808 N Romine , Urbana. See images on Flickr.

The Merriweathers

KaShawn Merriweather learned patience early in life, and it’s been a lesson she has taught her four children recently. In 2002, KaShawn’s family was chosen to work with Habitat for Humanity of Champaign & Piatt Counties to build a new home. It’s been a long wait for KaShawn and her kids, but now by fall, KaShawn, LaTasha, 17; Tashonna, 14; Darin, 12; and Shanteea, 8 will have the new home they’ve been waiting over two years for.

In February, local residents and business owners Peter and Kim Fox pledged $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help bring another family in our community a new home. The Foxs' donation came along with a pledge to help raise another $20,000 from the community. They also pledged to secure $15,000 in donated materials and labor to make the $55,000 home entirely financed or coordinated by the Fox family.

Added to that funding will be the labor of community volunteers, now being recruited for work set to begin in June.

KaShawn Merriweather is a daycare provider, watching others’ children during the day in her tiny, but neat apartment in north Champaign while her four children are in school. I went to visit KaShawn recently to discuss the build, the timeline, and her requirements for work on the house (what Habitat calls "sweat equity").

I watched as KaShawn taught her young charges the alphabet, numbers and, of course, patience. The high energy displayed by the three youngsters at her apartment that day reflects KaShawn’s own energy. She is a woman determined to bring a better life to her children.

Early on in our discussion, KaShawn’s dedication to her children was unmistakable. She described in detail each of the kid’s interests: LaTasha likes to read and help with the daycare operations; Tashonna is a part of the Young Achievers; Darin is involved in track and basketball and can’t wait for his own yard; and little Shanteea enjoys her Bible study classes and just being an 8-year-old. Her kids can’t stop talking about their new house, which is going to be only blocks away from their grandmother’s home in Urbana.

KaShawn herself was born and raised in Champaign, and all of her family is still in town. She graduated from Parkland College in Office Careers in 1994. She began as a daycare provider after being laid off in a public health job last year. KaShawn, who is all of 32 years old, acknowledges that she was pushed into being an adult early in life, and is actively seeking to change this for her children.

She chose to get into daycare in large part to "be there" for her children, to help them enjoy life. After learning she didn’t qualify for other area housing programs, KaShawn finally came upon Habitat for Humanity, saying "it was a blessing for me and my children."

View images from the groundbreaking through the dedication here.