A Life of My Own: Michaelis’ Story

As told by Michaelis Young

I’m a New Yorker, so I know how to speak my mind. Take my name. A few years ago, I decided to go by my middle name. Now everyone knows me as Michaelis. And everyone knows me because I’m a receptionist at the Jubilee office! When you come in the front door, I’m the first person you meet. I’m busy with answering the phone and taking charge of the mail. It makes me feel really good to work.

My parents and I moved to Maryland after my brother got a job down here. My mom always says it’s important to keep the family close. Now I’ve got family in Maryland with me, and I like to visit my sister in New York. It was hard for me and my mom being together all the time after we moved here. We both knew something had to change. I wanted my own place, and my own community. At 51 years old, it was finally time to stand on my own.

Thanks to Jubilee, now I live in my own house with my friend Kirsten. We like to go out for Chinese food and go to the gym. We’re both active with Jubilee programs. At the Jubilee Variety Show I honored my Trinidadian heritage with a dance, and everyone cheered me on. To me, Jubilee means friendship.

My ladies help me out at home. That’s what I call Georgina and the rest of the Jubilee staff who help me out with things like grocery shopping, laundry, and getting to our activities. Thanks to my ladies I can live on my own and still know that I’m safe.

Big things are happening for me this year. The housing team at Jubilee worked to get me government help to pay my rent. Kirsten and I are house hunting, we want to move to a modern apartment building. I’m excited to look at apartments and have a say in where I will live.

Jubilee’s given me so many opportunities. My mom says God answered our prayers when I got into Jubilee.

Michaelis’ story originally published in Jubilee’s FY23 Annual Impact Report, July 2024.