Gabrielle Wedderburn

For a while, I was living with my mom because of some health issues I had back in 2021. At the time, I was living in Atlanta and had to come back to upstate New York. Moving home felt like I was backtracking since I had established my independence as an adult early on, living on my own from 18-30. But now, I’m on my own again in Syracuse, just me and my plants. I got my own place in April, and as much as I value my independence, I think I’ll look back and be grateful for that extra time with my mom. 

I know it sounds corny but I’ve realized, especially during my health issues, that keeping my perspective positive is integral to my health and healing. I have a strong mind and will, but a person can only take so much. I was really struggling before CRNY. And that was hard, because I did all the “right” things — I went to college, I graduated, I checked the boxes I needed to check to have a baseline in society and it wasn’t working. Then this health crisis, which left me temporarily paralyzed in my legs, which was especially hard as a dancer, just put me into this new arena and I did what I could to keep my mind strong; it was a lot of me trying to manage my mind and pour in positivity. I was in a tough spot financially, though. I had been really sick and unable to work, and I didn’t qualify for disability benefits, so I was freelancing and maybe making $25,000 max a year. My monthly expenses, with all my medical bills, were around $2,700, which was a lot to handle with no steady income.

These days, I’m working as a content creator, which I never imagined I’d be doing as someone in their 30s. I create social media content for various brands. It’s funny how life works — I’ve worked in social media previously sourcing talent and teaching people how to monetize apps, but now I’m the one behind the camera. It’s been a pleasant surprise, really.

I briefly had SNAP benefits when I was sick, but that was a complicated process and didn’t last long once I found some regular work. It was much more involved than CRNY, which has been seamless in its distribution and such a huge gift to me.

When I heard about CRNY through a friend’s Instagram story, it sounded too good to be true, but I had nothing to lose. I was so relieved and grateful when I found out I was selected. This money has allowed me to stabilize myself. It’s helped me establish an LLC for a Latin dance course I developed and pay for all the startup fees. I’ve even been able to purchase higher education materials and take specialized courses on how to market my business. There was this one business course that cost $2,500 — something I would’ve never been able to afford before — but the CRNY funds made it possible.

Being a part of this program has allowed me to show up better in my life, to be more present without juggling so much. Scarcity is consuming, and now, I can operate outside of that mindset. I’ve crushed all the goals I set when I found out I was selected — establishing another income stream, paying off medical bills and getting my credit score back up.

To anyone who thinks programs like this would stop people from working, I can definitively say that’s completely inaccurate. Not only does it help you cover your baseline needs, but it also gives you clarity of mind. I was able to go back to work, be more efficient, and really pour myself into my creative work because I wasn’t constantly stressed.

If we had a program like this for everyone who needed it, I truly believe it would change the world for the better. People could show up as their passionate, innovative selves instead of being burdened with stress. 

Now, as a CRNY fellow, I’m learning about advocacy and even exploring the idea of starting smaller pilots in my area. This experience has given me so much more than financial stability — it’s given me a new direction in life.

Essay by: Gabrielle Wedderburn