In Their Own Words: Hannah Collier, Alumna and CHI Board Member

Our Alumni Community includes individuals who want to remain connected to Covenant House after their journey with us ended. Many of them lend their time, their talent, and their voices to further the Covenant House mission. The In Their Own Words blog posts will be regular spotlights of alumni, sharing where they are now and how we can continue to support them and their work. Up first, is Hannah: 

I’m a native of Atlanta, GA, and grew up in New York City, NY, and Baltimore, MD. I have a love for art, music, and crafting. I am a previous educator and technology consultant, and I currently work in program management. My hobbies are soap making and trail walking.

When I was a first-year college student, my daughter and I stayed at Covenant House New York. Covenant House provides a wide range of services to help youth overcome homelessness, and I'm proud to be part of an organization that is making such a difference in the lives of so many young people. 

I reconnected with Covenant House and have been actively involved in the Alumni Community for over two years now. In that time, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing young people. It’s been an honor and a privilege to be a part of their lives, even if it's just for a short while. I am always amazed by how powerful they are, despite the challenges they face on a daily basis.

Volunteering with Covenant House has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Every day, I see firsthand the transformational power of our work. It's why I keep coming back, and why I encourage others to get involved as well. If you're looking for a way to make a difference in the world, I hope you'll consider joining me in supporting Covenant House. If you're looking for a way, consider donating or volunteering. You wont regret it!

In 2022 I became an author. My first book, “Haikuable,” was written as a way to help the disadvantaged and the poor. It is my ultimate give back and a message to my community. I wanted to leave a legacy behind. This book represents simplicity, minimalism, “zero waste,” and begins with your words. As I wrote in a recent blog post on Medium: 

“You may be familiar with haiku as a type of poem, but did you know that it is also a form of meditation? The act of focusing on the present moment and distilling your thoughts into a few short words can be very therapeutic. And anyone can do it! One of the great things about haiku is that there are no wrong answers. Just like with any form of meditation or self-expression, the point is to simply be present in the moment…” 

Here is my latest poem:

Equinox

Cozy autumn nights

Stars gazing into the moon

Gentle as the air

To read more of my Haiku poetry, follow me on Medium.