Marisela's Story

Marisela Gonzalez and her sons, Orlando and Alex

My name is Marisela Gonzalez and I am a current resident of Warren Village. Five years ago, while attending the Metropolitan State College of Denver, I met the man I thought would be my soul mate and partner for life.

 When I realized that I was pregnant at the age of 19, it seemed everything in my life collapsed. I was a freshman in college, and did not feel capable of taking on this challenge of being a mother alone. I heard about Warren Village at this time from Rose Medical Center, but the father of my child told me that he would be there for us, and I believed him. So we decided to move in together and start a new life as a family.

At first, everything seemed to be going great. We both continued going to school and working. But then my child’s father stopped supporting us, and I learned he had problems with drugs and anger. He became verbally and emotionally abusive, and that soon shifted to physical abuse too. I questioned if this was how a family was supposed to be, and came to the conclusion that I didn’t want to live like this anymore.

 When I finally got the strength and courage to leave him, I was pregnant again. I started looking for an apartment, but realized that there was no possible way to pay rent and still attend school. Determined to not give up on my education, I remembered Warren Village.

 I came into Warren Village not knowing much about how to take care of myself. Through the self sufficiency classes we have to take while living here, I learned when I’m focused I can achieve anything. One of my favorite classes is “Run For Your Life,” where a group of residents and I have been training to run the Denver Marathon. The classes have helped with all aspects of my life.

 Since I’ve been at Warren Village, I’ve been involved in LEAD (the resident leadership group), and a member of the Board of Trustees. I’ve been able to continue school due to the childcare provided by the Learning Center, and am able to pay my rent because of the subsidized housing.

 The big events that take place at Warren Village like the holiday shop—where people donate gifts for Christmas—have given my children and me not just presents, but a sense of family every year. I know the place that I have, everything that I have, is because I’m here. There is a sense of calmness within the walls that lets us call this amazing place home. 

 Through Warren Village’s help and support I will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, and a minor in Accounting. I hope to attend Law School in August of next year.

 Warren Village has given me so much hope and strength to pursue my dreams. I’m very thankful there is a place like this. Instead of people around you saying to “give up on your dreams,” and that “you can’t do that,” everyone at Warren Village encourages and tells us that “you can do it.”

 Because of the generous support from people like you, Warren Village is literally a village where all your dreams and aspirations can come true. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.