Stories of Home: Garden Tour with Deborah Ayanna
Everyone knows that I’m so passionate about homeownership, and it brings me so much joy to not only help my clients and friends find home, but to also learn about the intricate details that got them to this point. I come across the most amazing people, and Deborah Ayanna is no exception. Aside from being a passionate and driven young woman, she hails as my youngest client to date. Somehow this 22-year-old woman ended up on the other end of my phone telling me her plans - I’m glad she picked me to help her along this journey (and now, she can’t get rid of me).
Meet the Homeowner:
Deborah Ayanna believes that the key to success in any area is in harnessing the power of storytelling and directing that power towards a greater good. As the founder of The Joyful Village, she is passionate about food justice, insecurity, and activism to improve health outcomes in black and brown communities. She loves bringing people together and wants to create community around all of her passions.
She grew up in Chicago, and while Atlanta is now her home, Chicago will also have a place in her heart. She enjoys writing music, spending time with her friends and family, and centering joy and gratitude above all else!
What she wanted:
Deborah dreamt all her life about having her first home be one she can grow into, cultivate her MANY talents, and have the farm she’s always wanted. She envisioned a place that can be where people learn vital life skills, sharpen their craft, and be a place of rest for many.
Hallelujah, anybody!?
I asked her a few questions about her journey to homeownership:
Me: What does homeownership mean to you?
Deborah: Homeownership for me is the ability to finally settle and create a home. I’ve lived in apartments and rentals my whole life, never living anywhere for more than 3 years. So buying a house is like a promise to myself that as long as I want to, I can be at home here.
Me: What did you have to overcome to achieve this?
Deborah: Fear & Self-Doubt! As a young person pursuing homeownership, I struggled a lot with feeling like I shouldn’t be going after what I wanted. I second guessed myself so much. I had to gain confidence in myself and in the people I was working with that I was on the right track and had the support I needed to accomplish my goal.
Me: What is HOME to you?
Deborah: Home is the place where love and life happen. The place you come back to for shelter from the storm. Home is the place where joy resides.
Deborah allowed me to visit her home and gave me a tour of her garden. Check it out!
““... buying a house is like a promise to myself that as long as I want to, I can be at home here.””
