Breaking the Cycle:  Third-generation teen mom mentors teenage girls

Now a grandmother, Marjorie Weston had her first child at 15. She remembers begging family members for food stamp money - and not knowing where the next meal would come from.

Marjorie is the third generation in her family, and hopefully the last, to face teen pregnancy. Her daughter, now in her mid-20s and married, has already broken the cycle of teen pregnancy. Her other children were at least 24 when they had children.

Marjorie credits attending Community Action Partnership’s 12-week Step Up to Leadership program for revealing this as her passion.  Since graduating the leadership class, she has begun mentoring local teenage girls and encouraging them to avoid teen pregnancy.

“I see this dangerous cycle being broken in my family. None of my kids have had their utilities turned off. They don’t come to me and say, ‘mama, do you have $20?”