Making a Difference

Yevette Gore Graham is a woman on the move. Being a mother of two and working full-time as a childcare provider leaves her with few opportunities for rest. "The hours are long, to be sure," says Graham. "I'm up by 5 a.m. and still going late into the night. But I love what I do."

During the week, Graham turns her apartment in the Bronx into a childcare center. Her living room, she notes, is stuffed to the ceiling with toys, books, and educational materials. On any given day she cares for up to five young children in her home. "I'm proud that parents feel safe leaving their children in my care. I do my job well, and I adore being with the kids," she says.

Finding a stable, challenging job that allows her to provide for her family took a lot of effort on Graham's part. After holding several jobs, including working as a nurse's assistant and as a cosmetologist, and a 3-year stint in the air force, Graham realized that she needed to go back to school to improve her skills.

In 1999, through the Consortium for Worker Education (CWE)--a New York City-based union education and employment project--she completed a 240- hour training course to become a childcare provider. Although it wasn't easy returning to the classroom at the age of 38, she was determined to succeed. "I was finally goal oriented, and that was a wonderful feeling," she says. She credits her ability to finish the course in part to her CWE teacher, Andrea L. Rosser, who inspired her to work hard and "make a difference."

Within two months of graduation, Graham was working full-time and hasn't stopped since. These days, Graham is active in her community helping families with special needs children (Graham's son is a special needs child) find appropriate schooling and programs. She is also the shop steward for her union local, which represents childcare workers. Her future plan is to attend college and run her own health care business. "The more education you have, the further you can go and grow. I never want to be at a standstill."