Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phyllis Everette. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phyllis, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Saffron Trust Women’s Foundation, we envision a world where women of color thrive and are empowered to make healthy decisions for themselves, their families, and the greater community.

We build strong communities by working to end generational poverty – one woman at a time. And this is my story.

Growing up as one of ten children to a single mother, I didn’t have access to stable housing, education, and critical emotional guidance. As a single mother, I struggled to stay afloat financially and found myself navigating food insecurity, homelessness and housing instability, and poor physical and mental health while raising my three children.

After an experience with domestic violence left my family and me fearing for our lives and being homeless, it was at a women’s shelter that I found my tribe. A group of women who were all victims of unfortunate circumstances but survivors by choice. We found strength in our togetherness.  Understanding the power women share when we come together inspired me to ensure that Saffron Trust is an organization led by women with similar experiences.

More importantly, I finally had direct access to life-saving resources at the women’s shelter, but in reality, accessing those resources was unattainable. It required meetings with various counselors and agencies throughout the state. Long commutes. Long lines. Longer holds. Not to mention the trauma of retelling my story over and over again. Getting help is not only exhausting, but it’s a full-time job! I simply didn’t have the time to access the resources which kept my family trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty.

I know there are countless women living stories just like mine. We know that getting help is complicated, and at Saffron Trust, we make it easier for women by serving as their central point of contact. Women only have to tell their story once, and then we work with all of the local organizations on behalf of the women to help them and their families thrive long-term.

I believe strong communities are built through changing (and saving) the lives of individual women. As a woman who has experienced the tribulations of cyclical poverty firsthand, I understand the unique experience and aim to reduce the overwhelming process of getting the assistance needed to break that cycle.

Phyllis, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Saffron Trust Women’s Foundation seeks to create a world in which everyone is provided an opportunity to thrive. Our mission is one that is founded upon the real life experience, understanding, and acknowledgment of the tribulations of cyclical poverty.

In today’s tumultuous society, improving outcomes requires more than what the standard system can provide.
The state of affairs is that despite there being a great demand, few in our community are able to access the help they need when they need it.

We seek to bridge the gap between the reality of poverty and access to the right help so that women and their families in our greater community are able to live their best lives.

Saffron Trust Women’s Foundation is dedicated to revolutionizing the way in which we think of and engage with poverty alleviation. We serve as a link between those in need and those that can help by providing the right information and connections to women and their family members on where to go for support.

We work directly with organizations in the Austin metro area to connect women to the resources they need to thrive, whether it be in the form of housing, food security, healthcare, or employment pathways. We believe in the power of partnership and empowerment. Together, we can improve the quality of life for women, children, and their surroundings by providing them with a safe haven to heal and grow.

We are not just another social service program, nor are we a re-hashed version of an already existing foundation. Our organization is unique because it was created by women who have experienced the hardships of poverty firsthand and came out on top. We know where these pathways lead, how to navigate them best, and how to provide effective support in overcoming them.

Saffron Trust supportively tracks every social and health care referral, interaction, and outcome across their care journey to guarantee that they are provided the best chance possible for success. We ensure that no one falls through the cracks ever again.

We know that through this data, we are also better positioned to identify gaps in our community resources, and better address the problems that remain prevalent in our community today.

We also know that the impacts of our work are only as good as the individuals involved in it. This is why we also assign those we serve a dedicated community engagement team member that works with them in facilitating their development and streamlining their growth.

Through our suite of services, we’ve collaborated closely with local partners to construct healthier communities throughout our regions. We envision a world where community-based organizations can be prioritized the same way the healthcare system is for their work.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Growth is always uncomfortable, yet I had to find the strength to do it.

I have always been a hard worker, dedicating myself to the growth of my passions and the betterment of my surroundings. However, when I went back to school at 53 for my bachelor’s, I read and wrote at a level below academic requirements. During this time, my growth as a student and working mother challenged me like never before. Without knowing how long it would take me to get through these difficult moments, I had to push myself daily despite feeling discouraged. I would take private tutoring after school to learn the basics. As a single mother of three kids who worked full-time, my experience within this period proved to be exhausting yet empowering at the same time. Growth is always uncomfortable, but with the help of my family and friends, I have found the strength to do it. The lessons learned throughout this process were ones I carried with me into the future as I’ve continued to grow positively and prosperously.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I learned that I have the option to change my perspective.

Having the capacity to change my perspective is something that I am grateful for every day of my life. It has allowed me to overcome some of the most challenging moments in my life, like domestic violence. While it may not have been my initial reaction, I realized that through changing my perspective on the situation and choosing to be a survivor, I could allow myself to find strength within this experience. At this point, I began thinking positively about what was going on and even turned it into an opportunity for growth. This is something that I continue to do every day as I push forward, taking control over what matters most to me and making the best of each day. This is something I know that we can all do, regardless of what we’ve been through.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.saffrontrust.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saffrontrustorg/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saffrontrustorg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/saffrontrustorg/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaffronTrustOrg

Image Credits
Rich Lautzenheiser Photography Michael Blue Smith Cesar B. | Snappr