LATondra Creighton has always been a generous and active member of her community. Urbana born-and-raised, she has a deep appreciation for the town’s kind, youth-friendly nature. She returns this same warmth through her work as Senior Program Coordinator of Driven to Reach Academic Achievement for Males (DREAAM) House, an organization which partners with local schools to support the academic and social development of our community’s underprivileged youth.
Before landing at DREAAM House, LATondra worked at Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club for nearly seven years. Supporting our community’s youth is her lifelong passion. She received her Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in this field. In her free time, she enjoys working with the youth at her church.
LATondra has four beloved children of her own. Her 18 year-old is the star athlete of the family and very outgoing while her 16 year-old is a gifted dancer who is always full of energy. LATondra’s 13 year-old is a talented singer and her 2 year-old loves to make new friends. With four such bright young souls, the Creighton’s Habitat home will be a full and happy one (maybe a little noisy, too).
LATondra pursued an opportunity to build a home with Habitat after seeing some of her own family and friends go through the process. After applying unsuccessfully in 2018, she worked hard on improving her credit and tried again the following year. In 2019, to her (and our) great joy, she was chosen to be a Habitat homeowner.
LATondra’s Habitat journey has been full of heart and friendship. She found fulfillment in volunteering at events like holiday gift-wrapping, as well as at home builds of fellow Habitat families. “I enjoyed being embraced by the love of the staff and volunteers,” she said.
Above all, LATondra hopes that homebuilding with Habitat will be an illuminating experience for her children. Partnering with Habitat has reinforced within her a strong belief in the compassion of her community, as well as in the value of hard work. She is optimistic that her children will learn the same lessons as they build their new (purple) home together (her favorite color). “I want them to see that there are great people in their own community who support them,” LATondra said. “I want them to learn that patience and determination pay off.”
Thank you to Savoy United Methodist Church for sponsoring LATondra’s home.
You have welcomed LATondra and her family, as well as Habitat into your hearts and we cannot thank you enough for for your dedication, devotion, and generous hearts. You make our community a better place to be.