Help Elle & Johnella Get to FANHS Houston & Other Dreams

Hello Family & Friends,

I have created a recent GoFundMe, https://gofund.me/d2ab8b5e and seeking your support and kind help.

As you know, I just graduated with my MBA just this past month! It's been a journey filled with long nights, lots of cups of coffee, and hard work. I'm incredibly excited for what the future holds. The journey started almost five years ago, six months prior to the pandemic, I left my nearly two-decade-long city government job to help my family after my younger sister passed away from Stage 4 cancer and then I jumped into contract jobs, the one prior to the pandemic at a start-up food catering industry role as an Executive Assistant for C-Suite team members. When the COVID-19 shutdown happened March 2020, which literally and figuratively, pulled the rug under our feet and swept us indoors working from home and being there for my then middle schooler, navigating school at home. My goal and encouragement from all my advisors, counselors, professors, and fellow graduates was that I needed to keep focused on my then lofty goals and that I should go for my dreams. "Dream BIG!" was my inner mantra. Check out the video here of where I was nearly three years ago when I was interviewed by Stephanie Ruhle with NBC World News for MomsRising.org They helped me spread my story to the world and especially legislators to help working moms, kids, and families pass bills to help them during the pandemic.

Lastly, that same first year at grad school, Summer of 2022, as close friends know, my daughter and I witnessed a very violent active shooter situation on BART, a busy Saturday, of PRIDE weekend, the traditional Giants and A's rivalry as people made their way to game day, and just a hot day on public transportation, for sure. It has taken a lot of post trauma sessions in therapy for both Johnella and myself to make sure we feel safe in a lot of public situations, so the fact that I still want to keep doing community work and be a part of and most of all do my best to give back, serve my community is deeply meaningful for me and especially, as I want to guide Johnella consistently and in the best way possible, as she grows into a young adult.

Like many graduates, the next steps come with some financial considerations. Part of my plan includes a trip to Houston with my family this month. I will be the lead facilitator to a panel for The Alvarado Project at the annual FANHS/ Filipino American National Historical Society Conference. I just found out Johnella was awarded a scholarship to attend the conference, we just need help to defray the costs of traveling there and also, securing lodging, plus the other extras that add up like transportation back and forth, then also some meals.  

Then later this year, in October, I plan to go back home to Leyte in the Philippines with Johnella. We have been in survival mode, and just trying to make it through these past few years, yet, I also want us to thrive and have Johnella on her first plane trips and just enjoy being on a real vacation, too. It would be a great learning experience all around -- for her to network, meet new people, possibly find about internships. Then. for myself, trying to again find my dream job. Additionally, I'm saving for the inevitable bills, rent, and building an emergency fund. Graduate school was rewarding and even with the scholarships that UC Davis provided, it's still a high cost. I am not a trust fund kid, nor do I ask for handouts. I worked at one point during this education journey, with one full-time job and 2 or 3 part-time jobs, post-pandemic to get through school and make ends meet as a working mom on top of making sure my family's needs were also met.

While I wouldn't expect graduation gifts to solve everything, any contribution you might be able to make would be incredibly helpful and deeply appreciated. It would be a fantastic boost as I take these first steps in my new career path wherever I may land.

Thank you for your ongoing support. I appreciate all the encouragement, love, support, and all the congratulatory wishes that have been coming my way! I have walked a long, long journey and I hope you can help me keep going as I keep climbing and help uplift others in the future, too. I am deeply grateful that I am still here in this world and doing the good work with so many. I am always humbled by everyone's show of love and support to me and my family. So, again any amount is a Godsend and we are always appreciative.

All the best!

xoxo,

Eleanore aka "Elle" Fernandez