KidWorks Parent Council Gears Up For Even Bigger Dreams in 2018

Vianey Quiroz and Maria Peña never set out to be role models when they joined the KidWorks’ Parent Advisory Council.  Yet, their hearts for their families, central Santa Ana and KidWorks has led them and 18 other parents to grow in ways they never imagined.

Vianey and Maria are members of our Parent Council, a group formed four years ago to strengthen the bond between KidWorks and the families we serve.

Now, the council is setting even higher goals for itself for 2018 and beyond.

“The council is expanding its focus to include not only KidWorks, but the community as a whole,” says Sonia Rios-Guzman, Parent Engagement Coordinator.

That has included everything from advocating for better street lighting, pushing sometimes reluctant landlords to make necessary apartment repairs and even addressing ways to improve traffic flow at our Dan Donahue Center during especially busy times.

“We really benefit from the leadership workshops where KidWorks has brought in outside speakers,” Vianey says.  “We have learned that to make meaningful change you have to understand how government works, make contacts with decision-makers and rally neighbors together because two, three and four is better than one when it comes to issues we all care about.”

Adds Maria, “I went from being an observer to now knowing that I want to be a part of making improvements at KidWorks and the community.  I want to give my time, effort and support.”

Like all members of the KidWorks Parent Council, Vianey and Maria have students enrolled in our programs.  For Vianey, that includes her son, Jared, a fifth grader; and Jair, a kindergartener.  For Maria it is her daughter, Stephanie, a ninth grader.  The 20 parents run their monthly council meetings like a well-managed business.

“It’s so good to watch these parents work together as a strong team,” Sonia says.  “For each 90-minute monthly meeting, they come prepared with an agenda, prioritize goals and are now in the process to assigning responsibilities and deadlines.  They are a really hands-on group, lending invaluable support to events such as our annual resource fairs in the neighborhood.”

Maria says that one of the key lessons she has learned as part of the Parent Council is that meaningful changes rarely happen overnight.

“When a positive change happens, it’s worth all the time, effort and even occasional frustration that it takes,” Maria says.  “Because it means we’ve made life a little better for a child, a family and a community.”

Dedicated parents like Vianey and Maria, along with the other members of the KidWorks Parent Council, guarantee that Maria’s dreams for an even better Santa Ana are coming true.  

For more information about the KidWorks Parents Council including a calendar of events, click the button below. 

By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer

In the midst of struggle, the Vega family finds strength in each other and KidWorks

During the toughest years financially for her and her family, Esmeralda Vega worked most days baking loaves of Mexican-style bread stuffed with rice pudding or sweet potatoes.  Then, she and her two boys—then just eight and nine years old--would spend hours going door-to-door selling the bread to their central Santa Ana neighbors for $1.50 apiece. 

At the end of a long evening, the profit was often only $50.  Before or after walking all those miles, her sons, Cristian and Enrique, would sit down to complete all their school homework from that day.

At the same time, Esmeralda’s husband, Enrique, would take any minimum wage job he could find in order to provide for his family.  Few of his employers knew that before the Great Recession during the late 2000s and early 2010s, he had been a mid-level manager for 16 years at a major corporation within the food industry.

Today, the Vegas’ are an example of the deep faith in God, unbending tenacity in the face of hardship and strong commitment to others found in so many of the families we serve.  The fabric of their lives is deeply interwoven into KidWorks programs, and also in the many hours they volunteer supporting our outreach events into the surrounding community.

Cristian is now a sophomore at highly-regarded Mater Dei High School, having earned one of only two scholarships awarded each year through a partnership between KidWorks and the school.  He plans to become a forensic scientist.  The younger Enrique is an eighth grader at Saddleback High School.  His dream is to become a detective, working in law enforcement.

The Vegas’ are also very proud of daughters Janet, 22, an assistant manager at a finance company and Azucena, 24, a teacher and registered nurse.

KidWorks became a safe haven for the Vega’s two boys four years ago when the Great Recession forced the family to move from a more spacious apartment in the City of Orange, to a much smaller one bedroom apartment not far from our Townsend Center, where they still live. 

“My brother and I began attending KidWorks after school programs in 2015 at the insistence of our mom,” Cristian recalls.  “At first, we resisted.  But then, we figured out that this place was alright after all.  We made friends that we’re still close with today.”

Both sons continue to volunteer as altar servers at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Santa Ana, something they've done since Cristian was eight and Enrique was nine.  Both daughters did the same from 11 to 20 years old.

Enrique, the husband, gives all credit to Esmeralda for searching out KidWorks and enrolling his sons.  “She is our strength,” he states.  As he says this, tears slide down Esmeralda’s face as she recalls the struggles they’ve all gone through and how the hardships only solidified the lasting bond between all of them.

It wasn’t long after their two sons joined KidWorks that Enrique and Esmeralda began volunteering at our Dan Donahue Center.  They’ve helped out at the Townsend Raitt Street Resource Fair, and Esmeralda has pitched in with childcare, administrative projects and other tasks at the Dan Donahue Center.

Both of them joined the KidWorks Parent Advisory Council in 2016.

“The Vegas’ approach is that community starts with one strong family and this replicates into many other strong families, which leads to an even more resilient Santa Ana,” says Sonia Rios-Guzman, our Parent Engagement Coordinator.  “Enrique and Esmeralda have been married for 25 years, and have counseled about 40 soon-to-be-married couples.  Their strong character is deeply rooted in each of their wonderful children.  We are so grateful for each member of this inspiring family!”  

The younger Enrique says it best when speaking about his family’s tenacity:  “You never fail if you get right back up when you fall.”

By Glenn Leibowitz, volunteer writer

Giving Thanks: Maria Villa

Editor’s note:  We are introducing our latest blog series, Giving Thanks.  As everyone prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving, we feel this is the perfect time to invite KidWorks’ friends and families to share a little about what they are most thankful for.  Look for another installment next week!

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Maria Villa knows instantly what fills her with gratitude and thankfulness as the holidays approach.

“If you met my grandmother, Fermina Flores, you’d know why I want to share my story by saying how grateful I am for having her in my life,” Maria says.  “She raised and guided me all these years, and so that is why I prefer to call her Mom instead of Grandmother.”

Maria's grandmother provided her with all the love, care, and resources she needed growing up.  She lovingly refers to her grandmother as the “ultimate role mode”:  Always being caring, lovable and hard working.

Maria and her husband, Juan Carlos, are proud parents who also readily express how grateful they are for their children.

“I have two little ones, Ashley, who is in first grade and enrolled in KidWorks’ programs, and Carlos, who is two-years-old,” Maria says.  “My husband and I always do our best with our children.   Every day, I remember how Fermina raised me, and I put those parenting skills to good use with my own children.” 

Maria sees her life and her family as a blessing from God. She expressed how thankful she is for every blessing God provides to her family each and every day.   

“I'm thankful for every person at KidWorks who has made an impact in my daughter and in me throughout the time my family and I have been a part of their programs,” she says.  “KidWorks has helped Ashley with her studies, and improving her reading and social skills.”

Maria has a heart of gold and we are grateful that her family is a part of KidWorks as well.  

By Glenn Leibowitz, Volunteer Content Writer