Resident Spotlight: Gilma Merino

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When Gilma Merino emigrated from El Salvador to the United States as a child, it was hard for her family to find stable housing. After years of bouncing from apartment to apartment, struggling in school, and experiencing domestic violence, Gilma found stability at Jubilee Housing.

“I came to the right place at the right time,” Gilma said. “Jubilee is a strong community that supported me and my daughter Chrystal when I was young and afraid.”

At Jubilee, the Merinos found opportunity to pursue their dreams. Gilma began working and going to school. When she started losing her eyesight, she learned to read Braille. Chrystal graduated from high school and went on to attend college through the Jubilee to College scholarship program. Gilma’s two sons Gabriel, age 14, and Alex, age 10, are currently active in Jubilee Youth Services afterschool programs.

“Affordable housing helps kids like me reach our goals,” said Gabriel. “My sister Chrystal and my friend Edgar are both in college, and I hope to go to college one day too. Without affordable housing, that would not be possible for me,” said Gabriel.

While Gilma is now legally blind and unable to work, she still pours her time and energy into volunteering within the Jubilee Housing community. You’ll find her serving on the Board of Directors, teaching parenting classes to struggling single mothers, volunteering with Spanish translation, organizing Hispanic heritage events, helping senior neighbors stay active, and advocating for affordable housing with CNHED.

“Everyone—young and old—needs love and care. Jubilee is a strong, caring community and my family and I are lucky to be a part of it,” Gilma said.

Resident Spotlight: Margaret Wanjui

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At the end of this year, Margaret Wanjui will step down from the Jubilee Housing Board of Directors after many years of service. “Margaret brought a special spirit that reminds us of our call and our essence with every word she speaks. She will be missed on the Board of Directors,” said Barbara Moore, Jubilee Housing Board member and cofounder.

Born in Kenya, Margaret moved to the United States in her early twenties, where she lived in the Mozart building in Adams Morgan for several years before Jubilee Housing purchased it. When Jubilee bought the apartments in 1973, Margaret became incredibly active in Jubilee life by joining committees, welcoming newcomers, and sending her five children to Good Shepherd Ministries (which would later become Jubilee Youth Services).

Margaret has been a leader in the greater DC community as well. She was the first employee at Christ House, where she served as a cook from 1985 until her retirement in September 2016. Margaret has also been a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church for many years, where she sings in the choir.

While the United States is now home, Margaret has not forgotten her native Kenya. Despite a modest salary, Margaret has been sending money there for years in order to establish Covenant House, a home for families who would otherwise not have a place to live.

Jubilee Housing would not be what it is today without Margaret’s courageous leadership. We are thankful for her years of service and excited that she will still be a Jubilee Housing resident in her retirement.

Resident Spotlight: Samuel Buggs

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When Samuel Buggs was 16 years old, he was incarcerated for the first time. He didn’t leave prison until he was 31. Without job prospects and a network of support, Samuel slipped back into many of the destructive habits that got him incarcerated in the first place—abusing drugs and alcohol, breaking the law, spending more time in prison.

But at 55 years old, Samuel decided to change his life. He was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and went to Jubilee’s partner organization Christ House for treatment. “It was truly a rebirth, a new beginning,” he said.

Through Christ House’s substance abuse recovery program, Samuel not only became clean and sober but moved into Jubilee’s Euclid building, which “expanded his joy” in this new beginning.

“Jubilee’s Empowerment Program made me believe I could do whatever I wanted to do,” he said. With newfound confidence in his abilities, Samuel graduated from Jubilee’s Leadership 101 class, began volunteering with Jubilee Youth Services, and enrolled in psychology classes at the University of the District of Columbia. In February 2016, he joined the Jubilee Housing Board of Directors.

Next week, Samuel begins a degree in Human Services at Catholic University. He hopes to use his education to become a counselor for at-risk youth, so they don’t make the same mistakes he did as a teenager.

“Jubilee allows me to dream—gave me my dreaming back,” he said. “I feel blessed to be a part of this movement.”

Resident Spotlight: Masi Sithole

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For as long as he can remember, Masipula “Masi” Sithole has loved music. But it took on a new meaning in 2004, when he was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder. That, coupled with his bipolar disorder, meant he was destined to spend a lot of time in hospitals. “Music was a saving grace for me when I started realizing I was going to be at the hospital quite a bit and some of those things were not going to get better,” said Masi.

Music remained a respite when Masi’s health took a turn for the worse in 2010. He lost his home and was forced to depend on the kindness of friends and relatives for a place to sleep. “It it was a tremendous challenge. A few friends were there, mom was there, family was there, but it was taking me a long time to heal and the helping hands started getting exhausted,” said Masi.

That season of homelessness came to an end when Masi found an apartment in Jubilee’s Euclid building. “When I finally got my own place, it was a tremendous relief,” he said.

With a stable home, Masi’s health improved and he found freedom to harness his unique gifts and talents to help the community. Recognizing the power of music therapy in his own life, Masi founded Rhythm for Recovery to assist at-risk communities in finding answers to life’s troubles through access to traditional arts, particularly the mbira from his native Zimbabwe and the kalimba from neighboring South Africa. “When I’m hanging out at the hospital, it’s a way I can contribute and recenter my life,” he said. Masi also shares some of these passions with youth at Jubilee’s Teen Renaissance Center.

With encouragement from his Jubilee community, especially Jubilee partner Reunion DC, Masi was also able to complete his Masters in International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins last year.

“My life has been diverted in the hospital and with healthcare. But it’s just been amazing—like amazing grace, one of my favorite songs—to see community come around me in recent years,” said Masi. “Going forward, I am encouraged and excited to continue advocating for human rights and restorative justice, especially with Reunion.”

Resident Advocates for Affordable Housing

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Khulud Khudur made the trip to Capitol Hill last week to advocate for affordable housing. As someone who has grown up at Jubilee Housing only to go on to college and graduate school, she has seen the benefits of affordable housing directly.

Resident Spotlight: Antonio Brown

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With five years of Jubilee Youth Services (JYS) under his belt, graduating senior Antonio Brown is ready to move on to college this fall as part of the Jubilee to College (JTC) scholarship program. “I am excited to meet new people and try new things in college, but I am going to miss everyone at Jubilee Youth Services,” he said.

Jubilee to College was founded in 2011 to create the necessary funding to support Jubilee Housing residents in their higher education goals. This year, 15 Jubilee residents and former JYS students are a part of the program.

Antonio plans to study criminal justice at Montgomery College for two years and then transfer to American University. With support from his parents, Capital City Public Charter School and Jubilee Youth Services staff, he feels ready for this next season of life. He is especially thankful for JYS’ partnership with College Summit, where he found practical tips on applying for and succeeding in college. College Summit’s PeerForward program “really helped because we learned about college, but we also learned from each other. We got to meet kids from other high schools and know we weren’t the only ones going through something rough,” he said.

Antonio looks back on his five years in JYS fondly. “Jubilee Youth Services has been a great place for me to go on field trips and hang out with my friends, but I’ve also been motivated to step outside my comfort zone and take risks.”

Antonio plans to continue living at Jubilee with his parents while his attends Montgomery College, both to save money and because he loves living in Adams Morgan. “I feel like everyone is connected around here. We all live in close proximity and have a lot of stores and businesses near us. Most of my classmates in other parts of DC don’t have that,” he said.

Until classes start this fall, Antonio is excited to work with JYS Activity Zone students through the DOES Summer Youth Employment Program. “I worked there last summer and volunteered with them during the school year, so I’m glad I get to continue spending time with the kids this summer,” he said. Antonio is pictured chaperoning their Shenandoah canoe trip in 2015.

In June 2016, Antonio joined 14 other Jubilee residents in receiving a Jubilee to College scholarship to make his higher education goals a reality.

Resident Spotlight: Ronnie Middleton

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If you’ve spent much time around Jubilee Housing, you’ve probably heard the name Ronnie Middleton. From sitting on the Board of Directors to manning the grill at Jubilee Youth Services’ summer cookouts, Ronnie has a knack for involving himself in many aspects of Jubilee life.

But Ronnie wasn’t always such an active community member. For over 20 years, he was homeless—drinking, doing drugs, and spending time in and out of shelters. “I had accepted that homelessness was my way of life,” said Ronnie. “It’s easy to fall into the acceptance of that lifestyle – you have no responsibilities.”

Ronnie began to take charge of his life, however, when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2010 and sent to recover at Christ House, a health care facility for homeless men in Adams Morgan. There, Ronnie was invited to be a part of Christ House’s Kairos program for men struggling with substance abuse, which is housed in Jubilee’s Euclid building.

“I embraced the challenge,” he said. “I decided I would change my way of life.”

As a resident of Jubilee Housing, Ronnie became involved in its Resident Life programming, including Leadership 101 class. “The class gave me the opportunity to present myself in a different way,” Ronnie said. “I guess I caught the attention of someone, because next thing I knew I was asked to join Jubilee Housing’s Board of Directors.”

In addition to serving on the Board, Ronnie keeps busy working at Christ House, serving with Jubilee Youth Services, and studying computer science at University of the District of Columbia. “My focus now is being a better person in the community, a better citizen,” he said. “I am hopeful to continue living at Jubilee and to help the organization continue to grow.”

Resident Spotlight: Antoinette Burriss

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Antoinette was born and raised in Washington, DC, but could not afford an apartment of her own until 2012, when she discovered Jubilee Housing. “My son David and I had been living with my father for 12 years because rent was so high,” she said. “It was a dream come true to find housing I could afford in an area that I grew up in.”

But for Antoinette and David, Jubilee Housing has become much more than a housing provider – it’s a community that encourages them to thrive in all aspects of life.

Antoinette is an active member of Jubilee’s Family Resource Center. “The Nurturing Parenting classes helped me get a different perspective on how to deal with issues that come up with my son,” she said.

Fifteen-year-old David, too, has seen value in the Jubilee community. “He’s met so many friends at Jubilee,” Antoinette said. “He goes over to their house and I know he’s safe because he’s with other Jubilee residents.”

Currently, Antoinette is most excited to move into her newly rehabbed apartment in Jubilee’s Ontario Court building, which has been under renovation since April.

“I’m so excited to see how the building has changed—new paint, new counter tops, new light fixtures,” she said. “It will be wonderful to be back.”

Resident Spotlight: Nancy Salmeron

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On Friday evening, we awarded 14 of our residents with Jubilee to College scholarships. Meet Nancy, one of those recipients:

When Nancy came to Jubilee Housing with her mother and three sisters at six years old, she had no idea what a difference it would make in her life. “Jubilee has been an essential asset for the growth of my family in every sense of the word,” she said.

In middle school and high school, Nancy was an active member of the Jubilee Youth Services Activity Zone and Teen Renaissance Center. “These programs provided a safe place where I could receive assistance with homework, build leadership skills and think about the future,” she said.

After watching her older sister receive a Jubilee to College scholarship in 2013, Nancy decided she wanted to achieve a similar milestone herself.

Today, Nancy has reached her goal. She graduated from Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in May 2015 and will attend the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in August with her own Jubilee to College scholarship. “I am so excited to call myself a college freshman this fall!” she said.