Riding The Wave

In March 2012, I moved back home, convinced by my mother, she would help me, and my 2 kids find another apartment. Before I moved out of my apartment, we were already searching for apartments because I had already put my 30-day notice in. As time got close to my approximate move-out date, my mom says, "Why don't you and the kids just move in with me until we find a place". I did not want to go back, but I had already submitted my 30-day notice, so I said, "Ok mom, but I need my place for the things I'm working on." At the time I was trying to start my home daycare. I needed to have my place badly to build the things I believe in.

Time was up, I had to move out of my place. So I moved out of my place with hope. I kept a positive mindset and continue my housing search so I can start building my life as an entrepreneur.

Day after day, turn into week after week, and eventually yearly. My mom had given up on me amid my housing search. My dreams were banished, I could not start my daycare or my nonprofit organization due to the horrible place I was now put in, living back at my mother's house, with two kids.

As time progressed, I asked my mom one day "Can I start my daycare from her house?" she replied with attitude, " I go to work every day dealing with kids in juvenile hall and I sure don't want to come home to deal with anybody else, I will be tired at the end of the day" she said. I tried everything in my little power to reason with her, but she just was not up for it. Now my money-making method, I strongly believed in, was depleted.

I began to move on then to the development of my nonprofit organization. I had an amazing mission I served and wanted to get the world involved. I ask my mom to share things at work and she told me people were impressed by the things I was doing. However, I can't remember anyone contributing.

Continuing riding this wave, I was expecting support from family and close friends the most. At the moment, I had a few families and friends contributing how they can, but not so much my mom. I can't ever recall her going in the field with me helping me feed the homeless, but my dad did once, and that was pretty amazing. All smiles.

As I got deeper into building my vision, my mom convinced me basically to just get a job because "it takes money to make money", she said. I did not want to work a job, but hey I eventually gave in. I put my nonprofit on hold until further notice.

Before you knew it, I was working job after job, and at some points, two jobs because what I was making, was not going to get me anywhere, especially anytime soon. So, throughout the years, I worked multiple jobs, off and on with some college, and provided for the homeless as often as I can because I just couldn't completely give up on my mission, which is helping the homeless, however, I can.

I can say from time to time, my mom did offer old clothes she did not want any more to my organization to be given away. But one day, that stopped.

I continued riding the wave anyway, stayed hopeful, and kept track of my visions by journaling everything. I did not want to lose the insight or my dream of developing something amazing, that will be useful for all people and helpful in the most astounding way. However, I kept my focus on employment and eventually other things, that started to cause my ship to detour.

I began to get caught up in the battles of life, forgetting, at this point the things I hoped to build. I was fully consumed by someone else image of me, that was not me.

Because of the decisions, I was making, I began to get in trouble with the law, from turning into an alcoholic. This only put me in a deeper hole and also decreased opportunities for me. I would think from time to time, "How did I get here?" But, I had to continue to ride the wave.

In June 2016, my mom's lease got terminated because someone thought my older brother was trying to break into the unit downstairs, the cops came it was a mess, for no reason. My brother was not breaking into an empty unit and it was just one big misunderstanding at the time. However, her landlord had his reasons why he was terminating her lease. So now, we were all moving out. My mom went to stay with her sister and my children, and I went to stay with my mom's parents. My brother just was from pillow to post I guess with different females.

Before our move in June 2016, I just had gained employment with 'Check N Go'. I was finally on a job, where I was making pretty decent money with decent hours. I was sure from here that I can work on my credit and get my children and me our own place.

I began paying things off left and right, increasing my credit score, and eventually seeking housing. I just could not deal living with my grandparents, although I honored and loved their life.

Amid my housing search, I was denied housing. I found an apartment I could finally afford, I was cool with the location, but I was denied. I called the property management team one day at work a female picked up the line saying, "Hello", I then responded "Hello, my name is Dominique Emanuel and I recently applied for a unit with your company, but my application to rent was denied, can you please inform me on your reason for denial." the woman then stated "Yes, give me a moment", there was a sudden moment then she returned and said, " Yes, Dominique, your application was denied because you have an eviction from your last apartment in Richmond, CA." I was furious, angered, sad, and got deeply discouraged. I replied, "Thank you, I have to look into that, I should not have an eviction, I put in my 30-day notice when I moved out of my last apartment". The lady then stated, "Yes, maybe you should seek some legal advice", so I did.

While obtaining legal advice, I was denied help due to the statutes of limitations. Too many years have already gone by for me to try to fight this false eviction. Once again, I got more discouraged and just said fuck it. I accepted I was stuck. I knew it was no way possible for me to get my place at this point, so I just turned to the streets at the age of 25.

I began living my life in the streets, eventually getting comfortable, sleeping in my car or cars with others, everywhere, for some short time, I resided with this guy I was dating under a freeway in his van. My kids were with my grandparents. I was fully in the streets.

I quit my job at Check N Go around the time my oldest and only sister was transitioning in 2017. I fell into a deeper depression having to accept the fact my blood sister was not going to be here with me anymore. She helped me with my nonprofit from time to time, and supported monetary wise, as she can. In March 2018 she fully transitioned, and I became pregnant with baby #3.

I was completely depressed, homeless, pregnant, sister just died. I did not know what to think about this world we were living in, I just learned to stay prayerful and continued to stay hopeful.

In September of 2018, my baby was born, a girl and I named her Dream Emanuel. Although my life was a horror story, I fell completely in love with this little angel. She warmed up my life.

As I continued to ride this wave, I had a new member of the team, baby number 3. My family judged me in the beginning, then they eventually fell in love with her too.

At the end of November 2018, my granddaddy, Walter Adams, gave his daughter, my mom, money for us to obtain a house. My mom found a house in Tracy, Ca big enough for all of us, including my brother and his son too. In April 2019, my granddaddy passed away. Then my granny 6 months later in October 2019.

Before my grandparents transition, We all moved in together, and of course, life took a left turn. However, amid this turn, I can say I was getting back into the business mold. I obtained my nonprofit status in 2020 with the help of some amazing strangers, contributing $100.00 a month until received. The thing about this is I never even met any of these people face to face in my life and the moment I shared my idea on social media they all started contributing, faithfully. I was more than joyful to obtain our 501c3 status and to have a team of believers around. I was glad to be back in serving mode.

At this point, my mom became furious with the fact that I was back sticking to my mission building. All she ever says now is, " You need to get a Job", lol. I've made up my mind to sacrifice employment with someone else company and develop my own company, dreams, and visions, no matter what. I love being an entrepreneur, a creator, and serving in underserved communities.

So regardless of what anyone thinks, I am not giving up on myself anymore, I am learning how to trust my first mind and ride these huge waves.

Greatness is right around the way and I'm going to get it.

Don't Give Up!