Facing Transformation Bravely: Deshawna Henry
In her speech for Soledad O’Brien’s acceptance of the 2023 Champion of Children award, PowHERful scholar Deshawna Henry shared how she came through an early life of hardship to achieve success in her schooling and career.
“First, I would love to congratulate Soledad, who has been a champion to me and so many others. As a testament to her impact, I’d like to share my story.
“I am originally from the West Indies on a small island called St. Croix. My mom relocated my siblings and me to the United States when I was around 7 or 8 years old. We moved to Orlando, and I thought it was so cool. I mean, I was so excited because this is a land that not only had hope, dreams, and opportunities for us—but Mickey Mouse also lives here! This was all truly exciting stuff.
“Unfortunately, things did not shape up the way we’d hoped. Shortly after we arrived, my mother became very ill; she went on dialysis and could not work. And there wasn't much help in terms of food, money, transportation, and the other resources we lacked. There came a point where going to school was my only escape from the very hard reality at home. I joined literally every club. No joke. I was in a chess club, and literally not once played. I just hung out with everybody. After my mother passed, all I wanted to do was keep going to school and join more clubs. I was 17 years old and a senior in high school, when my siblings and I moved to Louisiana to live with a relative.
“Following high school, based on what I could afford, I attended a community college. I opted to study nursing, like my mother, had two jobs to support myself, was secretary of the SGA (Student Government Association), and won election as the SGA’s new Vice President.
“Then I received horrible news: my little sister, who had just turned 18, was a victim of police brutality. She died horrifically, like too many who die in this way. The event almost changed my life forever—key word “almost.” I dropped out of college; I was homeless and couch hopping wherever I could. At this point, I was 20 years old, feeling lost, my options exhausted. I felt incapable of getting back up again.
“This is where my champion showed up for me. Soledad.
“So, remember how I mentioned that after my mother's passing, I joined clubs? Well, I was the President of a Christian-based club and was invited to speak at an event in Chalmette, Louisiana. The club leaders, moved by my testimony, were at an event where Soledad was also in attendance, and they brought me up in conversation.
“Soledad reached out to me—by email, as I had no phone at the time. It was 2015 and Soledad was about to premier a documentary she directed, The War Comes Home. She invited me, making all the arrangements for attendance and travel. I was really surprised, as I did not think I was special enough to warrant that kind of attention. I had been about to give up on myself, and she introduced me to PowHERful.
“I applied to be a Scholar and, by that summer, was in school, no longer having to worry about how to afford the books or a place to live or where I would get my next meal. Soledad invested in me in a way I could never have dreamed. The seed was planted, and she helped me to get back up and grow into my potential.
“Today I’m a DevOps professional at IBM, I have been for almost 4 years. Thanks to Soledad and to all of you champions of children here tonight, I’m realizing how those of us you’ve supported can, in our own right, go on to champion others. I am incredibly proud of myself, you, and everyone for the transformation we all face bravely.“