Cyn is 19 and, because of Ozone House, she already has an impressive resume. Cyn provides information about Ozone House’s services and a positive example to kids on the street as a Peer Outreach Worker, helps organize Drop-In Center events as an Ozone Action Board member. She is also youth curator of 2nd VIEW, Ozone House’s gallery and weekly art workshop. “My life was negative. Ozone House helped me switch to positive,” Cyn says.

Cyn learned about Ozone House because her older sister stayed in the Emergency Youth Shelter and participated in counseling. “There was so much drama at my house,” Cyn says. Her dad was an alcoholic and she dealt with frequent fist fights and other abuse. From age 11, she describes her living situation as “in and out of the house.”

Her parents kicked her out permanently at 15, so she moved into her aunt’s 3 bedroom house, along with 9 other family members. Soon after, her aunt was evicted and Cyn had nowhere to go. “I probably moved to 20 different places in 3 years,” Cyn says.

At 18, Cyn moved into Miller House, Ozone House’s transitional living program. However, the real victory came the day that Larisa, Cyn’s Ozone House Case Manager, called to let her know that she had received Section 8 Housing. “I was so excited I was crying and praying when I found out. I was just thinking, ‘I’ve been blessed.’”

Cyn has also been blessed with artistic talent. “As long as I can remember,” she says “I’ve always impressed my art teachers.” Cyn is also one of the newest members of Project SpeakOUT, Ozone House’s youth poetry team. “Art lets me express how I feel. I don’t have to worry about reality, and I can never mess up.” Cyn is enrolled in Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in the fall. “Music controls my life!” she says. Her goal is be a radio DJ. Once she “makes it” in radio, Cyn hopes to do everything she can to promote Ozone House. She says, “Ozone House helped me get my life straight and move forward.

They helped me survive.”

Cyn
photographed by Myra Klarman