Real Students, Real Stories: Alumna Tiffany Barber Shares How Her Journey with Â鶹ֱ²¥ Brought Her Life Full Circle
"The Â鶹ֱ²¥ was a catalyst in my career (and life)."
The Â鶹ֱ²¥ (Â鶹ֱ²¥) is more than educators transforming students’ lives. As Â鶹ֱ²¥ Alumna Tiffany Barber '00 explains, Â鶹ֱ²¥ is a convener and a connector that helps build bridges, and create pathways that transforms lives -- including her own.
Barber, who is the executive director of The Poiema Movement – a nonprofit providing housing for women transitioning from crisis, took time a few months ago to share her journey from brokenness to restoration with attendees at the 2023 Nonprofit Institute at Â鶹ֱ²¥ Conference. She explained how, as a struggling, single mom living below the poverty line, it took succeeding in one English class paid for by a Pell grant to launch her into graduating second in her Nursing class and then begin a career giving back to her community.
"As the executive director of Poiema Movement, I get to lead women who are like me," she said. "Women whose stories are different, but whose needs are the same. Women whose lives have been broken and shattered by trauma and choices, but whose value and purpose are significant."
Barber also shared how Â鶹ֱ²¥ has been a constant point of contact every step of the way. Please listen, as she shares how her inspirational journey with Â鶹ֱ²¥ has brought her full-circle.