VOW Transportation Shows Us the Power of Opportunity and Understanding

#NiceWork VOW! VOW Transportation doesn’t just help its passengers get where they need to go, it gives them the opportunity to achieve more. Vision of Winning (VOW) and its founder and CEO, Lorenzo Stewart Sr. of Washington D.C, knows a thing or two about how important these opportunities can be.  

After spending years in and out of jail, Stewart was having trouble finding a job. “Nothing solid ever came through,” he explained in an interview with Courtland Milloy of the Washington Post. In addition to having a record, Stewart, struck by a stray bullet at 15 uses a wheelchair. With the support of a loving family, Stewart realized that in order to achieve success he needed to become his own boss. Fortunately, D.C. has started an incredible and kind program: Aspire to Entrepreneurship. This partnership between District agencies and Changing Perceptions provides ex-offenders with the necessary tools to start their own businesses. It believes in people to make a change for themselves. In December of 2016, Stewart got the loan he needed to make a difference (WUSA9). 

Stewart didn’t take this opportunity lightly. He took the kindness that was shown to him by D.C.’s program and decided to create something amazing with it. VOW isn’t your average business. This organization helps people with disabilities, seniors, and students with their transportation needs, a mission inspired by Stewart’s own life. VOW even offers free services. Because Stewart knows firsthand the importance of family support, he provides rides to people who want to visit their family members in prisons. Demand is high, so he’s hoping expansion is in his future. As of June 2017, he operates three 15-seat vans.

“It’s true that when we give returning citizens the right set of skills and opportunities, they will flourish,” D.C. Deputy Mayor Courtney R. Snowden said. Inspired by this story? Push for your state to support entrepreneurship programs like the one that helped Stewart in D.C. There are surely more kind organizations and people to be discovered.

 

Love Yourself Enough

camp otyokwah

Love Yourself Enough. It is a simple enough quote, but holds so much more meaning, especially to those that have attended Camp Otyokwah, in Butler, Ohio.

Camp Otyokwah is an overnight summer camp for children and youth. The premise and vision behind the camp is that children are exposed to so many different messages about who they are and who they should be, with little opportunities to grow as individuals. Camp Otyokwah is about building individuality, friendships and a relationship with God. Here, campers have the opportunity to hear what God’s word says about them.

This photo was taken by photographer Jana Life during staff training week. The moment was captured right after staffer, Beth, had completed a trust fall in which she had to fall backwards off a 5 foot platform into the arms of her fellow staff members. The words on her shirt and the expression on her face say it all; loving yourself enough to trust those around you is a recipe for joy.