Education was a Ticket to Prosperity; Art was the Catalyst

They say life can change in an instant, but for Abreesha Jones it took six years.

After graduating from Valley View High School in 2004, Jones enrolled at Otis College in Los Angeles to study art and design. Her dream of becoming a fashion designer was on her horizon. 

Until it wasn’t.

An unforeseen financial setback brought Jones home, and into the workforce. Fast forward to 2010. After being laid off and becoming a mother, Jones, who is single and mother to son, Ishayu Sweet (13 years of age), and daughter, Priya Sweet (11), “realized education would be the best option to create a life that could support myself and my two children.”

Having experienced the disappointment of facing the hardship of paying for college during her time at Otis College, she knew she had to be smart about her financial academic decisions. She ultimately turned to Moreno Valley College to, as she puts it, “change my life and my journey for the better.” 

“Attending Moreno Valley College was a great option for me to obtain my degree with less financial burden in the long run,” she said. “Through programs such as student employment and federal aid I was able to support my children while meeting and maintaining my educational expenses and needs.”

For some students returning “home” can be a daunting experience after leaving for college. But for Jones, she relished the return.

“Moreno Valley is home to me. I was raised in the community and understand the impact mentorship and development have by those who understand your story and have the intent to see you overcome your barriers as community,” she said. 

Jones began her educational journey at Moreno Valley College as a CalWORKs student. CalWORKs assists students on public assistance get access to vital services such as work study, job placement, childcare, curriculum development, skills training, and other services. CalWORKs serves the 58 counties in California and is a presence on every campus in the California community college system as part of a larger effort helping students receiving public assistance, or in transition off welfare, to achieve long-term self-sufficiency. 

“As a student of CalWORKs, I benefited from services such as priority registration to ensure I was able to schedule classes around my childcare needs, counseling services from counselors with similar experiences, and engaging with students who had similar goals in an effort to create better opportunities for their families,” Jones said. “This allowed me to stay engaged on the campus, encouraged me on days when I lacked the ability to motivate myself, and guided me on a path I had never traveled – similarly to my ancestors who sought freedom but needed those around to show them the way.”

In 2015, Jones graduated from Moreno Valley College with degrees in business administration and administration and information systems. 

With her degrees came job opportunities. After working for two years as a student worker, Jones was hired at the College as she continued her education journey at the University of California, Riverside (bachelor’s degree in business administration) and eventually California State University, Northridge (master’s degree in social work). After completing her master’s degree, Jones was hired as an associate faculty member in Counseling.

“I felt strongly about being able to help those in the way I didn’t know I needed when I began at Moreno Valley College,” Jones said when reflecting on remaining with the College. “When I decided to pursue my education at Moreno Valley College, I felt less optimistic about my ability to achieve long term goals. I set out for an associate degree, but with the guidance of those who understood my story and related to my challenges they were able to give me the tools I needed to be self-reflective and develop the confidence and bravery I needed to set higher goals for myself.”

Twenty years removed from Otis College, Jones continues to have a passion for art and creativity. Jones says she considers herself a visual artist who paints in the form of abstract expressionism. Her artistic journey began in high school after having to select an elective course. Choosing art, she said it took her teacher one painting to recognize her talent. 

That teacher-to-student moment stuck with her.

“I truly didn’t know what she meant until years later,” said Jones, who found her artistic inspiration from Ed Clark, an abstract expressionism artist from Louisiana. “Over the years it has become apparent that art is my natural gift and while I love it, my (true) intent is to inspire others through my creativity.”

Much like her educational dream, she chases the dream of being an artist “well beyond my years.” In addition to painting, Jones hosts community art workshops for Val Verde Unified School District’s Family Engagement Center. It is an opportunity for families to come together to create, celebrate the arts, and leave with internal reflection and self-expression, Jones stated. 

“I appreciate the energy that art invokes in a viewer without words leaving a variety of unique perspectives,” Jones said. “I would like to continue to use my knowledge to share self-healing using creativity. I step on the shoulders of those who had the audacity to imagine creating a better world while finding opportunities to be reminded of their joy.”

The Black Voice News IE Black Alumni Success Series highlights news on and for Black alumni from colleges and universities in the Inland Empire. This article is supported by the Riverside Community College District.