THE LINCOLN FAMILY

“Because of SEI, we all became something better than what people expected of us.” The three Lincoln sibling didn’t get many breaks in their young lives. Their father died before most of them were old enough to remember much about him. Their mother abandoned them for five years, calling only once – on LaToya’s 16th birthday. Their oldest brother was in jail. But LaToya declares for all them, “We don’t make any excuses. Excuses never change anything, you do.”

The siblings were able to stay together with their aunt and uncle, while SEI became their “home away from home” and helped keep them focused. LaToya recounts her SEI Coordinator’s encouragement that kept her from dropping out of Jefferson High School after her mother left, “She taught me to strive to do your best, no matter what you’re going through.”

Curtis and Jovan remember their Coordinator’s commitment to keep them from going down the same path as their oldest brother, helping both brothers stay off the streets and earn basketball scholarships to college.

Taylon, the youngest, recalls struggling on the track team, receiving constant support from her Coordinator as he explained that hard work would pay off. Taylon took his advice and earned a track scholarship to Concordia University.

LaToya sums it up, “With SEI on our side, we had the confidence and the support to make it.” Curtis agrees, “Because of SEI, we all became something better than what people expected of us.”