If You See Them

I am convinced we have angels walking among us—right here in Tampa Florida. I offer as evidence Vicki Sokolik, founder of, a nonprofit that helps “unaccompanied homeless youth achieve stability.” Her divine attributes include patience, tolerance determination, acceptance, generosity. In addition, Sokolik displays heroic tenacity and maintains an abundance of humane attributes.

 

Born “into money” cushioned by extravagance love and security the word “adversity” didn’t exist in Sokolik’s lexicon .After relocating with her physician husband from Texas to Tampa, “Vicki” volunteered delivering holiday meals to underprivileged families. Her “calling” came in 2008 when son Cam, a high school senior introduced her to Amanda, one of his classmates. Molested at home, her mother in jail, Amanda escaped her residence. She had no regular nighttime accommodation. Vicki learned there were many others like Amanda. Who were these kids? Where are they?

 

Aged 15-19 they are at risk kids, vulnerable students who voluntarily fled their homes , therefore they were not under the foster care system. With recommendation from Hillsborough and Pinellas County high school teachers, counselors and social workers, Vicki mentored hundreds of these students. Some of them had criminal records, others volatile anger issues. Several had arrest records, claiming selling drugs “is often easier than finding employment.” Sokolik’s book If you See Them describes a personal journey that led to the founding of Tampa’s support organization Starting Right Now. ( SNR) . Her mission is to give agency to students who are helpless, unable to rebound from their bleak circumstances without tangible support . There are many success stories.

 

Taylor, a student that Vicki mentored, now a social worker, best describes the obstacles that sent her to SNR . A product of divorced parents Taylor recalls, being, hit, beat, punched, living with one parent who was often jailed . Her mother was suicidal and on drugs. Taylor also knew about unwanted sexual contact, sleeping on a park bench, “couch hopping “ in a friend’s house, or getting some shuteye in cars. In the morning, she went to school. Taylor and many other such students attend school mainly to receive meals or join sports teams to shower.

 

With the help of Mayor Pam Iorio and now Mayor Jane Castor Vicki relies on funders, donors and federal grants as well as her own inestimable generosity to secure residences, buy food, assist in employment or help expunge criminal records for petty theft. She helped to change legislation and assure American students’ rights to vital documents required to receive access to universities or places of employment. What motivates her?

 

Perhaps it was her own daughter’s painful story. Born with epileptic seizures, Cori Sokolik had many privileges and opportunities to get through her rough patches toward better health. Was she the catalyst that inspired Sokolik to help others? Or is Sokolik truly an angel who walks among us in Tampa?