At Vita Nova Maternity Community, growth doesn’t just happen—it’s taught, practiced and lived.

That’s exactly what happens in a class led by someone residents simply know as “Dr. Brad.”

Brad Ekwerekwu, who earned his Ph.D. in educational, school and counseling psychology from the University of Missouri, brings more than a lesson plan to Vita Nova. A familiar face on campus, he brings real-world experience, hard-earned insight and a passion for helping people build healthier lives—starting with the relationships that shape everything else.

Where growth begins

His class focuses on something many of the mothers at Vita Nova haven’t always had the opportunity to learn: what a healthy relationship actually looks like. That includes recognizing red flags, communicating more effectively and learning how to pause and respond thoughtfully instead of reacting in the moment.

But at its core, the work starts with something deeper.

“Healthy relationships start with a great understanding of yourself,” Ekwerekwu says.

For many residents, that self-awareness is a new—and powerful—starting point.

From there, the conversation expands. Many of the women at Vita Nova are working to break patterns that have been shaped over time—sometimes over generations. This class creates space to look at those patterns honestly and ask important questions about what’s healthy, what’s sustainable and what they want for their children moving forward.

Ekwerekwu often talks about having “insurance before the collision,” meaning the ability to recognize warning signs early and make different choices before situations escalate. Those lessons don’t stay in the classroom for long.

In one recent session, a resident left with a clear intention: to have a difficult conversation—but this time, in a different way. Instead of reacting out of frustration, she used the tools she had learned to approach the conversation with clarity and purpose, focused on a better outcome.

Moments like that may seem small, but they represent something bigger. They’re signs of real change happening in real time.                       

Part of a bigger picture

Ekwerekwu’s class is one piece of a broader curriculum designed to support Vita Nova residents as they build stable, healthy and independent lives.

Throughout their time in the program, mothers participate in classes and coaching focused on parenting, life skills, financial stability, nutrition, emotional wellness and personal development. Each piece builds on the next, helping residents not only navigate their current circumstances, but create a different path forward.

Within that larger journey, learning how to build and maintain healthy relationships is foundational.

Because that change doesn’t stop with the mothers themselves. It extends to their children, who are learning—every day—what relationships, communication and emotional responses look like.

“If you’re not teaching your kids,” Ekwerekwu says, “someone else will.”

Through this class, residents are not only building healthier lives for themselves, but also creating new patterns for the next generation.

For Ekwerekwu, the experience has been just as impactful.

“I’ve been humbled,” he says. “These women bring lived experiences that challenge you to listen, to learn and to grow alongside them.”

That shared growth is part of what makes Vita Nova so unique. It’s not just about providing support—it’s about creating an environment where transformation can take root.

By the end of the class, residents aren’t just learning, they’re applying what they’ve gained in their everyday lives. They’re making different choices, having different conversations and seeing different outcomes.

“They become ambassadors,” Ekwerekwu says, “for healthy relationships, for healthy motherhood and for holding themselves and others accountable.”

And that’s what this work is really about.

Because when a mother gains the tools to understand herself, build healthier relationships and model that for her child, the impact goes far beyond her time at Vita Nova.

Real change starts with access to the right tools and support. Programs like this are made possible by a community that believes in second chances and stronger futures. Help us continue this work by supporting Vita Nova today.