For 18-year-old Tabatha Gore, this August marks a moment she’s worked toward for years: she’s starting her first semester at North Carolina A&T State University. She’s a first-generation college student with a scholarship from the Pearl and Ivy Foundation (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, DC Chapter). But behind her accomplishment is a powerful story of caring for her mom, her personal determination, and the support of Community of Hope.
Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Tabatha has long known the value of hard work. Over the past two years, she served as the primary caregiver for her mother, who was declared legally blind. When their family faced housing instability, they got help from Community of Hope’s Rapid Re-Housing Program.
“Community of Hope became part of our journey when my mom started receiving housing assistance for our family,” Tabatha shared. “They helped her not just with finding a place to live, but also with referrals to programs supporting people with visual impairments who are re-entering the workforce.”
Even while caring for her mother, Tabatha never lost focus on her academic dreams. She graduated from School Without Walls High School, a selective public magnet school known for rigorous academics and college preparatory focus, on the campus of George Washington University. There, she earned a place in the DC Scholars Program.
“It was so competitive — 300 applied, 50 were interviewed, and 15 were chosen. I was one of them,” she said with pride.
Now at North Carolina A&T, Tabatha is pursuing bioengineering with the goal of creating prosthetics that better accommodate people of color — a field she is deeply passionate about.
“Most prosthetics weren’t made for Black bodies. I want to change that.”
Tabatha is very excited for herself and for her mom in their new journeys—apart and together.
Despite the challenges she faced, Tabatha’s strength, vision, and the love of her mother helped her persevere. Having a stable home meant Tabatha could focus on her coursework. It gave her mom the space to adjust, access care, and reenter the workforce. And now, Tabatha has a dependable place to return to during school breaks.
As she has learned to never give up, she wants to share that advice to younger students. “Don’t do what everyone else is doing. Surround yourself with new people, gain new experiences; that’s how you grow,” she says.
Her mother, who has long known her daughter was destined for greatness, proudly cheered her on as she stepped into this next chapter.
Together, their story is a shining example of hope in motion. They are a testament to the power of family, community, and the belief that no matter how hard the road, a brighter future is possible.
