From an early age, Kyra demonstrated that she had the drive to work and the gift of caring for others. Over the course of her adult years, she started and ran businesses spanning early childhood education and the hair industry to providing comfort and care to patients as an in-home health aid. She owned her home and car and, through her diverse talents and resourcefulness, built a stable life for herself and her family.


“Life will throw you something, and if you’re not ready for it, it will take your breath away.”


When she describes the day that everything unraveled, she explains that it began with a knock at her front door. A dense fog fell, and it was one that would rest on Kyra’s shoulders for seven years as she navigated legal battles, unemployment, homelessness, and grieved the loss of several family members. Its density rendered her incapable of extending the same grace and care she was so good at giving to others to her own circumstances.


“In an instant, I lost everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything. I had two businesses, I had a home, I had a car. It was like living the dream.”


For periods of time, Kyra found herself couch surfing with friends, living out of her car, and—after her car was repossessed—living in a Manhattan Beach park. The details blurred together, and months folded into years as survival took precedence over everything else. Kyra existed, but she wasn’t present.

At the recommendation of a partner organization, Kyra turned to Chrysalis not just seeking job search assistance, but in search of a safe place where she could find herself again. As she met with staff and engaged in our programs, she realized Chrysalis was an organization dedicated to making a true investment in the people they served.


“I asked myself, was I going to be able to complete the program and be homeless? But my employment specialist was really good and guiding me through. I enjoyed Chrysalis. I enjoyed the atmosphere. I enjoyed the people and the program.”


Day after day, and at her own pace, Kyra began to rebuild. Not just her resume, but her confidence and sense of purpose. The practice of regularly attending our job-readiness classes and workshops gave her something to commit to and look forward to. Regular meetings with her employment specialist affirmed that she was on track and making progress on her personal and professional goals. Mental health support with our on-site counselor helped keep her grounded. And alongside a cohort of women, Kyra completed the Women’s Empowerment Program – an experience that reinforced her resilience and reignited her belief in her own worth.

Little by little, Kyra began to reclaim the unique and innate skillsets that had always been hers. She wasn’t just looking for a job. She was in search of a place that so often surrounds us without us being able to grasp it: the present. And there, she found herself again, reflecting, “Chrysalis is the place to go. It is a safe place. You guys helped me at every turn and held my hand. Chrysalis became my family.”


“Could you imagine having a slight headache for years? Not for days, for years. When you get a job…when you get the keys to your place…it lightens up.”


Led to serve, Kyra decided to pursue a career as a Certified Nurse Assistant. Through Chrysalis and the Pass It Along Fund grant, she completed a CNA training program with all expenses paid. In addition to reestablishing her career in healthcare, she secured stable housing and became a volunteer facilitating classes at WISE & Healthy Aging, an organization from which she has also received certifications in geriatric medical care.

Over the last six years, we’ve had the good fortune of keeping in touch with Kyra as she continued to thrive and give back to her community. As a recently retired CNA, she is just a course away from completing her substance use counseling certification and is currently contemplating retirement in Las Vegas.

Kyra’s tenacity and hard work, combined with access to job opportunities that provide a living wage, set her up to have options. Now, she can decide if she wants to work or not—a gift that many do not have. Chrysalis remains more dedicated than ever to ensuring that our clients can achieve this kind of stability, opening doors for meaningful career paths that lead to long-term financial security.

Although she has options and a mindset for the future, Kyra never allows that to take her out of the most beautiful place that has the most to offer herself and others—the present.


“If you knew that you were changing every second, you would actually take the time and just be present, because it goes by really fast. That’s why Chrysalis is so important to me. It helped me get back to who I am.”