Meet Xavier Simpson, a young man whose journey from hardship to hope is nothing short of inspiring. He’s a rising star in Volunteers of America’s Newport News YouthBuild program in Virginia, and his story is one of transformation and unshakeable belief that a better future is possible.
Xavier’s life was shaped by hardship from the start. Growing up in poverty in Newport News, he and his three younger siblings faced challenges that most people can’t even imagine. Their single mother did her best to care for them. But life was a constant struggle, and Xavier and his siblings moved back and forth between living with her and their grandfather for years.
The instability took a toll on Xavier, and the hunger he felt in his early years was a constant companion.
“Sometimes I didn’t have nothing to eat. You know, I had to eat mayonnaise with bread just to keep something in my stomach. I had to drink out of the faucet. Sometimes, the water would cut off. I couldn’t take showers for a couple of days – the struggle was real.” – Xavier
But it wasn’t just the physical hunger that Xavier faced—it was the violence that surrounded him, the fear that lived in his neighborhood. Gun violence continues to be a challenge in Newport News, and Xavier has seen it firsthand.
“I was held at gunpoint and feared for my life. Thankfully, the police that rolled by saved me.” – Xavier
Despite the trauma that weighed heavily on him, Xavier tried to push forward. But the scars of his past were deep, and they followed him into young adulthood. Struggling with his mental health, he dropped out of high school, became justice-involved, and found it nearly impossible to hold down a job. Hopelessness began to seep into every corner of his life. And when he didn’t see a way out, he attempted to end it all.
But there was some part of Xavier, however small, that saved him—an inner voice that told him not to give up.
“Before I really had a thought and idea to change my life around, I was very depressed. I had been through suicide multiple times. And that’s another reason why I wanted to change my life around. I was tired of being sad all the time, constantly crying, not eating, not wanting to talk to nobody.” – Xavier
Then VOA and the Newport News YouthBuild program showed up, offering him a chance to rebuild, to dream again, to finally see his worth. And everything changed.
At first, he was just looking for a way to quickly secure his GED so he would have a better shot at employment. But he found much more. Since joining YouthBuild, Xavier has been embraced by a community of staff and peers who genuinely care about him and want him to succeed.
“Beautiful people like Amere, Mr. Kinney, Mr. Gregg – they will care for you. They will make sure that you fulfill your needs as they do their jobs.” – Xavier
Xavier has received access to therapy to help him work through his past trauma. He has made progress towards securing his GED and is excited to be in a classroom again. And his newfound interest in HVAC has motivated him to get certified through the program.
“I love YouthBuild. YouthBuild – I will commission this to anybody. Anybody who’s really out there, who’s really struggling, and you really need help, you’re not in high school, and you want to fulfill your needs and your education, come to YouthBuild.” – Xavier
To learn more about our Newport News YouthBuild program in Virginia, visit www.voachesapeake.org/youthbuild/ or click the button below.
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