Happiness and Love Fill the Room When Nessa Shows Up
When Ashley Brown describes her daughter, Nessa, her voice is filled with heartfelt pride. “She’s an outgoing, loving, and cheerful little girl.” From the moment you meet her, you see God’s love shining through her and it fills you with the kind of happiness that God wants for all of us. No matter the challenges Nessa has faced, she has always maintained her precious smile and pure heart.
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age, doctors predicted that Nessa wouldn’t walk until she was five. Defying the odds, she took her first steps at just three years old—and she hasn’t stopped exceeding all expectations since.
For Ashley, finding a place where Nessa could thrive outside the home was essential. After trying different programs, she discovered the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Youth Center in Winston-Salem. It quickly became more than an after-school program; it became family. “They’re like aunts and uncles here,” Ashley explains. “Everyone looks out for her. One day, when she had a seizure, they knew exactly what to do and they never left her side. That means everything.”
The Red Shield Youth Center helps Nessa build independence, something Ashley values deeply. While some people tend to “baby” Nessa, staff here encourage her to try things on her own—whether that’s dressing herself, or painting, or exploring new activities. “She’s more independent now,” Ashley says. “They don’t just assume she can’t do something. They let her try.”
Now 11 years old, Nessa loves the computer lab most of all. She proudly logs into her own Roblox account, a skill she learned at the Center. She also enjoys field trips, swimming, and arts and crafts, especially during the summer program, where kids are provided with meals and engaging activities every day.
What makes the biggest difference, Ashley says, is the way other children treat her daughter. “Here, the kids don’t see her disability. They just see Nessa. Older girls paint her toenails and everyone includes her. That’s what I love.”
For Ashley and Nessa, the Red Shield Youth Center is more than a safe space—it’s a place where Nessa can be herself, gain confidence, and grow surrounded by a supportive community. “It’s like family here,” Ashley says. “And for us, that makes all the difference.”