My name is Walaa Ahmad, I am originally from Eritrea. I moved with my parents and siblings to the United States 19 years ago as refugees. I graduated from East High School, and Penn State Behrend with a degree in Communications and Media Studies. My husband also graduated from Penn State Behrend with an Industrial Engineering degree. Currently, I’m the Assistant Director of the Educational Equity and Diversity Programs at Penn State Behrend.<\/p>\n
As a former HACE resident, I was one of the recipients for the Louis J. Tullio Memorial Scholarship, and I had the opportunity to obtain my first employment through HACE’s Summer Internship program at the E. F. Smith Quality of Life Learning Center. While in high school, I participated in the IMPACT After School program at the Quality of Life Learning Center, where I received tutoring and homework assistance and help applying to colleges. While in college, I came back to the Center to help young people with homework, mentoring, and tutoring them. <\/p>\n
I wanted to say that after moving from my parents’ house years ago, I moved to various apartments, and then my husband and I lived at Erie Heights. Earlier this year, my husband and I purchased our first home, Woohooo! (I was 32 years old, and my husband was 33 years old).
\nI am so grateful for all the help and support the Housing Authority provided me and my family. Through HACE’s scholarship, housing, internship, and resources, I was able to succeed and accomplish my goals of becoming self-sufficient and a productive citizen in my community. <\/p>\n
They say, “It takes a village to raise a child…” I say, it takes a productive and constructive village like the Housing Authority of the City of Erie to make a great impact in a young individual’s life and all the people they serve. <\/p>\n