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Just In Time For The Holidays 2025
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In Their Own Words
Because nobody says it better than the youth we serve. Azucena inspires us all to Keep. Moving. Forward.
January 26, 2023
Upcoming events
January 31:
Pathways
Initial Mixer Event
February 1: Financial Fitness 103 Tax Filing Workshop
February 6-11: Just in Time’s Welcome Back week
February 8: Financial Fitness 103 Workshop
This year, Just in Time participant Azucena Wells won the “Connected” award at Just in Time’s My First Home For The Holidays Celebration. Below is an excerpt from her acceptance speech.
Just in Time. What a perfect name for this family, organization and group of angels that I have had a chance to be connected with. My name is Azucena, Former foster youth, survivor of human trafficking and now a mother of Three!
I started life as an orphan and was adopted when I was 4. At 11 years old, through a series of unfortunate events, I lived in a safe house for my own protection and several group homes as a ward of the court. I was on that “not so fun” merry go round of the Foster care system until I turned 18. Exiting the system I found myself in an endless amount of toxic abusive controlling relationships and ultimately got pregnant in my senior year of high school. And had a second daughter 4 years later on my own.
I first got connected to JIT back in 2018, Unfortunately I wasn’t able to join many services as they were in person and I had my second by this time and didn’t have childcare or anyone to watch my kids. Even so, I was still offered help, advice, food, and of course a safe space.
At that time, I connected with Aiden, Kyra and Monica. They had an impact on me that I will never forget. A few years went by and I started wondering if I was still eligible to receive help at 26. I walked in and I started an application for all the services I could participate in. Because of Covid, everything was virtual and much more convenient for me. From those challenges I’m standing in front of you beautiful people and moving forward. I have been grateful to be a part of JIT. I have successfully participated in My First Home, Financial fitness 102 & 103, Pathways to Financial Power, the Shark Tank competition, JIT’s parenting community, FAYCES, and College Bound.
A key point of my success has been a phrase I learned, stuck with, and repeated to myself for as long as I can remember.
It’s these three simple yet powerful words :
“Keep Moving Forward”
I repeated these words through every challenge I ever faced. And I repeat them especially for my daughters. I wanted to do better for them and show them in every possible way what it meant to Keep Moving Forward.
The other key to my success has been the connections I have made through Just in Time. My special connections, all of whom have touched my heart in different ways; who have stayed in contact with me; who care; and who I can genuinely call on for advice or anything.
Thank you for believing in me and not giving up on me.
