Participant Stories

Henry is an energetic baby who keeps his mom, Thalia, on her toes. At only eight months, Henry is constantly on the move, always leaving his mom wondering where he’ll crawl to next!

Just like her son, Thalia is similarly always on-the-go. She keeps herself occupied by balancing school, work, and motherhood all at the same time. Thalia has worked in the social service industry for over six years supporting vulnerable New Yorkers via case management services. In Thalia’s own words, “I am passionate about social justice and human rights. I want to be a social worker to be able to give back to my community, the same way they did for me.” Currently a social worker in training, Thalia is actively pursuing her aspirations by working towards her masters degree at Columbia’s School of Social Work. When Thalia first learned of her pregnancy, she considered putting her studies on hold to focus on securing additional employment. While in search of resources for herself, she was reminded of The Bridge Project, a program she had helped former clients, and now herself, apply to successfully. With support from Bridge, Thalia has been able to remain in school and still cover living expenses for her and Henry. She is on track to graduate in May of 2025.

As Thalia and Henry continue maintaining their busy schedules, they can always count on each other for love, affection, and support.