[MUSIC PLAYING] NARRATOR: OTAN, Outreach and Technical Assistance Network. 

CARLADA THOMAS: A little bit about my parents, they both come from broken homes. And that means I was in a broken home. My mom was in and out of the hospital. My dad tried to do right by me as far as being a father as much as he knew how. Being gay wasn't one of the things you could be out and be comfortable in. 

So I come to know those things were some of the things he dealt with internally. Being abused physically and mentally, I was told that I'd never amount to anything. Not one time did anybody say, there must be a problem, let's go have a conversation with the teacher and find out what's the problem. 

I worked hard since I was 13. It's OK, I'll find a job and I'll work for the rest of my life. But without a education, it became hard. 

KIMBERLY COOPER: There has been a lot of hurt, a lot of challenges, a lot to overcome, poverty mindsets at times. You were told something as a child that's not accurate. Someone somewhere gave you the perception or the understanding that you're not very smart, so I think you've been believing a lie all these years. 

CARLADA THOMAS: There's always an opportunity to do better. So what you see in your family, you have a opportunity to say if I'm going to go that road or I'm going to change the narrative. 

PHILLESHAY DAWSON: She basically came up with, OK, if I go back to school, you have to go back to school. And for a while, I was just like, OK, like, whatever, you're not going to go back. Then she came back, and she enrolled and stuff like that, so I was like, I guess I should go and enroll too, huh? 

CARLADA THOMAS: The best decision I ever made is to come back, because I didn't know what was sent my way. And what was sent my way was Miss Marcie. 

MARCIA MORGAN: She was just so determined. And even though she would have bad days, you could tell within her, there was this fire that was burning to be better, to be a better parent, to be a better person, to help other people. And it was never really about Carlada. It was always about the people around her. 

PHILLESHAY DAWSON: It was a big change in our household for that. But it was exciting for the most part. We were all happy for her. We just didn't realize how big of a change it was going to be. 

KIMBERLY COOPER: And it's kind of like a taking of ground, where all of a sudden you finish one class, and it's like, look, I did that. And I'm like, yeah. I mean, it was, ah, I've got several classes behind me. OK, yeah, you're right on track. 

CARLADA THOMAS: And as I'm getting close to graduation, I go in there to go get my cap and gown. And they was like, so hey, we want you to speak at the graduation, has never been done by a student. 

MARCIA MORGAN: She just looked at everybody. And she just spoke from her heart. And you could just tell everyone in the room was so touched. 

CARLADA THOMAS: As I grown and getting my high school diploma, I'm realizing that I want to motivate the village. So my goal is to have a non profit. My goal is to be able to give back in my communities. 

KIMBERLY COOPER: The Mobile Community Closet is take the things that people donate and to redistribute it to people that don't have enough. 

CARLADA THOMAS: How can we help you be a better you? And if that's by giving you some clothes, some shoes, some food and for you to walk away and you know, I'm telling you I love you. 

PHILLESHAY DAWSON: It was good to see how many people that she touched. I didn't realize how many people needed a community closet. 

MARCIA MORGAN: Her whole goal in life is really all about the people and what she can do for them. She has not left her past to define her. And she looks to the future with great hope. 

CARLADA THOMAS: The Sutter Education gave me an opportunity to show my kids that it's never too late to be great. This moment right here is worth it all. So I thank you. It's been amazing. Thank you for being a part of my journey. 

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