Sonia’s story shows how the Mud Girls program at Good Dirt Collective creates a safe, supportive community for young women aging out of foster care. Through mentorship, work experience, and meaningful relationships, Sonia discovered something she hadn’t felt in a long time: safety.
What Safety Feels Like for the First Time
Sonia shares,“And it’s sad because [imagine] you’re 18 and you’re doing it by yourself… with not a lot of people to support you. How would you feel?”
For many young women coming out of foster care, safety is not something they grew up expecting. Unstable home life, constant changes, and trauma can make the world feel unpredictable and lonely. You learn to stay alert, to survive, and to keep moving. Feeling calm, truly safe, can feel unfamiliar.
Sonia’s Journey with the Mud Girls Program
Sonia is part of Good Dirt Collective’s Mud Girls program. Like many of the young women in the program, her transition into adulthood has meant navigating independence earlier than most. Housing, income, food, transportation, and emotional support often have to be figured out on her own. When she first stepped into the pottery studio, tucked away in a quiet, private space, something shifted.
Sonia shared,“When I come here, I already feel like the energy is safe here. If I have anxiety, I’ll come in here, and it kind of comes down.”
It was peaceful. There was no chaos and no pressure to rush. The space felt gentle and unhurried. For the first time in a long time, her mind didn’t feel like it had to scan the room for what might go wrong.
Sonia explained the environment as, “Safe meaning… we can tell the manager and the boss anything, and they won’t judge us. They’ll be understanding. They’ll give us hugs. They’ll provide us resources.” She paused before adding something even more telling,“I trust them.”
Trust is a powerful word for a young woman who has had to navigate instability. What might look like a calm studio and a steady rhythm to the day can feel life-changing for someone who has lived through trauma.
Sip & Shop: An “Unreal” Moment
That sense of safety followed Sonia beyond the studio walls. At the Sip & Shop vendor event, Sonia stood behind her table talking with customers and smiling easily. There was a confidence in the way she carried herself, as if she belonged there. But what people didn’t see was what the moment meant to her.
“I just felt really honored… I couldn’t even explain the feeling. I remember calling Christy crying because I was just so happy.”
Later, she laughed as she tried to describe the moment. “The best way to explain it, you’re gonna laugh, I felt like Kylie Jenner picked me up in her jet. That’s how unreal this was.”
It wasn’t about luxury. It was about being welcomed into a space she never imagined herself belonging in. “I remember going home and praying to God because I have never been into a big house where I was welcomed like that.”
Later, Sonia went home overwhelmed and crying, not from stress or fear, but from joy.
A Baptism and a Sense of Belonging
There were other milestones too. One of the most meaningful moments came when Sonia stood in the water during her baptism, surrounded by people who knew her name, celebrated her growth, and weren’t going anywhere. What began as joining the Mud Girls program for community and job skills slowly became something deeper. Through consistent relationships with staff and the other young women in the program, Sonia was reminded that she is loved and that God has a purpose for her life.
In November, Sonia chose to be baptized, marking a renewal of faith. She celebrated afterward with her Good Dirt Collective family, the same people who had walked with her every step of the way. Each moment carried the same quiet message she had been learning from the beginning, you’re safe here.
The Heart of the Mud Girls Program
At Good Dirt Collective, the heart of the Mud Girls program is community. It’s not just about providing jobs or hosting events. It’s about building a circle of steady, trauma-informed support around young women who have experienced foster care, unstable homes, and hardship. People who show up consistently, who know their names, and who create environments where their minds and bodies can finally rest.
It’s a place where they aren’t expected to figure everything out alone. A place where they don’t just get through the day, but actually get to breathe. For Sonia, that community looked like welcoming faces at the studio, encouragement at the vendor event, and people standing beside her during life’s biggest moments. Somewhere along the way, it finally felt safe enough for something she had never experienced before.
Happy tears.
Learn More About the Mud Girls Program
The Mud Girls program at Good Dirt Collective provides employment, mentorship, and life skills support for young women aging out of foster care.Learn more about the program here:
