Beyond the Build: The Williams Family is In It to Win It

At Atlanta Habitat, the phrase ‘beyond the build’ reflects our commitment to maintaining a meaningful and lifelong commitment to homeowners through various education and empowerment programs.

One of those empowerment programs is Vision. Goals. Action! (VGA), a scholarship program that provides funding for career development, higher education and skill building. Few stories capture the impact of this work more powerfully than the journey of Sonteria, a devoted mother and a proud Atlanta Habitat homeowner since 2010.  

Sonteria connected with VGA as she pursued her dream of becoming a registered nurse. Balancing motherhood, coursework and homeownership is no small achievement, yet she has approached each milestone with strength and determination.

During the past three years, she has received $12,500 in scholarship support, helping her remain enrolled, encouraged and empowered to achieve her goal to graduate in March 2026. Sonteria will apply again when the VGA scholarship opens to help cover her remaining balance for her fourth and final year. Sonteria will complete her clinicals and graduate from Chamberlain University in three months!  

A Lasting Legacy

Sonteria’s dedication to education is creating a lasting legacy for her family. Her twin daughters, ShaKyah and ShaMyah Williams, are sophomores at Savannah State University. This year, each of them received a $5,000 VGA scholarship to support their tuition costs. Their accomplishments reflect the strong foundation their mother has built, and highlight the life-changing support available through Atlanta Habitat’s programs.

The Williams family truly embodies what it means to be ‘in it to win it.’ Their story shows how stable homeownership creates opportunity, and underscores how our organization continues to support families long after closing day.  

We are thrilled to support Sonteria throughout this journey, and we look forward to witnessing the important contributions she will make to her family and to her community as a registered nurse.  

This is the mission of Atlanta Habitat in action -- a mission that uplifts families, strengthens communities, and creates meaningful impact far beyond the build.