The Power of Opportunity to Break Cycles of Judgment

Anita Murphy is Chief Development Officer of Status: Home.

By Anita Murphy

I was 12 years old when my father was deported, and overnight our family's resources and circumstances shifted. One day at school, a teacher asked us to raise our hands if we lived in a two-parent or single-parent home. That moment taught me how quickly circumstances outside a child's control can change a family's opportunities, and how easily people make assumptions without knowing the full story. That experience shaped how I lead and my commitment to creating opportunities, building community and seeing people beyond their circumstances.

Today, I lead with the belief that everyone deserves dignity, and there are two programs that capture that mission for me. The Empowerment Boost Program grew from a grant that let us offer mini awards of up to $1,000 to remove barriers standing between people and their dreams. One family needed a laptop so their daughter could keep up with online classes. One man had auditioned for “American Idol,” but could not afford studio time to pursue music. Watching people bet on themselves reminded me why this work matters.

An immersive tour grew from a different need: building real partnership with the funders who support us. Instead of asking for a check, we invite them to our properties, where they meet residents and hear their stories. Those relationships turn funders into advocates who speak on our behalf.

Both programs remind me that housing and case management open a door, but people need real opportunity to walk through it and thrive beyond where they started. That belief traces back to my mother, who worked multiple jobs so I could have chances she never had. She did not have every answer, but she built the foundation that let me grow, and I carry her example into every program I build and every partnership I nurture.

Anita Murphy is Chief Development Officer at Status: Home. https://x.com/StatusHome_Atl https://www.facebook.com/StatusHomeAtlantaGA ; https://www.instagram.com/statushomeatl/ ; https://www.linkedin.com/company/status-home-atlanta ; https://www.statushome.org