A Place to Call Her Own: AeQuoia’s Hard Work Pays Off
AeQuoia Wolliston loves her front porch. It’s a place of solitude where she can relax after a long day of work and school.
And she loves her daughter’s bedroom with its all-pink decor.
She also loves the yard. It isn’t so big that it requires a lot of lawn work, but it’s large enough so that her daughter has plenty of space to play.
But there’s something else that she likes more than anything else about her new Habitat home.
“I love that it’s mine,” she said. “I love that it’s my very own place.”
AeQuoia’s dream of homeownership came true recently when she and her daughter London – a 4-year-old with a thousand-watt smile – moved into a newly constructed three-bedroom, two-bath house in Lake Worth Beach.
“The house means security for me and my daughter,” she said. “It means she’ll grow up knowing that this home is ours.
“And when I grow old and die, this home is something I can leave for her. It can be a legacy.”
AeQuoia already has deep roots in the community. She was born and raised in West Palm Beach, the youngest of five children. She grew up in a house just north of Palm Beach International Airport, graduating from Palm Beach Lakes High School. Her family has long attended Central New Testament Church of God in Mangonia Park.
“My family has a Caribbean background and my parents’ generation believes children should be well mannered and do what they are expected to do,” AeQuoia said. “That’s how I was raised. I grew up in a strict household. What they said goes.”
The discipline instilled in the children is evidenced by the fact that two of her brothers are serving the country in the armed forces. And it also shows in AeQuoia’s tireless work ethic.
She not only works full-time as a technical specialist for Florida Power & Light, but she also takes classes at Palm Beach State College, using her lunch hour, after-work time, and weekends to earn credits toward a bachelor’s degree. She is on track to graduate in December.
Even with that hectic schedule she was able to complete the Habitat homeowner requirements, which include taking financial literacy classes, doing volunteer work, and completing the mortgage paperwork.
All this is on top of the parenting duties that come with being a single mom.
“I’ve learned to deal with it,” she says of her exhausting routine. “I navigate it well now.”
AeQuoia is quick to credit the support she has received from her family and the community.
Until she moved into her new home, AeQuoia and London were living with her parents and sharing her childhood bedroom. “My parents have helped out so much by watching my daughter when I’m studying. Right now I’m doing an internship for school and they have been helping with her when I go to internship hours.
“And just that guidance of my parents being there for me is so important,” she said. “I’m so grateful to them. A lot of people don’t have that.”
In addition to her family and Habitat staff and volunteers, others who helped make homeownership possible for AeQuoia include the Lake Worth Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, which donated the land her house sits on. Sponsors also include Moraca Builders (drywall), Carrier (HVAC), and Florida Peninsula Insurance Company.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County held a home dedication ceremony on June 25 that brought together those who supported AeQuoia on her journey.
The day was a victory lap not only for AeQuoia, but for the entire community.
She had been to dedication ceremonies for other Habitat families, so she knew what to expect. But AeQuoia said she was still a bit stressed about being in the spotlight and having to give a speech.
Among her remarks, she told those assembled: “This home means stability, safety, and something to truly call my own. It means my daughter has a place to call home.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping make this dream a reality for me and my daughter.”
It turns out that AeQuoia had no reason to be nervous. She nailed it.
After she spoke, the group erupted in applause and tears of joy.
If you are interested in becoming a Habitat homeowner, click here to contact Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County.