A hand up, not a handout: Devin’s journey from surviving to thriving
When Devin moved to Tennessee in November, she had a plan. Within a few months, she imagined settling into her own place with her kids, starting fresh. But the road turned out to be much harder and longer than she expected.
“I didn’t have Medicaid. I didn’t have much of anything. I thought I’d find a shelter, just something temporary, but I never did.” Devin said. “We ended up sharing one bed in a house full of people. It was rough.”
With nowhere else to turn, Devin and her children ended up in Clarksville, TN in a crowded house, sleeping in the same bed. She searched for a shelter, hoping to find something temporary that could give her family some breathing room. But no options came through. It was during this time that she reached out to Our ChanceTN, and everything began to shift.
Finding a way forward
Devin was quickly connected to Ann, a Education and Employment Specialist (EES) with Our ChanceTN, who became her primary point of contact.
”Ann’s been amazing. She’s been with me since day one. She called, she checked on me, and she kept sending me job leads and resources. I also started working with Coach P, and I love both of them, they’re truly awesome.”
One of the biggest breakthroughs came when Devin and Ann discovered a free CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training course in Dickson. Not only did Devin enroll, but they also helped spread the word and got others from the program into the class as well. She was already pulling others up, even as she was still finding her own footing.
”It was such a blessing, it felt like we were building a little community inside that class.”
After successfully completing the CNA course, Devin began working with her new coach, Coach P, who helped take her journey even further. Our ChanceTN covered the cost of Devin’s state CNA exam and supported her in getting a mobility scooter, a life-changing gift of freedom and independence for someone living with severe COPD.
”My lungs function like they’re 128 years old, I try to work and do everything like everyone else, but sometimes it’s just too much. The mobility scooter will change my life. I won’t have to stay home or feel like a burden anymore.”
SUPPORT THAT FEELS LIKE FAMILY
At her core, Devin is a caregiver, whether it’s in her work, in her home, or in the way she encourages others around her. Devin is no stranger to hard work. She’s been employed since she was 14 and spent recent years working as a paraprofessional with students with disabilities. But after a hospital stay and the limitations of unpaid FMLA, she lost her job and nearly lost hope. She didn’t want sympathy. She wanted a way forward.
Despite being denied disability assistance and navigating the challenges of ADHD and autism diagnoses she didn’t fully understand until her own children were diagnosed, Devin never stopped learning, growing, and adapting. She graduated in the top 80% of her IT program. She made the top four of her CNA class. She passed her TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test on the first try using self-guided resources online.
"I passed my TEAS test on the first try," she said. "I didn’t even do hardcore studying, just used TikTok and YouTube. I was so proud."
She didn’t quit. She learned how to learn. And that changes everything.
“I’ve been working since I was 14. People assume everyone on assistance wants to stay there forever, but that’s not me. I’ve paid into the system too. I want to build a life. I want to move forward.”
Through Our ChanceTN, Devin has received wraparound services tailored to her situation. From educational and career coaching to connections to healthcare, transportation assistance, child care referrals, and more, her journey is a model of how true transformation happens when comprehensive support meets personal determination. Her experience underscores a fundamental belief of the program: people don’t want handouts, they want the opportunity to move forward.
”They’re not just giving me resources. They check in, send job leads, back-to-school help, info about community events. They keep showing up. That means so much.”
Devin finally felt seen. She felt cared for.
Resilience with a plan
Devin doesn’t just have dreams, she has a plan.
After completing the CNA program and recognizing the physical toll it would take on her body, Devin courageously shifted her focus toward a new goal. Currently Devin is preparing to start her LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) program at Hurst in Clarksville. Classes begin September 3rd, and she’s set to graduate next August. She chose the Hurst program specifically because it was more accessible and less competitive than other programs, which allowed her to succeed without triggering anxiety or feeling overwhelmed.
Her sights are set high, not just on a job, but on a career that works for her abilities and honors her passions. She dreams of being a school nurse, working in telehealth, or doing administrative medical work from home, roles that offer both stability and sustainability.
“My cousin’s friend makes $80K doing telehealth as an LPN. That would completely change my life.”
EYEs ON THE FUTURE
Devin’s dreams don’t stop with a stable income or a mobility scooter. She’s envisioning land. A home of her own. A space where her children can run free. She dreams of building a family compound, opening a domestic violence shelter, and even starting a farm with an Airbnb.
Her goals are big. Bold. Beautiful. And we believe in them, because we believe in her.
"This isn’t just about me," she said. "It’s about showing my kids that we can overcome anything."
The broader impact of Our ChanceTN
Devin’s story is just one of many that reflect the mission and heart of Our ChanceTN. The program is part of the Tennessee Alliance for Economic Mobility (TAEM), a collaborative effort across partner organizations in 16 counties in Middle Tennessee designed to help families experiencing generational poverty move toward long-term economic security and self-sufficiency.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, Our ChanceTN embraces a human-centered, two-generation approach supporting parents and children at the same time. Every participant is paired with a Family-Centered Coach who walks with them, helping to build a plan around their personal strengths, goals, and challenges.
Participants have access to a full suite of supportive services, including:
Free job resources and career development opportunities
Help accessing benefits like childcare assistance, SNAP, TANF, and healthcare
Financial literacy and credit counseling
Mental health and trauma-informed support
Education navigation and scholarship referrals
Transportation and mobility resources
The goal is not just stability, it’s mobility.
"We want every participant to feel like they have someone in their corner," said Jahna Riley, TAEM Deputy Director. "Our job is to listen first and then partner with them to help remove the barriers standing in their way."
In Devin’s case, those barriers included housing instability, limited transportation, health concerns, and a lack of access to affordable education. Through Our ChanceTN’s coordinated network of support, she was able to break through each of them, one by one.
“It was a really dark time,” Devin said. “But Our ChanceTN gave me hope. They helped me see that I could move forward.”
With over 1,000 families now engaged across Tennessee, the impact of Our ChanceTN continues to grow, bringing with it renewed hope, restored dignity, and real opportunity for transformation.
Devin’s journey is a powerful reminder of what happens when people are met with compassion, resources, and belief. It’s what Our ChanceTN is all about, walking alongside Tennesseans who are ready to build, grow, and transform their lives.
