Voices
of La Familia
I
didn't start at La Familia out of the goodness of my heart.
It was to complete 70 hours of community service after I was
arrested...
At
first, I hated being a tutor. I just wanted to kick it with
my friends and I tried to get out of it by forging completion
papers.
After
a couple of weeks of working at the After School Tutorial
Program, I saw I was actually making a difference in kids'
lives.
When
I was little, everyone I looked up to was an addict or a dealer.
Now I see how important it is for kids to have positive role
models, and that makes me want to work even harder to be a
better person.
My
mom dragged me and my sister to La Familia, literally kicking
and screaming. We were fighting all the time...now I go to
the young girls' group and I usually go to Late Night Sacramento
on Friday nights. Sometimes I even bring my sister...
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He
didn't talk very much at first. My son was very traumatized
by his brother's death, and I felt a great deal of anger toward
the gangs in his neighborhood that his brother had been involved
with. When we told him about Youth M.A.D. About Violence Program,
it was the first time we saw him get really excited about
anything. He's become such an inspiration - organizing trips
and getting other kids involved. The program has been a great
source of healing for him.
Sometimes
I think about who I used to be...so angry all the time and
pretending to be something that I wasn't. So much has changed
since then. I remember that person and I have to smile, because
it seems like a dream.
I
got pregnant at a very young age an lost my first baby. When
I got pregnant a second time, I was really nervous. I was
alone with no family nearby, and I thought maybe I did something
wrong the first time to cause the miscarriage. I told my neighbor
that I didn't think I could handle being pregnant or taking
care of a baby, and she told me about La Familia's Birth and
Beyond Program.
When
the Home Visitor knocked on my door, I felt like I was taking
the first step in being a good mom. I started Parenting and
Child Development classes, and counseling, Birth & Beyond
also helped me find a really great doctor in my neighborhood.
After
my son was born, La Familia helped me enroll in a community
college, I participate in the Play and Grow Group now and
I serve on the La Familia Parent Advisiory Committee. The
work I am doing helps women like me, that feel how I di before
my baby was born.
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I
lost my husband over a year ago now and I did not know where
to turn to I was so lost in my own world. I felt empty and
alone, to wake up and not know where you go or what to do.
I am 54 years old. I would wake up early but where do I go,
what's out there for me? I cam into the LFCC Career Center,
the staff was very supportive and caring. I am now working
for the state as a seasonal assistant, and I am working to
be permanaent soon. I have been working for clse to a year
now. I also volunteer at La Familia. I understand how community
involvement can make a difference in yor life and help your
community.
A
lot of people these days in our community are involved in
gangs. People hate each other. They can't love each other,
they can't even look at each other because they'll want to
kill just because they are from different barrios. They have
to walk down the street watching thier backs making sure they
don't get killed. It's not even safe for the little kids to
play outside because somethingmight happen to them just for
being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
It's
very hard these days, I know because I'm going through that
and that was my mistake to get involved with gangs. Thanks
God I have my parents behind my back and other people that
have helped me. I have a job, I help my community and I am
glad I have all of this because it keeps me away from that
gange related stuff.
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