Philadelphia

From Tragedy to Inspiration: Local Woman Strives to Give Female Youth “A Place of Their Own”

Even after experiencing trauma as a young adult, North Philadelphia native Ebonye White found a way to transform her grief into something positive.

After the loss of her father, mother and cousin, White started an initiative to provide transitional housing for young women who want the opportunity to live a better life. She calls it “A Place of Their Own." 

As a youth, White grew up in a neighborhood where she battled many challenges, plagued by the devastating loss of both her mother and father. White’s father died after he was shot eight times and her mother succumbed to cancer the summer before White was set to graduate from Hampton University, where she received her undergraduate degree in education.

“I kept on striving because in the back of my mind, I could hear my mom’s voice saying that I was her winner because she’s always called me her winner growing up," White said. "That was my inspiration. I realized that there are other people who have probably been through similar situations or harder situations than I had, and I had to find a way to be selfless because someone else may have endured the same circumstances.”

After having a conversation with her three sisters in 2012, White decided that they “needed to do something for us that we could call our own” and that’s how her initiative "A Place of Their Own" came to life.

After White registered as an LLC, the initiative took a brief hiatus until right before her cousin passed away in 2015. White realized that she wanted to create a transitional home for women and thought her cousin could be the face of the organization.

“In February of 2015, on Valentine’s Day, I lost my cousin, so that made me go even harder at pursuing this transition home for girls,” White said. “My younger cousin was one of those females who fell victim to the street, with a lot of the addictions that young women face, so I wanted to find a way so that somebody else’s child could survive or have a support system.”

With the support of her former classmates and friends and the financial backing of private donors, White was able purchase property in Philadelphia. However, the home needs extensive renovations before it can be up and running: doors, windows, plumbing, painting and furniture.

With a fundraising goal of $100,000 to cover the costs of the structural repairs and indoor furnishings, White has launched a website online where clothing and accessories can be purchased to raise an online donation fund to increase revenue. White hopes to break ground on the renovations this summer and have the house move-in-ready by January 2016. The house is located in North Philadelphia off 11th Street and Rising Sun Avenue.

The property can provide a home to six to eight girls. White wants the housing initiative to target youth in juvenile detention and the foster care system. Local community members and White’s colleagues have already signed on to provide support, coaching and motivation to future residents.

“I want to be able to show young people how to start their own businesses and so they’ll be having workshops, and we’re trying to help to actually build up the whole person, so we’ll have fitness classes, nutritional things going on, as well as spiritual opportunities,” White said.

A Place of Their Own, LLC is hosting a banquet on Saturday to help White achieve her fundraising goal and spread awareness about her current efforts and design aspirations for the transitional home. The banquet costs $30 to attend and will take place at Karima’s Banquet Hall on 1928 W. Hunting Park Avenue from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Entertainment includes performances from two soloists, poetry and spoken word. Guests will also receive dinner, enjoy the ambiance of tasteful décor and listen to White speak out about the importance of her cause.

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