Dr. Mahalia Crawford wants her students to understand that “homelessness is not just a personal failing.” As an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Alabama, she helps them unpack the structural barriers that cause and perpetuate poverty. As a person who experienced homelessness in her youth, these issues are personal.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago as the youngest of seven children, Mahalia and her family navigated housing instability when she was in her teens.

“It was definitely rough, just the things I had to see,” said Mahalia. “But I had great times in Chicago as well, despite being homeless.” Mahalia doubled-up with her best friend Jade and godmom Tracey for the last two years of high school, grateful for their support along with that of her family during the hardest times.

Today, Mahalia is proud to be the first person in her family with a Ph.D. and to be building a life that centers community and civic engagement. She remains involved with CCH by serving on a committee to choose and mentor new college scholarship winners.

Mahalia recently moved closer to home so she can watch her nieces and nephews grow up and spend more time with her sisters while she continues to teach her college students online. She is also exploring ways to give back to the community that raised her.

“People need people to lean on. And I also lean on people as well,” says Mahalia. “It can be hard to ask people for help, but we need to lean on our community, to be a bit
more open.”