Our Story of Empowerment
What We Do
My Sister's Child was founded with a simple yet powerful mission: to provide young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build successful careers in the welding industry.
Our Mission
We empower young people through comprehensive education, hands-on training, and internship opportunities within the welding industries. Our programs are designed to bridge the gap between education and employment.
The welding industry faces a significant skills gap, with thousands of positions going unfilled each year. At the same time, many young people lack access to quality career training.
My Sister's Child addresses both challenges by preparing the next generation of skilled welders.
Our Impact
At My Sister’s Child we are not just a program, we are a movement to empower the next generation. Based in Boston, we focus on workforce development and life skills through hands-on welding education, mentorship, and leadership growth for youth and young adults. We build real pathways that lead to real opportunity.
We serve young people who are often overlooked and underestimated. Through exposure, technical training, and career preparation, we guide them from curiosity to career. Our training introduces them to the world of welding and the skilled trades in a way that builds confidence and opens doors they never knew existed.
But we know it takes more than skill to succeed. That is why we offer wrap around support that helps each person grow from the inside out. We teach discipline, focus, personal responsibility, self belief, and resilience. We provide mentorship, career guidance, and a supportive environment where young people feel seen, heard and valued. They do not just learn how to work. They learn how to build a future.
My Sister’s Child creates growth, opportunity, and sustainability in our communities through training that leads to purpose, employment and long term success.
Our Team
Maria Storms
Maria Storms is the founder and President of My Sister’s Child, and the owner of MVS Welding, a Boston-based company specializing in structural welding, miscellaneous metals, commercial & residential construction services. She brings over twenty years of hands-on experience in the trades and has been a proud member of the Ironworkers Union for more than two decades.
Maria established My Sister’s Child to give youth and young adults access to the kind of support and opportunity she once needed. Raised in Boston, she understands the realities facing many young people today; especially those who are navigating life with limited guidance or support systems. Her nonprofit focuses on welding, workforce readiness, and life skills, all taught in a way that meets youth where they are and helps them build toward a more stable future.
As Director, Treasurer, and President, Maria leads with clarity and care. She focuses not only on operational excellence but also on ensuring the organization stays rooted in its mission. Her work is grounded in four personal values: Family, Freedom, Financials, and Paying it Forward.
Founder / Director / Treasurer / President
Jillisa Durant serves as Clerk and Director for My Sister’s Child, and is a good standing member of Ironworkers Union. She brings practical experience in the field along with a strong commitment to equity, youth empowerment, and expanding access to skilled trades careers.
In her role, Jillisa supports both administrative governance and community outreach. She is dedicated to building relationships with youth, families, and partners while creating entry points for young people to explore welding and construction as viable, long-term career paths. Her mentorship approach is rooted in real-world exposure, consistent guidance, and a deep respect for the lived experiences of the youth she serves.
Jillisa helps bridge the gap between training and employment by supporting wraparound programming that emphasizes structure, accountability, and growth.
As Clerk, she plays a vital role in helping the organization remain transparent and organized, while advancing its mission throughout Greater Boston and beyond.
Project Manager / Youth CoordinatorJillisa Durant
Our Core Values
These principles guide everything we do at My Sister's Child.
Family
We lead with loyalty, care, and accountability; honoring our roots while creating spaces where every worker, student, and neighbor feels seen, safe, and supported.
Freedom
We empower individuals to break barriers and take ownership of their path; through exposure, discipline, and the tools to shape a future of their own design.
Financials
We believe in teaching how to fish; equipping people not just with wages, but with the wisdom and skills to build lasting financial independence, wealth, and ownership.
Pay It Forward
We are committed to building a pipeline that pours back into our communities; multiplying skills, creating access, and paving the way for the next generation to go even further.
Join Our Mission
Whether you're looking to volunteer, partner, or support our work, there are many ways to get involved with My Sister's Child.