could happen is that you fall. Then you get back up again. Challenge yourself. Don't listen to the world. Listen to your dreams."

For Ammadiyya, the workshops challenged her to commit further to her work as an artist. While continuing her retail job, she is working on her liberal arts degree, writing her first book and organizing creative nights with her family. The oldest of five siblings, Ammadiyya lives with her mother and brother. All are pulling for one another during these tough economic times by planning and shifting their budget together.

Empowering other women is important to Ammadiyya. As she says, "Lots of people say your dreams are crazy, but that's how they come true. Open yourself. The worst thing that could happen is that you fall. Then you get back up again. Challenge yourself. Don't listen to the world. Listen to your dreams."