As a 15-year-old, Claudia Sánchez gave up her quinceañera to help her family be together. Then still in Mexico, the family needed the quinceañera money to join Sánchez’ father who had already immigrated to Boulder.
Sánchez started at Boulder High, learning English and becoming a good student. She married a year after high school, and she and her husband have three children. Sánchez worked as arestaurant cashier, but also volunteered first at Head Start, where her daughter went, then at the Family Learning Center, which her boys attended. She continued to volunteer at Whittier
Elementary, and she and her husband attended their soccer practices and games, sometimes volunteering as coaches.
“I was trying to be with them wherever they go,” she said,adding that she also taught first communion classes at Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Sánchez’ family is one of an increasing number of Latinos raising children in Boulder County. In fact, Latinos in Boulder County are now 50% more likely to have been born in Colorado than our county’s Anglo residents.
One of Boulder County’s challenges in the 21st century is welcoming its growing diversity and working with parents to help them feel valued and empowered in the county’s two school systems. Sánchez remembers her own experiences after moving to Boulder.
“My mom didn’t speak any English, my dad either. They couldn’t help us with homework,” she said. “Many families want to help their kids, but they can’t do it.”
Sánchez first began teaching other mothers through Boulder Housing Partners in the Tres Pasos (Three Steps) program for children ages birth to 5. She now works for ELPASO (Engaged Latino Parents Advancing Student Outcomes), a nonprofit launched by the Community Foundation, helping parents to
become deeply involved in their children’s lives and advocate for them.
It sounds so simple: If you have a question, ask it. If you need help, request it.
However, as Sánchez explained: “They feel embarrassed … They feel they have no voice to say something in front of a teacher. They feel like everyone is doing it for them without asking what they want.”
The change she sees in the parents participating in the program is profound: “Just them building that confidence in themselves, so they’re not afraid to ask,” she said. “You see it in the kids right away. After Mom goes to even one meeting. I feel they will do more, because they know the parents will see what they’re doing.”
Recently, Sánchez’ daughter, Yareli, had her quinceañera. It was a day of pride for the whole family.
“For Mexican culture, it’s just a big, big deal. (We were) saving money for many years for that,” Sánchez said. “She had so much fun. She had a very good day.”
by Cindy Sutter
