RALEIGH, N.C. — Ay’Riqua Ingram's son Ma’hari Gray is 2 years old. She got pregnant during her junior year of high school.
What You Need To Know
An unexpected pregnancy comes with unexpected choices, especially for young moms
A Durham nonprofit is helping teen parents as young as 13 graduate and get the resources they need to raise a child
The organization has helped around 100 teen moms and has a 92% graduation rate
The two often visit the Lovebug Children's Closet, where they find baby clothes and other supplies free of charge.
“This is my safe space to come, calm down, shop for Ma’hari, [and] breathe … 'cause you know mommas need to breathe," Ingram said.
Being a mom is a full-time job, but, as Ingram will tell you, it’s 10 times harder as a teenager.
“I tried to hide it. I used to wear 6X trying to cover it up, because I didn’t want people to know 'cause people are cruel," she said.
Back then, Ingram had to make some tough decisions.
“The way society makes you think is that you have a lot of options, but you really don’t 'cause it’s not fair. And I feel like nobody should be able to dictate what a pregnant woman goes through," Ingram said.
Today, Ingram has a job at Duke Hospital and works at a Durham nonprofit called H.E.A.R.T.S., which stands for Helping Each Adolescent Reach Their Spark.
It’s all thanks to founder and executive director Tameka Brown.
“I saw how hard emotionally and mentally the strain and the toll it took on being a single mom and a single parent. And I can only imagine how they feel at 13, 14 and 15 years old," Brown said.
Brown’s passion is providing young moms like Ingram with the support and materials they need to raise a child.
“They are scared. I have only met one teen mom that intentionally became pregnant," she said. "They worry about how they are going to take care of their child, how they are going to survive, how they’re going to make money.”
Where Ingram would be without Brown's help isn't something she likes to think about.
“I struggle with a lot of depression and suicidal [ideations], so having Ma’hari and having the support system and my mom, it was very much so this is what I got to do to get to where I want to be," Ingram said.
Ingram's thankful for all of the resources and wants other teen moms to know they don't have to go through it alone.
“It’s OK to be struggling. It’s OK to cry. It’s OK to be going through the hardest time of your life. But just be mindful there’s people out there who's willing to help you," she said.
Brown hopes to open the Lovebug Children's Closet to community partners this August, which will have clothing, baby supplies and more for young moms all free of charge.
Right now, it's only open to participants of the organization.
This month, H.E.A.R.T.S. received the North Carolina Peace Corps Association's annual North Carolina Peace Prize.