Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Cortesha Cowan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dr. Cortesha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
The Risk That Built a Movement: How One Step of Faith Became Mothers Helping Mothers
Twenty years ago this month, I made a decision that changed my life and the lives of so many others. I started Mothers Helping Mothers with no money, no formal education in nonprofit work, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. What I did have was a story, a heart for young mothers, and a deep conviction that my pain had a purpose.
I was once that teen mom, scared, overlooked, and trying to figure out how to raise a baby while still growing up myself. I remember the late nights of rocking my child to sleep, wondering how I would keep the lights on, finish school, or find someone who truly understood what I was going through. I didn’t have a village back then, and that’s exactly why I decided to build one.
Starting Mothers Helping Mothers was a huge risk. I didn’t have a grant writer, a board, or even a clear roadmap. I just had faith and a belief that if I could help one young mother see her worth and find her strength, then it would all be worth it. I was fueled by passion and purpose, not a paycheck.
There were many moments when I wanted to give up. When the funds were low, the support was thin, and the obstacles seemed too high. But every time I thought about quitting, I would get a call from a young mom who just needed someone to believe in her. And I knew this was bigger than me.
Fast forward twenty years later, and that leap of faith has grown into something far beyond what I could have imagined. Mothers Helping Mothers has become a lifeline for homeless and displaced mothers, offering housing, mental health services, and a sisterhood that reminds women they are not alone.
That risk, the one I took with nothing but faith, became the foundation for a movement. It taught me that sometimes you have to start before you’re ready, trust before you can see, and believe that your little can still create lasting change.
I didn’t start Mothers Helping Mothers because I had it all figured out. I started it because I didn’t want another mother to feel forgotten. And that’s the kind of risk that’s always worth taking.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
About Dr. Cortesha Cowan & Mothers Helping Mothers
My name is Dr. Cortesha Cowan, and I am the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer (CVO) of Mothers Helping Mothers, a nonprofit organization that has spent the last 20 years standing in the gap for homeless and displaced mothers and children. Our mission is simple but powerful: to help mothers rebuild their lives from a place of strength, stability, and self-worth.
My journey into this work began long before I ever had a title or a degree. It started when I was a teen mom trying to navigate life with a baby on my hip and a dream in my heart. I knew what it felt like to be counted out, to struggle with mental health, and to feel like no one understood. Those experiences shaped me and lit a fire inside me to create something that could change the narrative for other women like me.
When I started Mothers Helping Mothers, I didn’t have money, education, or resources. I had faith, determination, and a vision to serve. Over the years, that vision has grown into a movement that offers mental health services, targeted case management, transitional housing, and advocacy for women and families in crisis. We not only provide support, we create pathways toward healing, stability, and long-term success.
What sets Mothers Helping Mothers apart is that we meet women where they are emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We understand that transformation doesn’t happen overnight, and healing is just as important as housing. Our programs focus on the whole mother, not just her circumstances. We blend compassion with structure, love with accountability, and faith with real-world resources that help moms rise and thrive.
Beyond our outreach, I’ve also built spaces for empowerment and leadership. Through my coaching and speaking platforms, I teach women how to dominate, deliver, and disrupt in life and business. My work integrates faith, purpose, and strategy because I believe success means nothing if it doesn’t also transform lives.
What I’m most proud of is not just the growth of the organization but the transformation I’ve witnessed in the women we serve. I’ve seen mothers who once felt hopeless become homeowners, business owners, and leaders in their communities. That’s what Mothers Helping Mothers is all about—turning survival stories into success stories.
If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and this organization, it’s that we are built on faith, purpose, and resilience. We exist to remind every mother that no matter how hard life gets, she can rise again. We’re not just changing circumstances. We’re changing generations.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
There came a point in my journey where I had to completely pivot — not because I wanted to, but because life demanded it.
Years ago, I found myself in a season where everything I had built seemed to be tested. I was running Mothers Helping Mothers, raising a family, and trying to keep everything together. But behind the scenes, I was exhausted. I had been so busy pouring into everyone else that I forgot to pour back into myself. My health, my peace, and even my faith were being stretched thin.
That’s when God showed me that the work wasn’t just about helping mothers survive; it was about helping them heal. Including me.
At that moment, I had to make a bold pivot — shifting Mothers Helping Mothers from simply being a resource-based organization to one that centered around mental health, faith, and transformation. I realized we couldn’t just hand out food, clothes, or shelter and expect long-term change. The real work was in rebuilding the mind, the confidence, and the sense of worth that so many women had lost.
That pivot changed everything. It shifted how we served, how I led, and how we measured success. We started focusing on Strong Minds, Strong Mothers, building programs that addressed the emotional and spiritual needs of every woman who walked through our doors. It was no longer just about surviving homelessness or hardship. It became about thriving beyond it.
Personally, that pivot also forced me to grow as a leader. I had to learn to delegate, to trust others, and to make room for rest and restoration. I learned that saying “yes” to my purpose sometimes means saying “no” to everything that drains it.
Looking back, that pivot saved not only the organization but also me. It turned burnout into balance, survival into strategy, and a nonprofit into a movement.
Now, every time I see a mother rediscover her strength, I’m reminded that pivots aren’t setbacks — they’re setups for a stronger, more aligned version of the vision.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
There was a season in my life when everything I had built seemed to be falling apart. I was running Mothers Helping Mothers, showing up for families every day, helping women find stability and hope — but behind the scenes, I was fighting my own battle.
At one point, I lost almost everything. The funding was low, resources were scarce, and I had no idea how I was going to keep the organization alive. I remember sitting in my car one night after delivering supplies to a mother in crisis, crying and wondering if I had anything left to give. I had poured my heart into helping others, but I was struggling to keep my own head above water.
In that moment, I heard that quiet voice in my spirit remind me, “You started this with faith. Don’t stop believing now.” So I wiped my tears, took a deep breath, and decided to keep going. I made calls, reached out for partnerships, and leaned into prayer like never before. And slowly, things began to turn around. Doors started opening that I couldn’t have opened on my own.
That season taught me what real resilience looks like. It’s not about being strong all the time — it’s about choosing to keep going when everything in you wants to stop. It’s about trusting that the same God who gave you the vision will also give you the provision.
Twenty years later, Mothers Helping Mothers is still standing, stronger than ever. We’ve expanded our services, built mental health and housing programs, and touched countless lives. But none of that would have happened if I had given up during that storm.
Resilience, to me, isn’t about avoiding hard times. It’s about rising in the middle of them — with faith, with purpose, and with a heart that refuses to quit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.mhmteen.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.corteshacowan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcorteshacowan
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-cortesha-cowan
- Twitter: https://x.com/drcorteshacowan
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@drcorteshacowan
- Other: https://Www.drcorteshacowan.com
