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2009
Faces of Success Honorees
 Louis Epperson
I’m just past my 20th birthday but I never wanted to grow up this fast. I’m one of 14 kids. My mom is an addict. She couldn’t handle us – we were sent off with CPS.
Don’t know if that’s why I started using, but cocaine landed me in the tents for a few months. That was hard. It felt like me against the world.
But when I got out I went right back to using. I was like the walking dead. Then I just realized… I was too important to be doing this – I was too smart. So while on probation I made the decision – make the best of it or go to prison. I chose wisely.
Since that important choice earlier this year, I’ve become clean, found a job and taken on the responsibility of caring for two of my siblings – my 8-year old sister Camille, and my 16-year old brother Tyler, who just underwent brain surgery for a small tumor.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with all this responsibility at my age.
Sometimes I wonder why I can’t just play x-box instead of dealing with custody issues.
I also just met my dad for the first time. I had to beg my mom to tell me who he was and call him. She finally did and told him of my existence. He flew me out to California and I got to meet his family, including my half brothers and sisters. It was good to connect with my dad.
It was good to connect with AWEE too. Through AWEE's “helping the working poor” program, I got connected with transitional housing at Homebase Youth Services and help with my child custody issues.
Through AWEE’s Aspire program, that involves a partnership with the city of phoenix and united way, I got help with job leads and got experience through internships. I got a bus card to get to job interviews. I also got my g-e-d and enrolled in college at Grand Canyon.
And they helped me find my “best self” to share with potential employers. Sprouts farmers market saw that and took a chance. I think they choose wisely…and I’m set to prove them right.
I want to be a youth minister. I think I can inspire other kids…just like my siblings. They all come over to hang out and see that there is another way…another choice.
My youth pastor always tells me…”life is what you make it.” I agree. You have to grab it by the horns and do what your heart tells you to do.
I’m trying to teach my brother and sister to be independent; that they can stand on their own feet. I want to teach them love and respect and to stick to their dreams. I might not be able to take them to Disneyland, but I’m hoping to get them through high school and college.
Being able to rely on AWEE when I’m having my own doubts provides me with a safety net. I’ve made some good choices recently, including choosing AWEE.
Am I a masterpiece in the making? I think I’m still on “paint by numbers” at this point, but life is way better then I ever felt when I was high. I’m standing on my own two feet – setting an example. That’s my choice – and I’m sticking with it.
 Irene Gonzales
You’ve probably seen those scary commercials about using meth. I lived that nightmare.
I was about 19 when I started using. I was married and had a 2 year old and a 6 month old. My husband took the kids and left me. I was left with nothing but the drugs. So I got into it deeper.
I was arrested the first time for possession and sales in 1998. I got off with a work furlough, but it took me 6 years to get off probation because of constant reuse. But a year later my house was raided and I was arrested for possession and manufacturing. This time I went to prison.
Four years I spent there. But I guess something clicked. Once inside, I quickly chose to focus on getting my certification as an auto mechanic.
When I got out in 2008, I got a job within two weeks. I moved in with my family – 7 sisters; 1 brother. I wanted to reunite with my kids – now 16 and 18. I found them on MySpace and we started talking through that site.
I also wanted to take responsibility for my life and not have my parents pay for everything. One of my older sisters had been in the AWEE program a while back, so I went to see how they could help.
They helped me buy my special mechanic tools. I even established an account with the tool guy - how cool is that. And I used the AWEE clothing boutique to get some clothes. They helped me excel in the job I had, and now that I’m transitioning to other work, the encouragement and support I get from the staff keeps me motivated and focused on building my career. They hold me accountable to do the right thing.
I go to the main office every Thursday to help others in my situation. I’m a mentor to them. And I try to give back by offering rides to people to and from the meetings, and I volunteer to fix some of the participant’s cars.
And every few weekends I work on cars with my dad. For the first time in my life, he trusts me. Love is one thing; but trust is a big deal.
As I was getting my act together, my daughter was struggling… so in august, I got temporary custody of her for the school year. Imagine that – after 15 years apart. And now, one of my nieces lives with me too because my sister is still messed on drugs and my mom adopted her children. But now mom is dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis and I’m helping out. And they’re letting me.
The trust I’ve rebuilt is so satisfying. It’s amazing to think about how far I’ve come.
And I think my daughter is starting to realize it. I’ve seen glimpses of our new relationship – she thinks that my working on cars is cool. But she also reminds me that I chose drugs over her. I know that. I have to play it straight up with her.
I’m not going to rebound overnight from 17 years on the wrong path. But AWEE is helping me in a new direction. I’ve been called a miracle – I’m it…a walking, talking, committed miracle.
A masterpiece in the making? Maybe. I’m probably more like the little engine that could. I think I can, I know I can…and with some tweaks and the right tools (thanks to AWEE)…I know I will.
 Gisele Roenfeld
I’m 52 years old. I’m a grandmother. I have a law degree…and I’ve had amazing jobs making six figures. So why did I seek out the help of AWEE?
Because the masterpiece of our lives is never done.
I got married young, had two kids and by 27 was a single mom back in college needing to stand on my own two feet.
After I got a psychology degree, I applied to 10 law schools; I got accepted to all of them.
Fast forward to another ill-fated marriage. I had another child. Tristan is 12 now. Family is a big deal for me so I worked part time and focused on him until he started school. And I found my niche – working as legal counsel with commercial real estate companies.
But in March of 2008, the group I was with let everyone go. I was blindsided. There I was, divorced again, left with nothing and now without a job.
I’ve never had trouble getting work. My connections have always helped. But this last year, those didn’t matter. I didn’t want to go to a law firm. I wanted to keep some level of control over my schedule trying to keep my son first. I reached out to career specialists – they couldn’t help me.
In January of this year I heard about AWEE. I was a bit skeptical if I could get help. But despite my graduate degree, I wasn’t getting any traction in my search. So I went.
I was welcomed with such open arms. I was told about a weeklong workshop that might help. But they were candid – there may be a lot you already know. But I thought…even if there is one nugget I can use, one tool, and then I’ll use it. And maybe I can be of service or inspiration to someone there as well.
By this time I had gone through my cash reserves, I wasn’t getting much child support and I don’t have family to help. AWEE became that family. They helped me with rent and utilities. They helped me with assessing my skills and connecting me with resources specific to me…not a “one size fits all” solution.
And that nugget – helping me reshape my cover letter and be more strategic just to get my foot in the door - made all the difference in the world.
So armed with that new wisdom, new cover letter and commitment to look for a job each and every day, I found an opportunity. I applied and got a call the next day. I’m back at it as assistant legal counsel working at a development company.
This has been a humbling experience to say the least. I wondered if everyone else had life figured out and I didn’t.
I’ve learned that it’s important to be honest and transparent. If you’re not, people can’t help you and you can’t help others.
I’ve given a lot of thought to who I am, why I made some bad choices. But I’ve managed to stay true to focusing on my kids. I’m open to where life will lead me – and I don’t even begin to think that this masterpiece is done.
Instead, I leave the house everyday intent on being a blessing to others. AWEE was a blessing to me…they helped me reframe and reconstruct my life at one of the very low points. There was no blame or criticism…just open arms to help craft the “new” masterpiece in the making…the new me.
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