Briefly tell us about your family background/structure?
My name is Gabriella Marie Brandon. I am a single mother of three. My daughter Zoria is 28, Josiah is 19, and Joseph is 16. Most of my childhood was spent in Stockton, California with frequent visits to my father’s home in San Francisco, California. I also lived in Eureka with my mom and Monterey with my dad. I spent most of my childhood with my grandparents. My grandmother was full blooded Native and my grandfather full blooded Filipino and my father African American.

Tell us about the type of success you achieved while on the Shingle Springs Tribal TANF Program.
Shingle Springs Tribal TANF Program was a huge help to my family and I. The assistance received, the Advocates mannerisms, school clothing assistance, a bus pass for my son, and gas assistance for me. Also, while I was on the program, I made a plan. A plan to overcome my fear of going to school and failing. I had applied for a Family Advocate I position with the Shingle Springs Tribal TANF program. Although I did not get that particular position, I was offered the position as a Transportation Specialist (I wanted out of the position I held at Cache Creek working graveyards…it was killing me), so I took the offer. I was not happy with the pay, and I felt like I was going backwards, but I had weekends off, and worked Monday through Friday. I haven’t had weekends off in years. Being a TANF participant I figured it would balance out and we’d survive as long as I stuck to my plan.

Who played a significant role or motivated you in your success story?
What really brought everything over the top was my assessment with Heather Leaver. The questions she asked me and suggestions she gave helped shed light on my life for me. I felt like I was in a therapy session. She was easy to talk to and she listened. She asked me about barriers and hindrances in my life. When she asked me if I had help to go back to school and would I like to speak with someone, I said sure. It was then for the first time in my life that I can say I made a plan.

What were some of the barriers you experienced along the way to your success?
This year was quite the struggle for me. In January, I resigned from my job as an assistant manager because I did not like the competition in commission sales and the fights daily over customers. I figure I’d find a job within a month and I’d be okay, but I was wrong. I had interview after interview and it took me 5 months and I ended up at Cache Creek. My first week there I hit a dove, my car broke down in 5 o’clock traffic in the fast lane on I-5, and I couldn’t find a ride to work. I was able to ride share for a couple of days (enduring a toxic relationship), and got suspended for two weeks with no pay. My credit score fell from 700 to 438, I was transferred departments, given the graveyard shift, stressed, crying, searching and searching for a way to make my life better.

What were some of your personal strengths you used to obtain success?
My first step was to stick to my guns and get rid of the toxic relationship that hindered me. It held me captive, it angered me, it stressed me, and it hurt me. I walked, I ran, I blocked, and I never looked back. I did not cry, but I started to pray more and harder. I started to smudge and pray daily. Peace and strength continued to come my way and it still is. The toxic person pursued and tried and my “No” got louder and stronger.

What is your future goal/next step in your Family Wellness Plan?

My plan:

• Was to learn my new position then later inquire about an advocate position.
• Inquire about school assistance for Culinary for the next semester in January.
• Sign-up with CIMC for entrepreneur assistance/business plan, etc.
• Open up a safe or deli serving breakfast sandwiches, juice, teas and coffees, and sandwiches and salads for lunch.

While putting this into play, a friend of mine who I helped from time to time in her club in Old Sacramento bought a restaurant in Stockton. She asked if I could help being a back-up manager. I said sure, figuring I would work Friday nights and the weekends. I went with her to meet the owner selling to her, and we did a walkthrough. As we sat and ate she offered me to be the manager! I was so taken aback and I was overjoyed. I laughed and knew then it was my humbleness and prayers accepting that this was my journey and I was going to make the best of it to work to succeed and leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren.

What advice can you give to participants on SSTTP?
To my fellow participants, you have to want better and more for yourself and your children. I made a choice to not follow after what was displayed to me as a child, but to give and do greater for my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I teach my children to believe, fight, and to look at my life and learn from it. In a dream I shape shifted into a deer and an eagle. The hind feet of the deer was to dash up the mountain to reach the top and the eagle was to soar above my circumstances. My journey has been rough. There has been days when I feel I can’t see my way, but I have managed to stay afloat and search for avenues that can assist me on my journey.

Thank you TANF for helping me along my journey.