A testimonial is defined as something given or done as an expression of esteem, admiration, or gratitude. The Expanding Visions Foundation is dedicated to serving young people along with their families. Read what some of them have to say about us.
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The Walking Stick During an eye opening experience at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Mackenzie learned some African American history. He learned about the plight of slavery in America and the brave men and women who fought for their freedom. Read what he has to say regarding all that he saw. |
The Rag-and-On showed a lady’s history. The woman responsible for this piece of art worked for over 30 years to learn her family’s history and it saddens me because so many kids don’t even know who their fathers are. We are so wrapped in what tomorrow may bring that we don't even look to see where we came from. Life is about lessons." We are mentally in bondage that we don’t even know the pain and suffering of what our people went through to let us live the way we do now." Life has become so perverse, that walking around naked in your homeland and once described as "the beauty of the body" morphed and transformed into nudity. In my mind it was only about "watch out for me and forget everyone else", but these slaves who became free by working hard to escape went back, putting their lives and family at stake to save other slaves and to let them receive freedom as well. This process of thinking upset me because it just shows how selfish I have been living. People in the previous generations fought to end the obvious forms of slavery but now there are many more types of slavery that we don’t even know about. It seems like we are so busy living our lives we choose not to see the pain that other people are going through to survive in this world. Along the tour we came across a man named Wise. He started talking to us but out of all the people in our group he pointed me out and asked me my name and age. He then said something I won’t forget. He said "life is a journey and that we need to make time for ourselves to figure out who we are and that life’s journey is long so we need to have the right walking stick." I think that's where the Expand Visions Foundation comes in. EVF is that "one size fits all" walking stick that will help carry me into the adult ages and beyond and I thank the board members and the mentors in the program for being that walking stick. - Mackenzie, Mentee |
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Growing Together After some time spent in the EVF program, Anika sees tremendous growth in her son Josh. |
I truly believe that Josh is about to move to an entirely different level because his friends are a mixture of good kids (two that have a similar background) and they look out for one another. Recently, they have decided to tutor one another during their recess and have been hanging out some time. Like all of us, he makes mistakes but, is a great kid. You(Shelly), Cornell, and Jason taught me to pick and choose my battles, to encourage him more than anything and to make sure to take care of myself. I am thankful for EVF. It's given me a different way to look at life in seasons rather than as a mountain. My children and I are growing together. Life is exciting to me now, I feel like I did when I was a kid and every day I wait for God to show me something even more amazing in everything he's left me in charge of. I tell you often but I have to tell you again, Thank you so much. Love, - Anika, Parent |