Destination Atlanta: A Soldier’s Story on Finding Her Purpose
Did you know that 300 veterans are homeless on any given night in Atlanta, Georgia? Each of these individuals has a unique story to tell. Organizations like CSM Angels Refuge have made it their mission not only to address their needs but also to share their stories.
Many veterans face significant challenges upon returning home from military service. Some face mental health crises, unemployment, and housing instability. We rely on volunteers and your involvement to help transform their lives. Volunteering to help unhoused veterans is a powerful way to give back to those who have served our country. It’s even more touching when veterans are the ones reaching back to lend a helping hand.
In our latest CSM Angels spotlight, we speak with 30-year-old Ayana James. James is a veteran of the United States Air Force who has been volunteering with our organization for almost a year.
Continue reading to discover how she leverages her gifts and talents at CSM Angels Refuge, and why we need more young people in the fight to end homelessness among military veterans.
Setting a Strong Foundation
Growing up with parents who are actively serving in the military can evoke a range of mixed emotions. For Ayana James, it instilled in her a spirit of gratitude and a desire to serve.
Both of her parents chose careers in the military. James and her siblings split time living with their mother and grandmother.
Her father is now retired, but her mother remains active in service. “She was in Iraq during the Iraqi Freedom initiative, a 2003 military operation led by the United States.” James shares. She was 12 at the time, and as anyone can imagine, it was an emotional and stressful time for her and her siblings.
“It was really hard,” James shares. “She was gone for 15 months. When the Air Force deploys, it’s for six months, and she was gone for 15. It was really, really hard to think about the fact that my mom could potentially not come back.” As she shares this part of her childhood, I can hear the 12-year-old girl and the fear and uncertainty she felt during that time.
The Effects of War
James has three siblings: A brother and two younger sisters. She states that although her sister wasn’t as aware about the war and what it meant, her youngest sister, “was especially affected, being the youngest and having a very close relationship with my mom. We all missed her greatly while she was away.
My brother, if I'm not mistaken, had gone to Germany because my dad was stationed in Germany at the time. So, he was rolling with it.”
The end of the Iraqi conflict was a relief to James and most of the world. Having her mother return home safe and unharmed was a blessing. We often see footage on social media of a soldier returning home and surprising a loved one. James had the opportunity to experience that feeling first-hand.
“She surprised me one time. I was in middle school at the time, and my grandmother had called me out of school early. I was very confused because she never did that. So, I went out to the lobby, and my mom was standing there in her uniform. I ran to her.” The little girl reappears in James’s voice, reiterating the love and positive impact her mother has had on her life.
A Mother’s Influence in Giving
Although there were times when James didn’t live with her parents, their influence made a significant impact on her life. One fond memory she shares is how her mother gave back to the military community. “My mother had soldiers whom she knew didn't have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as other holidays. She would invite them over to the house. She’d say to us, ‘Hey, I don't know how many people are coming, but I opened the house to the soldiers,’ and of course she’d make sure that was something we were comfortable with.”
James says her mother’s acts of kindness made her feel good. “I can say I'm a Humanitarian at heart. It just made me feel good to be able to be a part of providing that for people. Or even if people were coming back from deployments and didn't have families to support them. We would go out there with my mom and stand there for whoever needed assistance.”
She adds that although she didn’t build a lasting personal relationship with the soldiers, her mother does.
Following in Her Parents’ Footsteps
Like many families, military service can become a family tradition. It’s no surprise that James and her brother chose to enlist in the military. She served in the United States Air Force for seven years, and her brother was enlisted in the Army for 11 years.
Unlike her parents, James did not serve during any active conflicts. The majority of her service was spent stateside, at bases in Florida. She did get to experience a tour in Korea, which was a bit of a culture shock. However, overall, she says it was an “enriching life experience.”
Now that she is a civilian again, she wants to do her part in giving back to the military community.
Moving to Atlanta!
It’s no secret that Atlanta, Georgia, is a hub for young Black professionals and those looking for a change in pace. Ayana James admits that her decision to relocate to the area was on a whim. She didn’t have a plan, but her heart told her Atlanta was where she needed to take root.
“I'm an army brat. So, I get a little antsy if I'm sitting somewhere for too long.” James admits.
“It's funny because I told my family recently that I'm definitely more of an East Coast kind of person. I love Florida. I'm probably going to move back there at some point,” she adds, “but for now, Atlanta is home.”
Connecting with CSM Angels Refuge
James and I take a break from the interview to discuss what it’s like navigating life as a Millennial. She and my youngest daughter share many similarities, including their love of traveling and what some might consider impulsive traits. Her decision to move to Atlanta was a leap of faith that has taken her on a new journey of giving back to the military community. It may also pave the path for a new career.
“When I first moved here, I moved on faith. I didn't look for a place before I arrived. I was given several resources for veterans, and they put me in contact with Mr. Jenkins. I want to say that when I read through all my resources, he and CSM Angels Refuge had a lot of positive reviews. He was able to get me into a hotel for a couple of days until I found a place.”
Connecting with the founder of CSM Angels Refuge has changed James's life and her outlook on the future.
“It's going pretty well. I sometimes find myself challenged in trusting what God is doing in my life. Some days, I’m not sure if God told me to move here, but he’s covered me all the way.”
In addition to connecting with CSM Angels Refuge, James has enrolled at Georgia State University, where she is majoring in Psychology.
A Day in the Life of a CSM Angel
It’s approaching a year since Ayana James connected with our founder, Charles Jenkins, a retired military veteran. I ask her to walk us through a day in the life of a CSM volunteer.
“As a volunteer, I am on call to assist with donation events as well as to help organize the clothing, shoes, and other donated items for the homeless veterans. For example, clothing items are organized by size, season, and, if it can be distinguished, by gender.
I usually accompany the other volunteers to the storage unit. If it's not already organized, we organize all the items that we will be handing out for that day. We then proceed to the various locations we have lined up for the day.”
James goes on to explain how the volunteers travel to their destinations. “Traveling in a line of our personal vehicles, fellow volunteers, and I typically visit more than one location, and items are distributed until everyone appears cared for. After waiting for any late visitors, we visit the next location and, considering the toll of the day, we continue to repeat this until either the items are gone or the crowd grows scarce.”
Interacting with the Veterans
In terms of the people that CSM Angels assist, James hasn’t had many opportunities to interact one-on-one with the veterans. “Most people simply grab whatever they need and go on about their day. Since I've been there, I've noticed one or two people who will linger and socialize. They tell you their name and things like that, but it's not as common.”
She adds that so far, she has participated in two service events and assisted with organizing a storage unit.” There’s so much to be done, and she’s looking forward to helping in any capacity that she can.
What’s next for Ayana James?
“Outside of working with CSM, I'm interested in developing housing communities. I'm conducting research on where to begin. Mr. Jenkins has provided me with a lot of valuable information.”
Impressed by her enthusiasm for expanding on what she can contribute to addressing the homeless crisis facing our veterans, she outlines her plan.
“Essentially, just having places for the unhoused veterans. If you consider the many houses that are abandoned or run down, those are places that we could use. So instead of having a community of homeless people, whether it's their first day trying to figure out where to go, or they have somewhere to go and it's their own space as opposed to a shared space.
Starting a Non-Profit
During our conversation, James shared a goal of starting a non-profit that offers support services to vulnerable veterans.
“Yes. I'm interested in building a community where people who are either experiencing homelessness for the first time or who have been fighting homelessness can have a shelter to go to, where they don't have to worry about their safety or emotional well-being.
I think it'd be awesome to include things like childcare, perhaps a fitness facility. I'm just jotting down different ideas as I go. However, my primary goal is to help people get off the streets and make them feel normal.”
I’m reminded of an article I read about a bill being proposed in California. I ask if she’s familiar with the bill, which became a California law. It allows faith-based organizations to erect auxiliary housing on their properties to address homelessness.
“I think that's a great idea. Truthfully, any shelter that is feasible for someone to live in is commendable; I don't knock it at all. I'm sure it's cost-effective. It's way more cost-effective than building a community from scratch, I imagine, right?”
Her assessment is spot-on.
Unhoused Women Veterans
Delving deeper into her future goals, I ask whether they would have a positive impact on women veterans. She explains that “I’m not very familiar with the statistics. I am aware that there are a few organizations available through the VA.” Continuing, she adds, “Mr. Jenkins doesn’t limit assistance to men. However, I haven’t seen any families that needed assistance. Typically, each person is there by themselves, or at most they have a girlfriend or a sibling or something of that nature.”
James also shares, “There are several programs (available) geared towards assisting homeless families.”
The Five-Year Plan
My final question for Ms. James is where she sees herself in five years.
“My degree is in psychology, and I'm interested in counseling. I hope to be able to practice in the field of social work by then. To become a licensed social worker.
Realistically, I would absolutely love to have this program (referring to her goal of starting a non-profit) off the ground. I'm not entirely sure about all the details. I know that it (her degree) would contribute to my success in operating my program. I would absolutely like to have that off the ground and on paper to the point where I can actually do something for somebody.”
All dreams require funding, so I inquire about government grants that can help her achieve her goals.
“I haven't come across any grants, but that's still research fun. I've been researching some of the VA resources. I'm not sure if they offer grants, but I did see that they have a couple of similar programs. They have different forms and features, such as setting up your own organization or hosting events. There’s also paperwork for that. But as far as grants, I'm not sure about the VA.”
Making Her Parents Proud
My final question for Ms. James is whether her parents are proud of her accomplishments and her future goals.
“They support it 100%. I don't think they're too surprised. They're very excited for me, and they're very supportive.”
She goes on to add that, “It's also very humbling to see people face-to-face and offer what they need; it's just very humbling. It just makes you take a second and look like, man, we've got to get it together.” Referring to society in general.
What Can We Do to Help Our Veterans?
Every small action contributes to supporting homeless veterans. Whether dedicating a few hours each month or organizing a significant fundraising project, your contributions can lead to tangible change. By providing a listening ear, essential resources, and companionship, you can empower veterans to regain their footing and reintegrate into society.
Take that vital first step today by exploring the many ways to support those who have served our country.
Please support CSM Angels Refuge as we continue the fight to erase homelessness among the veteran population. Consider volunteering and making a financial donation today.