To the Editor:

This letter is in support of the $25.5 million bond referendum. Iowa Central Community College has helped me as a non-traditional student to attain my goals of a successful career in my adult life as a single mother to three children. The continued education program that ICCC offers to high school students has also been a benefit to my children while they attended Fort Dodge Senior High School.

My situation, while unique in some ways, does not take away from the students that grow up needing the same advantage of those who struggled at any level. My children are at a disadvantage for educational success. In brief, at a young age, my children’s father committed murder on a family member, he was a dangerous man and left me in a situation to seek safety and refuge in another state. They lost their dad, their grandfather, their home and were homeless for two months. Overnight, they had a single mom struggling to provide not only the basics but for their safety. Through the grace of God, that state and city was Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Since arriving, I myself attained an associates degree and continued my education to Buena Vista University with studies in Human Services. I am now a program coordinator for a non-profit 501C3 organization that helps women recover from their past to become contributing members of society.

There is a domino effect in success. Starting with our youth is the smart choice for the growing communities thats surround us. Every child is asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Shouldn’t we as community help them achieve the dream that we asked them to construct?

Angela Fisher,

Program Coordinator,

Gateway to Discovery