HOW A SINGLE, HOMELESS MOTHER-WITH A STEP-UP FROM HARBOR INTERFAITH SERVICES-WORKED HER WAY THROUGH NURSING SCHOOL.

When her baby daughter came along 17 years ago, Tanesha Jackson was 19 and homeless, moving from one friend's couch to another for shelter. Today at 37, Jackson, an RN at Torrance Memorial, is the lead nurse on Ortho/Medical/Surgical. When she's not on duty with post-op patients, she's mentoring her college-bound daughter, thinking about what she'll do with her time when she's soon an empty-nester, and feeling grateful for life's blessings.  

An early blessing that changed Jackson's life came when her baby was just a few months old. Jackson was feeling the stress of being the sole provider. She pored through her list of 20 local shelters, borrowing a phone to inquire about availability. With every call, she got the same news: all rooms are full. We'll place you on our waiting list.

A friend had recommended Harbor Interfaith Services in San Pedro. Jackson called the shelter every other day to check her place on the list. Persistence paid off; one day Harbor Interfaith called back. They had a room.

Fast-forward two months. With the support of Har­bor Interfaith, Jackson had a job, $960 in savings to cover rent and bills, and was ready to move into an apartment of her own. By the following year she had enrolled in school and was on her way to a future career in nursing.

Jackson joined Torrance Memorial as a secretary and a certified nursing assistant in 1999, and nine years later-with the support of the hospital-she had com­pleted three years of pre-requisite classes and two years of nursing classes-all while working full-time. It was one of the biggest accomplishments of her life. Nursing school felt like boot camp, she said, but quitting wasn't an option.

"My daughter was my motivation. I worked from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 in the afternoon, and then I went to school from 6:00 to 10:00 at night. I slept with my books. It was very hard, but I knew I had to finish school."

Jackson is an ardent supporter of Harbor Interfaith today. She has spoken before its auxiliary board about her path to success, crediting the shelter for its direction. She and the Torrance Memorial staff on her floor adopt a Harbor Interfaith family each year at Christmas as a part of the official community partnership between the agency and the hospital that has existed since 2008.

The agency's mission-to empower the homeless and working poor to achieve self-sufficiency by provid­ing support services including shelter, transitional housing, food, job placement, advocacy, childcare, education and life-skills-complements the hospital's goal of effectively improving the health of those in the community most in need.

Over the years, Torrance Memorial has, as part of its partnership, provided a grant to fund dental care services for referred clients; provided complimentary CPR classes; funded immunizations necessary for clients to finalize their admission into degree-seeking programs or to allow them to apply for jobs in health-related fields; conducted food, product and toy drives; and supported Harbor Interfaith's annual Work in Progress Gala, which benefits childhood learning and family support services.

In September, Torrance Memorial was recognized during the gala as one of Harbor Interfaith's "two com­munity partners that have gone above and beyond in their support of the agency and its mission." This win-win partnership is particularly poignant when considering Jackson's ties to both the hospital and the agency.  

"I grew up in a dysfunctional home, the least person likely to succeed," Jackson says. "I went back to school as a single mother with a young child. If I can do this, anyone can. Harbor Interfaith was there to help me get estab­lished, learn to manage the money I had coming in and prepare me for life on my own."

She adds, "I appreciate all I've been given. I'm proud of all I've accomplished, and I love what I do."