E61 The VIP Café Show - Susan Sutton's Ember Project for Teen Mothers

Susan Sutton transforms the landscape for teen mothers through The Ember Project, an organization dedicated to empowering young mothers to pursue education and career goals despite early parenthood. Drawing from her personal experience as a teen mom who faced discouragement and stigma, Susan has created a mentorship program that helps young women maintain their ambitions while navigating the challenges of early motherhood.• The Ember Project stands for Early Mothers Becoming Empowered and Resilient• Less than 50% of teen mothers obtain high school diplomas by age 20• Even at age 40, women who had children before 20 earn 30% less than those who waited until after 25• The program offers tutoring, test preparation, college application assistance, resume writing, and job coaching• Teen mothers are matched with successful mentors who were also teen mothers• The project focuses on the mothers rather than just providing for their children• Society often labels teen mothers as "lost causes" when they actually need support to reach their potential• Success is measured through diplomas, degrees, and "moms with direction"• The cycle of teen pregnancy often continues through generations without intervention• Susan's journey to founding the organization came after recognizing the limited legacy she was leavingVisit theemberproject.org or find us on social media to learn more about volunteering or applying for the program.