Omedia Walker-Harris was scrolling through Facebook when she saw a post about YWCA Central Alabama’s vision assistant training program for single mothers. “I thought it was a good opportunity and I started to send it to a friend,” the single mother of four said. “Then I thought, ‘Wait a minute, I can do that.’ I’m so glad I did.”

Walker-Harris was one of 10 women who recently graduated from the SMILE (Single Mothers Invested, Learning, Empowered) program. “It’s a fresh start for me and my children,” she said. “I’ve definitely learned that I’m stronger than I think.”