Susan Duncan Shares Knowledge and Life Skills at Covenant House Orlando

Education and workforce development specialist. Life skills and GED instructor. 

Susan Duncan wears many hats at our Covenant House program in Orlando. And she wears them joyfully.

On this morning, Susan has seven young people in the Covenant House kitchen. “I promised we would get together to make pancakes and eggs before they go off to school and work,” she says with her ever-present smile. “I am already dreading the clean-up! But I hope in addition to being a practical exercise it will provide our young people with some happy memories of a place where they feel the love of a family.”

Susan’s schedule includes teaching life skills classes three days a week, GED classes four days a week, and workforce development five days a week. “Schedules are important, but what I love about Covenant House is that our young people know my door is always open. Yesterday a young woman came in and told me she just got her GED. And she broke the news to me wearing her cap and gown. The fact we could share that moment together is something I will never forget.”

For many families, June is a time for graduations and celebrations. It’s the same at Covenant House. “Right now we have four young people in college,” says Susan. “When they graduate, we celebrate here just like any family. I always encourage friends who know nothing about Covenant House to come visit. This is not an institution. This is a place of hope and love.”

One of Susan’s main focuses is workforce development. “It is critical that we break the cycle of homelessness among young people through educational advancement and employment services,” says Susan. “Our young people want to work, they want responsibility. I feel like every day is different, but no matter what, my goal with each young person is to prepare them for autonomy, for the day they can leave Covenant House with confidence, while at the same time knowing we will always be here for them.

“My classroom is just one room in this giant house of support that Covenant House provides in 33 cities across six countries,” says Susan. “But what a blessing to be able to walk with these young people on their journey. Last week I got a call from one of our amazing young people, who is going to school and working. He is also a gifted artist who often comes in to paint and just to talk. He was having a rough day and told me he wanted to quit both. I told him he is so close to the finish line, and that I had his cap and gown ready. He stopped by yesterday to tell me he didn’t quit, and thanked me for being here for him. Is there a better gift in the world than that?”