Patricia Sykes said the circumstances of her life have enabled her to help young adults to improve their own lives.
“I knew what God wanted of me,” said Sykes. “I realized why I had to go through those storms and why He picked me to survive them.”

Sykes, 41, of McDonough is the founder and president of Saperia Dreams Inc., a nonprofit agency geared toward helping young people in the foster-care system to overcome obstacles in their path. The organization, she said, focuses on providing transitional housing for individuals 16-24 years old as they age out of the foster care system.

Sykes officially launched the organization in November of 2020, hosting food drives, back-to-school drives, community givebacks, a clothing drive, and donating to homeless shelters in Georgia.

She named Saperia Dreams in honor of her mother, who died of AIDS in 2001.

“She used to call me Saperia when I was in trouble,” said Sykes. “Our mission is to bridge the gap from foster care to permanent housing in an environment where youth can overcome trauma and build life skills to help formulate independence and emancipate successfully.

Saperia Dreams, based in Covington, serves Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties. Sykes said the organization’s goal is to “disrupt the cycle” of harmful circumstances affecting young people in today’s world by helping them to “feel safe and loved.”

That cycle, she said, includes incarceration, sex trafficking, abuse, homelessness, drug use and HIV/AIDS.

“Saperia Dreams was initially birthed in 2010 to enrich the lives of families infected/affected by HIV/AIDS after losing my mom, stepdad, and my baby sister to AIDS,” said Sykes. “We hope to prevent homelessness, human trafficking, and drug addiction by providing housing, education, and job skills,” she continued.

Sykes is a self-taught baker and pastry chef who has dedicated efforts toward reaching out to others in her community. Over the years, she has helped to feed the homeless, donated Easter baskets to children in need and helped to raise funds for AIDS Walk New York.

It was through such endeavors, said Sykes, that she found her purpose in the world.

“My purpose in my humanitarian work in serving our children brings me so much joy,” said Sykes.

After relocating to McDonough in 2018, Sykes began volunteering at Covenant House, a shelter for youth in Atlanta.
“That’s when God redirected my purpose,” she said. “I saw myself in so many of these young girls because I, too, was homeless at their ages, except I had a baby.

“When AIDS began to take a toll on my mother’s body, she became hospitalized and in nursing homes for months at a time, causing my baby and me to become homeless,” she continued. “I was mentally, emotionally, and physically abused by family members. I suffered from low self-esteem, rejection, depression, and anxiety and wasn’t aware of what I was experiencing, which led me to try and commit suicide.”

Saperia Dreams is preparing to unveil its Culinary Baking Therapy program in January. The program, said Sykes, goes well beyond teaching participants how to cook.

“After doing research, we found that culinary therapy – baking – helps with anxiety and depression,” said Sykes. “It also helps with math, science, reading and social skills, to name a few. It’s not just baking.

We also have a certified therapist and social worker who will provide therapy for mental health.

Sykes said Culinary Baking Therapy can help young people who have become depressed as a result of COVID-19.
Saperia Dreams also operates a Blessing Boutique to benefit children in foster homes. The boutique enables wards of the state, and their caregivers, to shop for clothes and other items at no charge, said Sykes.

“Each child will be provided with 5-7 seasonal outfits, a pair of shoes, new socks and undergarments, two pajamas, hygiene products, and books,” she said. “We will provide prom and graduation clothing and accessories for both girls and boys for that particular time of the year. Depending on inventory, we will also offer high chairs, beds, video games, and Bibles.”

Sykes plans to expand Saperia Dreams’ outreach and mentorship program in 2022, both locally and around the Atlanta area.

“We may be a new and small organization, but we’re going to impact the communities significantly.”

For more information, call 678-671-8228.