“Dawn is very motivated and driven to succeed. She has been a pleasure to work with. I will continue to monitor her progress, provide her with ongoing support, as well as provide any additional assistance she may need to maintain employment and ongoing success.”

Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Dawn is a woman of many talents and interests. Before joining the Army, Dawn received a dance scholarship to attend East Carolina University where she minored in computer science. After her time in school, she went on to become a licensed cosmetologist, something she really enjoyed.

After some time and a little soul-searching, Dawn felt called to serve her country and joined the Army in July 2000. During her 18 years of service, Dawn served on multiple tours including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom while earning technical certifications to become an Information Systems Technician. Dawn’s dedication and hard work earned her multiple awards including an Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star and three Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in September 2018, Dawn was on a great path until the COVID-19 pandemic turned everything upside down. After losing her job and being unemployed for two months, Dawn was faced with eviction from her home. That’s when Volunteers of America stepped in.

Dawn enrolled in our Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) where our staff helped her get the financial resources she needed to remain housed and travel for job interviews. Our employment specialist Tracy Violette also helped Dawn identify positions that aligned well with her interests and skill set. Within no time at all, Dawn landed a full-time job at Teletech where she continues to work today.