Kaitlyn & LaShae:
A Drug Court and Reclaiming Futures Success Story

LaShae Brown is a November 2005 Natural Helper graduate. She was linked with seventeen year old Kaitlyn in December 2005.

LaShae is no ordinary mentor. Her life experiences have shaped her and molded her. She went from a high school drop out, to a Job Corp graduate, to a college graduate. She says through all this, what she has learned is that kids really just need a little bit of your time, and they really want you to listen.

La Shae, why is helping young people so important to you?
I look around and see so many kids who could just really use that extra person to listen and maybe help guide their choices. Kaitlyn is just one of many good kids who just need a little time. It doesn’t even cost money; kids just want to have someone listen to them.

LaShae, can you tell us a little bit about your match with Kaitlyn?
Kaitlyn has incredible strengths. Kaitlyn attends Mound Street Academy where she is involved in a Knowledge Bowl. She is going with her school to Mount Vernon at the end of the month for a competition. Kaitlyn and I talk almost every week about school, about Drug Court, and about her life. I like to just let her vent while I listen. I wait and offer advice only when she asks. We have gone out to eat at a Chinese Restaurant and at Applebees. Sometimes, I just hang out with her at her house and we don’t go anywhere. Currently, we are focusing on trying to find Kaitlyn a summer job and trying to complete the community service hours that she owes. We are both excited about a trip that we plan to take to King’s Island real soon.

Kaitlyn, what is it like to have a Natural Helper like LaShae?
LaShae is cool, I feel like I can trust her and count on her. She makes me feel good about being me. She likes me. I’ve been working real hard for the Knowledge Bowl and she encourages me and helps me out. We go out to eat and sometimes just hang out. She is helping me to look for a summer job.

Kaitlyn, what kind of hopes and dreams do you have?
I’d like to finish school and go to college. I want to be a pediatrician one day.