Geornese Willis has called Frederick, Maryland home her entire life—her roots here run deep, tracing back generations to before 1865. But in 2023, after 18 years of steady work at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, her world was turned upside down when she was laid off. “I thought I had the skills to easily find another job,” she recalls. “I was wrong.” By May 2024, she had spent nearly a year searching for work with no success. With limited income, mounting expenses, and growing isolation, she found herself on the brink of poverty.
Then came a turning point: the Getting Ahead program.
“Getting Ahead changed my life—personally, professionally, and financially,” Geornese says. “I found a safe space with others who understood what I was going through. We were all tired of just getting by.” The program helped her reframe her mindset, offering not only practical tools but a sense of community, dignity, and hope. “It taught me that it’s okay to ask for help, and that I have resources to assist me.”
Inspired and re-energized, she reached out to former colleagues and landed a new job in November 2024—breaking a year-long period of unemployment. But her story didn’t stop there. Geornese felt so empowered by her experience that she took the next step: completing training to become a Getting Ahead facilitator herself, ready to walk alongside others on their own journeys to stability and self-sufficiency.
Geornese’s commitment to lifting others doesn’t end with Getting Ahead. Volunteering has become a powerful part of her life and healing. Whether helping with "Take Your Child to Work Day" at her new job or planning wellness events for coworkers, she’s found ways to show up for her community. And when she’s not working? She and her cousin, Sam Harris, can be found giving back together—particularly during their favorite event, United Way’s “Stuff the Bus”. “When other women are meeting up for brunch or a movie,” she smiles, “we’re coordinating a day to volunteer.”
For Geornese, receiving the ALICE Community Leadership Award is deeply meaningful. “It means that even if I don’t have a college degree, a fancy title, or a fat bank account, my voice is being heard. I can make an impact for my community.”
Geornese Willis is proof that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about courage, compassion, and showing up. Her story is a shining example of the power of resilience and the difference one person can make when given the tools, support, and opportunity to thrive.
