The dedication will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The house will be home initially to 10 unwed teenagers, aged 13-18, who have children.
“We’re the only organization in the county able to do this, and we can take young ladies from anywhere in Ohio,” said Atkinson, 32, who grew up in foster care and had her first of two children when she was 17.
“Other organizations have this for 18-year-olds and older. How many are younger than that in Montgomery County? It’s hard to get an exact number, but it’s plus-100.”
To achieve Atkinson’s dream, she needed help. Several agencies have been involved, including the Miami Valley Child Development Center, Secret Smiles of Dayton and the Sisters of Precious Blood, who donated the house where the first group of teenagers will live.
For the last two weeks, the Job Corps of Dayton sent over a contingent of workers to put the house in order.
Each of the 10 upstairs rooms has a bed and a crib, while the basement is being fitted with computers so residents can obtain high school diplomas and GEDs. Sinclair Community College is helping with that effort.
“High school is important,” Atkinson said. “Budgeting, paying bills, knowing how to operate a checking account, knowing how to shop. All that’s important. I didn’t know that when I was a teenage mom.
“We’re trying to start off small. We can have 10 in the house and we have another room set aside for shelter, a short-term stay. We want to move the residents on to independent living.’’
The Mustard Seed is awaiting state licensing before accepting any applicants, but expect to have that by the middle of the month and start moving in residents by the end of May.
“This is my full-time job now,” Atkinson said. “I work as a nurse at the old (St. Elizabeth’s) hospital and am going to school at Sinclair. I’m here every day. I was in foster care and my mother was in foster care. We want to break the cycle of family abuse, neglect and poverty.”
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