NEIGHBORHOOD HOMEWORK HOUSE

Why I Give:

I give because I have the means to. I give because my disposable income is sometimes better in the hands of those doing good work in my community and in the world. I give because sometimes I can't support the work with my time and my own hands. Sometimes I even donate where I work because I can be sure that the work is making an impact with my own eyes.

For that reason, I donate to Neighborhood Homework House, a community-based learning center in Azusa. Their work is thoughtful by continually empowering parents and not undermining the power they have to inspire change in their families. That kind of work is very difficult, not flashy, and doesn't always get the most 'likes' on Facebook. I always see the work growing and developing So I can be assured that my donations will not stagnate. Join me this Giving Tuesday!

Neighborhood Homework House
(www.neighborhoodhomeworkhouse.org)
'Quiero más para ti' is a phrase that I grew up hearing not fully understanding what it meant. It translates to 'I want more for you'. It was not until I began my time at Neighborhood Homework House that I comprehended this, this desire to want better for someone else. Growing up, I used to help my dad with his gardening route on the weekends when we were stretched for money and needed it for the rent. During the summers, I'd help my mom with housekeeping to help provide food for the family. When my dad decided to walk out on us for a few years, I helped with becoming the second mom at the age of twelve. When days were tough, I'd console my mom so she wouldn't reach for the alcohol. This seemed normal for me because I figured it was just me going through this. I was so wrong. Within the first few weeks at NHH, my story resonated with the students I was working with. It was as if my history was repeating itself but through someone else. I see many of the students identify themselves as what they are living instead of their potential. Instead of seeing they are so much more. NHH has given me a chance to redeem my story. To look at a student and say 'quiero más para ti' and mean it. To give a single mother hope that it gets better knowing there are tools for her to move forward through workshops that are offered. To want more for a child is not taking away from a parent's role, but instead giving the parent the confidence that they need. Everyday that I walk into NHH, I am reminded that we all work in unison because we want more for families. We want them to thrive and want them to see their potential. For majority of the staff, our stories are echoed through the families being served and we are reminded of our own beginnings. We are reminded that we are in the place where we are because someone wanted more for us. And now we are able to do the same and want more for families.

Neighborhood Homework House (http://www.neighborhoodhomeworkhouse.org/)

The reason I give, is because of my story. I grew up in a first-generation home just outside of Los Angeles. My parents immigrated from Mexico and Guatemala, and said 'yes' to the biggest adventure of their lives. I arrived soon after, to this beautiful dual world that spoke highly of tradition and values, and encouraged me to pursue my 'American Dream.' So I explored, I realized two confused parents and a child learning English made for barrier upon barrier for my development and overall education. Some pieces were hard, like missing the instructions for the science fair project and filling out forms like the FAFSA. But some pieces were good, like owning my identity and figuring out my passion for social work. Reflecting back, the only missing piece was someone a few steps ahead saying, 'You are are able, I'm rooting you on.' Fast forward 15 years later, and I'm working for an organization that does exactly that. Neighborhood Homework House bridges the gap between parents, schools and children. It makes things a little less scary. They take people like my parents and equip them to take leadership and feel confident in their role as a parent. They say 'You don't have to be a certain person or look a certain way in order to play a role in your child's growth and education.' Then they take people like me, with potential and minimal opportunities and they say 'Here are academic, social, and emotional tools you need to succeed.' They root people on, WE root people on! Through parent development, English classes, school-readiness, after-school assistance, a pursuit for STEM, and a holistic way of caring for our community, Neighborhood Homework House changes the future!