Inspiration for Project Lilypad came from career nonprofit professional, Alafia Stewart's, own memories of unstable living conditions growing up during the crack cocaine epidemic that started in the 1980's. A dark time in US American history that devastated a generation of her family. Today, many of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of that devastated generation have aged out of or are currently in foster care.
Then, in 2020, Alafia became a foster parent, supporting reunification for a relative and their infant, who was also in care. With uncertainties across the nation, and the rising costs of housing and food, she endured a turbulent season of desperately trying to keep her family together as a single, working, foster parent in a city where the average person lives 1.5 paychecks away from homelessness. Rising living costs and the intense learning curve of instant parenthood almost brought her to her breaking point mentally, emotionally, and physically. It was her community of "chosen family," made up of personal relationships and social sector employee's support, that made it possible to keep her family intact. She often daydreamed about lily pads during the most difficult times. The frogs in her daydreams would rest, regroup, and then leap again, each time landing on a new lily pad that provided temporary safety before they eventually reached the stable pond bank.
Armed with this powerful metaphor, Alafia set out to bring Project Lilypad to life. She rallied a group of like-minded individuals, including educators, business leaders, social workers, and foster parents, who shared her vision. Together, they formed the foundations of the micro-community living model, which Project Lilypad hopes to replicate wherever in the US there is a need.
Today, Project Lilypad aims to be a beacon of hope for countless foster youths making the leap into adulthood. The vision Alafia had, inspired by the "lily pads" of her memories, has now transformed into a tangible lifeline for young adults in need, better ensuring that their leap of faith into independence is a successful one.