H.E.A.R.T.S. Durham nonprofit helps teen moms finish school, raise a child
BY AMANDA ROSE RALEIGH PUBLISHED 6:51 PM ET MAY. 12, 2022
Ay’Riqua Ingram's son Ma’hari Gray is 2 years old. She got pregnant during her junior year of high school.
What You Need To Know
An unexpected pregnancy comes with unexpected choices, especially for young moms
A Durham nonprofit is helping teen parents as young as 13 graduate and get the resources they need to raise a child
The organization has helped around 100 teen moms and has a 92% graduation rate
The two often visit the Lovebug Children's Closet, where they find baby clothes and other supplies free of charge.
“This is my safe space to come, calm down, shop for Ma’hari, [and] breathe … 'cause you know mommas need to breathe," Ingram said.
Being a mom is a full-time job, but, as Ingram will tell you, it’s 10 times harder as a teenager. “I tried to hide it. I used to wear 6X trying to cover it up, because I didn’t want people to know 'cause people are cruel," she said. Back then, Ingram had to make some tough decisions.
“The way society makes you think is that you have a lot of options, but you really don’t 'cause it’s not fair. And I feel like nobody should be able to dictate what a pregnant woman goes through," Ingram said.
Today, Ingram has a job at Duke Hospital and works at a Durham nonprofit called H.E.A.R.T.S., which stands for Helping Each Adolescent Reach Their Spark.
It’s all thanks to founder and executive director Tameka Brown.
“I saw how hard emotionally and mentally the strain and the toll it took on being a single mom and a single parent. And I can only imagine how they feel at 13, 14 and 15 years old," Brown said.
Brown’s passion is providing young moms like Ingram with the support and materials they need to raise a child.