Published on June 23, 2026 by Catholic Connect
Around the Network profiles: Pamela Drew
STRIVE Mobility Mentor, Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
What do you do day-to-day at Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia?
I serve as a STRIVE Mobility Mentor, working closely with families over a 12- to18-month period to help them achieve greater economic stability. I meet with participants to set goals, track progress, and provide coaching and accountability. Our holistic approach, using what we call our Bridge to Self-Sufficiency, builds on the four pillars of family stability, well-being, financial management, and employment.
A big part of my work is helping families build strong financial habits by connecting them with our financial and housing counselors here at CCEVA. We work together to help participants achieve stability and upward mobility. I also connect them to other resources that help them achieve their goals. They earn incentives every three months for active participation, another way we support and encourage.
What is your community’s greatest challenge that you hope to address through your work?
One of our greatest challenges is homelessness and the risk of homelessness. Many families are living paycheck to paycheck, which means even small disruptions such as missing work due to illness, car repair, and other unexpected expenses can make it difficult to pay rent and meet basic needs.
I help families increase income, reduce debt, and develop emergency savings. By strengthening these areas, families are better equipped to handle unexpected setbacks without falling behind on rent or facing housing insecurity. My goal is to help prevent homelessness before it begins by empowering individuals with the tools and resources they need to stay securely housed.
Tell us about a formative experience you had as a young person that affected your perspective on service.
As a young teenage mother, I was told I could receive assistance from social services. I asked my mother to take me, but she said, “You must learn to do things like this on your own now.”
Nervous and unsure, I went by myself. I remember walking into the building. When I reached the front desk, I asked the woman there if she could help me. Her response was blunt: “What do you want?” I explained that I had a newborn and needed assistance but didn’t know exactly what the program was called, and with a demeaning look and tone, she told me I needed to go find out.
After leaving the building, while riding home, I told myself if I was ever on the other side of that desk, I wouldn’t treat anyone like that. Now I have the opportunity to smile while serving other people with kindness and providing guidance. Being able to offer that support not only helps others but brings me joy.
What is one thing most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I did not earn my degree until I was 50. With that experience, I’m able to tell my story and let my participants know it is not too late to go back to school. Go after that degree. Change your career. Build that savings. It’s going to be challenging—I was going to classes after work and on Saturdays and in the library on Sundays. If you’re willing to put the work in, it pays off. I stopped and started, and stopped and started again, but the day came when I was able to walk across the stage. I let them know they can accomplish their goals, too. You can be the first one in your family to graduate like me, or the first one to own their own home. It’s possible.
Who or what inspires you and why?
My participants inspire me when I see them putting in hard work without support from family or friends and working several jobs. I have a participant who works full time at the hospital, works at urgent care on weekends, and bags and delivers food for Kroger, along with taking online classes for her bachelor’s degree. They don’t let bad decisions of the past control their future. They inspire me when they step out and try new things. I have a participant who started a commercial cleaning business and now has three contracts. They inspire me when rent is late, car insurance has lapsed, and they try to decide what to pay; when their child is sick and they must take off work, when no more leave is left. As I seek to encourage and motivate them, they encourage and motivate me. Their hard work, tenacity, and optimism inspire me!
What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you try to live by?
Try again!
When I don’t save what I wanted to, when I don’t exercise like I want to, when I don’t say what I needed to say or say more than I should have said, I’m thankful I get to try again. The Lord gives us new days, new weeks, new months, and new years, with a chance to try again.
I’m able to encourage my participants and myself with, “I’m going to try again.” One good thing about trying again is that you usually learn something each time you try. Most success is not gained on the first try. I have learned to not be afraid or ashamed of trying again. I like this saying: Pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and try again.