Thrive Prince George’s Spotlight: Danaeyah – Building a Foundation for the Future

This year marks the conclusion of Thrive Prince George’s – a 2-year, $4 million guaranteed income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and increase upward mobility for foster youth and seniors in Prince George’s County.

As the program comes to a close, we sat down with Danaeyah, a Thrive Prince George’s participant who shared with us how the program has impacted her family and helped set her on a path to success.

Danaeyah was one week away from the start of CNA certification classes when she finally made the call. She'd been thinking about it for months, weighing whether she was ready, how she'd manage childcare for her son, how she'd get to classes while working. But something told her this was her moment.

“I had a bunch of stuff going on,” she remembers. “I didn't know how I was going to get to the classes and balance that and my work schedule and childcare. But I took a leap of faith and signed up.”

That decision came at a pivotal time. It was spring 2024, and Danaeyah had just lost her car and was navigating a new job that barely paid enough to get by. Through Court Appointed Special Advocates of Prince George's County, an organization she'd been connected with since 8th grade, she learned about two opportunities that could help her move forward: a CNA certification program and Thrive Prince George's, a guaranteed income pilot providing $800 per month in cash assistance.

The CNA program aligned with her long-term interests - she'd always been drawn to the medical field and already had her phlebotomy certification. But the logistics felt overwhelming. How would she afford childcare? How would she get to classes without a car?

Knowing Thrive would be there to support her made all the difference.

Freedom to Make Strategic Choices

“When they told me about [Thrive Prince George’s], I was excited because I knew if I was accepted it would be a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Danaeyah says. “I had a job but it wasn't enough to cover my expenses while going to school.”

The flexibility allowed her to budget strategically. She could pay for rides to class while managing her son's childcare costs. She broke down her spending, looked for jobs closer to home to minimize transportation expenses, and found an affordable childcare option where her son felt comfortable. The Thrive payments helped her set money aside just in case and when she didn't need it she could save it.

Pushing Through the Hard Days

The path wasn't easy. During her CNA training, Danaeyah's days ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in class, then 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at work – only to come home and study for the next day; sometimes even falling asleep with her notebook in hand. On weekends, she worked 3 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. shifts.

“I definitely had my days where I had to go in the bathroom and cry, get it out and pull myself together,” she remembers. “I didn’t get to spend as much time with my son because by the time I got home he was already asleep. But I knew in the long run it would be better because I’d finally have a job that would allow me to be there for him.”

One Milestone After Another

The hard work paid off. Danaeyah completed her CNA certification in April 2025 and was able to put down money for a car. With reliable transportation, she could pursue better job opportunities. She transferred to a position at Southern Maryland Hospital, where her dedication caught the attention of supervisors.

When an opportunity for a special certification appeared, Danaeyah was recommended, accepted, and quickly adapted into her new role as a sterilization technician, prepping medical instruments for hospital procedures. Thanks to her new role, Danaeyah has more time to spend with her son on weekends and feels more fulfilled at her job.

“It doesn't feel like work,” Danaeyah says. “I come home feeling good.”

Finding Home

With steady work and reliable transportation, Danaeyah could finally tackle what had felt impossible before: getting her own place. She was able to get her housing back, using Thrive funds to cover her $900 security deposit. She strategically scheduled her move-in around when she'd receive her payment.

“I like it better because I'm not living with other people,” she says. “Me and my son have freedom to walk around and play. I have my own space; he has his own space. This felt like returning back to normal.”

For her son, the changes have been transformative too. With her car and stable income, she could get him to doctor's appointments more easily and enroll him in daycare for the first time. “It allowed him to be around other kids. I wanted him to be around kids his age and be able to experience things and learn things.”

Looking Ahead

As Thrive Prince George's wraps up, Danaeyah feels ready for what's next. The program taught her more than just how to make ends meet.

“It helped me look at what I'm spending and how to spend it and what my money needs to go to and how I can spend and save and invest it,” she says. She's even been able to invest some money for her son's future, “so when he turns 18, he has his money.”

Her goals for the next two years are ambitious but grounded: “I want to be in a house. I want to start saving and be prepared. I have two kids now. I want to be in a stable place where I can keep growing my family.” She's expecting her second child this spring.

Perhaps most importantly, Danaeyah has learned to believe in herself. “I feel like I'm more in a position to achieve. Before I doubted myself a lot, but now I'm proving myself wrong and seeing how everything I thought I couldn't do was just a thought.”

She carries this message for other young mothers facing similar challenges: “I didn't think I could do the CNA classes, but if I didn't try it I wouldn't have done it. The overall outcome was I tried and I attempted it and I didn't let my thoughts overpower me. Stop letting the doubt eat you up and have more faith in yourself. Nobody's going to have your back more than you do.”

Through Thrive Prince George's, Danaeyah didn't just get financial support—she got the breathing room to invest in her future, build her skills, and create lasting stability for her family. As she puts it: “It's good to know that there are people who have faith in us and are trying to help people get better.”