Tionda Griffin wears many hats. She’s a single mother, the family service coordinator at the Judy Center Early Learning Hub at Billie Holiday Elementary School and she’s recently gone back to school to earn a degree in sports medicine and physical therapy. Griffin lives in Baltimore City with her son, Rian (9).
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What led you to start working at the Judy Center?
I was originally a technician at Towson University. Before I had Rian, I was told I couldn’t have kids, so Rian was my rainbow baby. That was right at the beginning of the pandemic, and when the world shut down, I decided I didn’t want to go back to the medical field.
During the day, I took Rian to the Judy Center. I enjoyed networking with other families, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to be as hands-on with my child if I continued in healthcare. The Judy Center I was attending had an opening for outreach specialists, so I started there part-time before becoming an orthopedic specialist.
By the time there was an opening for the family service coordinator, I was already doing half the work [the position required], and a lot of the people I was working with were very supportive.
How did you handle going back to college as a single mother with a child?
At that point, I learned about the Jeremiah Program (a Baltimore-based nonprofit dedicated to aiding single mothers by providing child care and educational resources). I had wanted to go back to college to finish two classes I hadn’t been able to complete, but I had been studying science, and the material had changed a lot. I felt defeated, but the program gave me the push I needed.
I decided that when Rian turned 9, I would go back to school, so I signed up for summer classes. [The year] 2026 has been the biggest blessing for me, and it’s taught me that we learn so much from our children. Rian has been [succeeding] and was just accepted into St. Ignatius Loyola Academy on scholarship. I’ve learned that the more I give and the more work I put into bettering myself, the more blessings I receive.
Is there any way in which working with families has affected how you parent?
I used to feel that other people were making excuses about their situations, but the Judy Center and the Jeremiah Program have helped me to see my relationships with other moms as a sisterhood. You’re not the only one going through things, and it’s important to want to see others succeed as much as you want to succeed. It helps you to become more aware of your own growth, too, since other people are supporting you while you’re supporting them.
What do you want your son to learn from you as he grows?
I hope that Rian remains kind, loving and that he still gives his best and doesn’t let other people tell him what he can and can’t do. And if he sets his mind to something, I want him to learn patience, because it’s not about immediate success. It’s about the reward of having put in the hard work.
Family Favorites
Meal: Fettuccine alfredo
Local Spot: The basketball court
Vacation Spot: Jamaica
Family Activity: Going to sports games
Game: Scrabble
