From the Heart: Why I Chose to Work with CASA

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. My choice to join the CASA team last November was much like many decisions in my adult life - overanalyzed but well calculated. Up until this point in my career, I have always worked in healthcare as a design and marketing professional. When thinking about why this position as CASA’s Communications and Development Manager was right for me, I had to think outside of my regular 9 to 5 experiences.

Connecting the Dots. For most of my years in Savannah, I have spent a great deal of my time helping women and children in the community. As a former teen mom, I have always had a passion for helping other women in the ways that so many caring souls helped me as a young mother. From support groups to Christmas assistance, it gives me great joy to spread love to families that face unimaginable challenges.

When choosing a new job, I look for opportunities to help the community in some way. Even with my positions in healthcare, these organizations put the patients at the center of their work. It is very important to me that my life’s work impacts others in a positive way. So, when weighing the pros and cons for CASA, the personal pros were obvious to me.

The impact that Savannah CASA has in the lives of children is truly incredible. Importantly, the work complements what I have been doing in my personal life to help single parent households. For over a decade, I have worked to ensure that families in our community have the support and resources in order to thrive. Advocating for these needs is something that has always come naturally to me. I have never needed a paycheck to fuel my work and I have been blessed with full-time jobs that allowed me to do this work.

Jennifer with her son, Jalin, at the park.

Jennifer with the Savannah CASA team (left) and with single moms at a Savannah Bananas game (right).

This New Journey. I am still processing the experience of shifting my full-time focus to something closer to my after-hours passion of helping families in need.  Though it has not been the easiest shift due to the pandemic and various learning curves, I have been able to gain a wealth of knowledge. Getting to know co-workers and a new work culture over Zoom plus managing CASA’s largest fundraiser from home has been a lot to process. ​Whether on Zoom or in person, the zeal that our team has for child advocacy is undeniable. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to use my years of design and marketing experience to highlight the great work that Savannah CASA does every day in the lives of children and families. Our team is so passionate and their enthusiasm cultivates a culture that is refreshing for me. 

​Beyond the culture, my new position gives me fulfillment on so many levels outside of my professional goals. It makes me happy to know that our collective efforts are really making a difference in the world and in the lives of children. We all have a purpose here on earth and being able to see that purpose in action is one of life’s greatest gifts. I am glad that I chose CASA and I hope that my work will help us impact as many lives as possible.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jennifer  T.  GRaham

​Jennifer joined the CASA Team in November 2020 as the Communications and Development Manager. With the vision to enhance the lives of single mothers and their children, she founded a non-profit to help single mothers in 2010. Currently, she sits on the Advisory Boards of Molly's Bridge for single mothers and iVolunteer International. Jennifer has a BFA in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design and a MBA in Marketing from Saint Leo University. Beyond her drive for helping others, she also has a passion for brand development and assists businesses with their brands through her virtual design company. When she is not working, she enjoys time with her 19-year old son, Jalin, and her fur babies, Bella Grace and Bruno Mars as well as her extended family and friends.