Meet Olga

El Centro

Olga Gomez and her two children endured domestic abuse and other difficulties until she was referred to El Centro, where her son Juan enrolled in the After School Program. Her involvement in El Centro formed the turning point in Olga’s life as she moved away from dependence and fear to living in a place of her own with a good job enabling her to provide for her three children.

Following in son Juan’s footsteps, Olga also started going to El Centro, taking ESL and computer classes. Later, she took healthy relationship workshops, parenting classes and GED classes. Her children have participated in all the programs El Centro offers for children, including summer camp, Christmas, Winter Carnival, 3 Kings Celebration, and Health Fair. Her sons Kenner and Juan participated in the play “Cuentos del Arbol” (Tales of the Tree) and Kenner received a summer scholarship owing to his performance in the play.

Olga has her own apartment where she lives with her three children and a full time job that allows her to support her family. Her sons participate in El Centro’s Mentoring Program where they receive support and friendship. Juan made the honor roll at school for the first time and Kenner gets individual tutoring but excels in science and math. Her daughter Marina will participate in El Centro’s summer program this July.

Olga says, “I couldn’t have done it without El Centro, they supported me since the first time I came to the office 10 years ago until today. The love and compassion that El Centro staff have for people is priceless and I thank God every day for all the help and love they give me and my children.”

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