Today we’d like to introduce you to Ava Conley
Hi Ava, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Originally from Oklahoma, I have called Memphis home for the past eight years and have grown to love this city. My admiration for Memphis started from afar, and now I feel incredibly fortunate to live here. Throughout my time in Memphis, I’ve been involved with several amazing non-profits and am thrilled to have found my dream job leading Isaiah 117 House in Shelby County.
I have a background in education, community development, and non-profit work and my husband and I have been foster parents for over ten years. I am deeply passionate about supporting children from hard places because of the support I received in my own life as a child. It has been a privilege to continue this work here in Memphis.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road and I’ve faced several challenges along the way. As an educator, I’ve encountered the difficulties of addressing educational disparities and meeting the diverse needs students in the Frayser community. In the non-profit sector, I have navigated the complexities of securing funding, managing resources, and providing consistent support to the families we serve. Additionally, balancing our roles as foster parents with our professional responsibilities has been demanding.
The support of my community has been crucial in overcoming the many obstacles I’ve faced. As an educator, I’ve seen how my community steps up to provide what’s needed, whether it’s purchasing items for my classroom or offering their time to help. This support has allowed me to focus on my students, knowing that I have a strong network behind me.
In my role as a foster parent, the love and care from those around me have been invaluable. From bringing meals during new placements to offering babysitting services, my community has made sure I never feel alone in this journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d be remiss not to first acknowledge that Isaiah 117 House is just one piece of the larger foster care ecosystem in Memphis. Thanks to our deep-rooted relationships, this is the perfect time for Isaiah 117 House to come to Shelby County.
It’s no secret that the number of kids entering foster care often exceeds the number of available foster families, leaving many children awaiting placement in a Department of Children Services office. These children face practical homelessness, waiting in an office without a loving home to welcome them on one of their hardest days.
What sets Isaiah 117 House apart is our commitment to showing up on a child’s worst day. We offer a physical space – a home with a real bed and tangible items of love and comfort to help them cope with the traumatic event of family separation.
In Shelby County, we have two houses dedicated to lavishly loving the children in our community on their worst day. We support case workers by assisting them as they care for children in need, and we help ease the transition for foster families.
We believe our work is crucial because it impacts the system as a whole through our intentional service to caseworkers, children, and foster families.
What I am most proud of, and what sets me apart, is my family’s involvement in foster care for over 10 years. My personal passion aligns with my vocational passion, allowing me to pour my heart into this work every day. My dedication to fostering positive change is deeply rooted in the belief that every child deserves a chance to be loved, right where they are, with no strings attached, no matter their circumstances.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I am currently into a podcast called That Was US with stars from the TV show This Is Us, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.isaiah117house.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah117houseshelbycotn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaiah117houseshelbycotn/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117houseshelbycotn?lt_utm_source=lt_admin_share_link#394174992
