Supporting Single Mothers

As a church-goer, IT professional at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s, and community leader, Starlet Smith ’17, 19 MBA now finds herself in the same situation as her mother.

“My sisters, my mom, and my best friend all have histories of being single parents,” she says. “It’s a foundation of who I am.”

As a single mother, Smith says the biggest opportunity she faces is trying to independently create the best life possible for herself and her son Christoper, age 8.

“Everything I am is because of him,” said Smith. “He’s my ambition to work hard. Before I had him, nothing really mattered. After I had him, I wanted to be the best person I could be.”

After Christopher was born, she earned her associate degree, then continued on to Mount Mercy where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business.

“I am the true definition of a single mother,” says Smith. “I haven’t been away from my son for more than two overnights. When I go out of town, he’s with me. In nearly everything I do, my son is there.” For example, she and Christopher attend yoga classes together on Saturdays and church services on Sundays.

"I didn't want to be on food stamps forever. I wondered what resources were out there to help me become self-sufficient."

As Smith spent time with the other single mothers in her life, they started sharing stories and swapping ideas. They were all thankful for the food and housing resources available to single mothers in the area, but something was missing: support and advice on becoming better mothers.

“I didn’t want to be on food stamps forever,” says Smith. “I wondered what resources were out there to help me become self-sufficient. What is out there to inspire single moms and tell them, ‘You can do this! You can be better than what you are!’? There was nothing out there for that.”

Committee members either use their own resources to bring in professional experts and speakers, or they receive donations from community members and organizations. FiredUp for Single Moms also facilitates regular volunteer opportunities at places like local hospitals or the Ronald McDonald House for single mothers and their children.

When local single mothers give birth in the Cedar Rapids area, they also receive Smith’s contact information to use whenever they need resources or mentoring.

“We are beginning to fill the void of what was missing here,” Smith says. In fact, she’s hearing from single mothers across the United States who are asking how they can get involved, or whether local FiredUp for Single Moms chapters can be formed in other places.

“We keep thinking it’s a small group, but it’s becoming a lot bigger than how we envisioned it,” said Smith. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to help other single moms better themselves and the lives of their children.”