Our Founders Testimony
Our Founder’s Phenomenal Journey and Testimony:
Born a native of Homewood, Pittsburgh, PA, Isis L. Chatman had a rocky road as an African-American adolescent female youth, which took her down quite an exhausting path. Her earliest memories of her childhood included being raised by her mother who suffered from alcoholism (who is now walking in God’s purpose for her life as a minister and a pillar of virtuousness), a drug-addicted father (outside of his consistent incarceration), having a grandfather who sexually assaulted her, and being the focus of her peers’ creative bullying regimes. These were the very memories that caused her to want to take her own life at the age of 14. As she continued to mature, so did her life endurances. She lost both her father and uncle to drug overdoses at a very young age. As a young adult, she endured several mentally and physically abusive relationships, one which nearly took her life. That last battle with abuse, included her being raped, and having her entire house burned down, leaving her with nearly nothing….but heartache and brokenness. She also endured the trials and tribulations of being a young single mother, left to raise her son all on her own for the 1st 9 years of his life. Isis was diagnosed with and consistently battles the debilitating condition of fibromyalgia as a result of her unaddressed trauma. Yet, no one, not even she, could seem to figure out why she was filled with so much anger, so much rage. Why did she turn to the streets for love, cling to unhealthy relationships, harness hostility? Because her soul had been murdered. How could she possibly be resuscitated? Through the elements of Family, Friendship, and Faithfulness, she has, in fact, blossomed into the virtuous woman that she is today! She continues to exemplify an extraordinary example of tenacity; showing female youth that despite their past or current situation, they CAN achieve successful futures!
Today, Isis lives her life as a devout Christian woman, maintains her spiritual leadership as an ordained Minister, selflessly serves her community, has earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, her Strength-Based Family Worker (SFW) Credential from Temple University, Certificate of Completion in Lay Counseling from Petra International Ministries, Certificate of Completion in Specialized Case Management and Job Development from InspiriTec, and has been working in the Social Services Industry as a Case-Manager for over 20 years. Isis is happily married to her phenomenal husband, Vernon, and the proud mother of their amazing son Tyreque, who are both thriving business owners.
In 2022 she was awarded the SHYNE Award in the Young Adult Group Category and received the “2022 See The Best In Me Award” from Gwen’s Girls recognizing her great achievements in positive youth development and community service. She was nominated and appeared in the 2015 inaugural edition of Who’s Who In Black Pittsburgh, and on October 14, 2015 appeared as a guest on the Lynn Hayes Freeland Show. Isis continues to exemplify an extraordinary example of tenacity, and showing young girls that despite their past or current situation, they CAN achieve successful futures!
Isis has provided services for youth and families through her personal ministry and professional employment as a Case Manager for over 20 years. She believes her purpose in life is to help young girls who have also had challenging life circumstances, by empowering them and teaching them how to properly deal with life’s milestones, so that they too can achieve their most successful future possible! As a result, in 2005, she launched Ruth’s Way, Inc., an Achievement Consulting Agency for Adolescent Girls ages 10-17, focusing in the areas of Family Development, Care Coordination, Life Skills, Life Coaching, Job Development, Job Readiness/Employment Soft Skills, Mentoring and Counseling.
