What Our Young People Say

Elora Mercure

“YouthWorks is a good place for people to finally do right in their lives and succeed.”

Elora Mercure

Elora Mercure, 22, says life is sweet right now because she’s a host at Tecolote Cafe and has a new car to drive from her home in Alcalde.

“YouthWorks is a good place for people to finally do right in their lives and succeed,” Mercure says of graduating from the program.

She knew for a while she needed to change and figure out a future for herself and her baby daughter, but she needed some support to make changes.

“If you are going through some problems, they counsel you. They help me figure it all out and encouraged me. I felt like someone finally understood me,” she says. “I have never felt that encouraged in my life. They were there for me no matter what the situation, even if it wasn’t pretty. They let me feel appreciated.”

Copyright 2016 The Albuquerque Journal

Philip Talachy

“I didn’t give up on them because they didn’t give up on me.”

Philip Talachy

Philip Talachy, 26, says YouthWorks is why he’s working and not in prison. He did some time in the federal penitentiary on drug charges.

When he came out, he couldn’t find work or even a place to rent. He says he had a rough time growing up, but he knew he had some changes to make if he was going to have a life.

“I took it seriously. I couldn’t get a job because I’m a convicted felon,” he explains. “They helped me a lot. If you need food, they give you a bag of food. They throw parties for us to show their appreciation. I didn’t give up on them, because they didn’t give up on me.”

Talachy is living with his girlfriend and her children and looking for a full-time job, while working part time.

Copyright 2016 The Albuquerque Journal

Katia Ordoñez

“They help you with anything. The more I succeed, the more I feel I will be able to do what I want.”

Katia Ordoñez

Succeeding in her studies at YouthWorks made a profound change for Katia Ordoñez, 19. She says she felt she had failed so badly in high school that she quit as a senior. A friend told her about the program and so she accepted their two-week probation period and eventually graduated with a GED.

She helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity, which gave her a sense of accomplishment. “It was fun. I felt like I was really helping others.”

“They help you with anything. The more I succeed, the more I feel I will be able to do what I want.”

Ordoñez says she wants to go to college and become a vet.

Copyright 2016 The Albuquerque Journal

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