Sonia Thomas

Legal Assistant, JR Institutions and Reentry Project

Growing up as a multiracial young girl and only child here in Yakima, Washington, I struggled like most with trying to figure out my identity and finding out where I fit in, in this society. Among all the other things that I was going through starting at a very young age, I learned to put on that mask called a smile to push my way through life, never being able to find my own voice through so many things such as physical and mental abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness. Most of all, seeing my husband fade away with his own emotional struggles with being an African American man in this system, which sadly contributed to his death.

Now as a single mom of 8, I said to myself enough is enough, I have to find courage and my voice and help those that are like me and my husband and to show my children that they also have a voice and the right to be heard.

When I received a call for the job interview, I needed a job but did not realize that TeamChild would turn out to be the voice that I have always been so desperate to be a part of. I honestly believe that as a “Team” we can truly make a difference and help those who struggle every day, like I have, to find that voice that I never could. That is why I am here.