Communities in Schools of Central Texas

Leslie Abarca, a 2015 Lanier High School graduate, began receiving services from Communities In Schools during her sophomore year. She credits CIS with helping her academically as well as being a critical support during difficult times. As a teen mom, Leslie had unique challenges. Leslie’s CIS caseworker provided home visits and connected her with community resources. During her senior year of high school, Leslie worked 28 hours a week at a local restaurant and was seeking permanent housing. Despite raising a son, working a job, going to school full time, and living on her own, Leslie graduated on time and started taking classes at Austin Community College during the summer. Through Communities In Schools, she was accepted into the ACC Transitions summer program. “The one word I would use to describe CIS is hope,” Leslie says. “I don’t know what I would do without the support of CIS.” Today, Leslie’s son Christopher is a happy, healthy three-year-old.
Contact: Debra Joiner, 512-464-9783

Easter Seals Central Texas

Ricky Brackett started Easter Seals around 7 months ago as a Crew Member through Easter Seal’s Paid Job Training program, which offers employment to those with barriers to employment, such as a disability. It was soon discovered that he was an excellent worker with a great attitude and willingness to work wherever and whenever he was needed. His positive attitude made him easy to work around! For example, when we needed him because we were low on workers, he was able to work odd hours and on the weekends! He is now a supervisor and he is a prime example of who to go to when something needs to be done, and done right. He is involved in every aspect of the company as well as other services that Easter Seals provides. For example, he wants to improve his education and training and would like to take advantage of Easter’s Seals training classes and obtain his Commercial Driver’s License!

Contact: Susan Savkov, 512-615-6894

Caritas of Austin

Sezar and his family fled Iraq in 2009 due to war in the country. Sezar, previously an interpreter for the U.S. military, and his wife Dalya, came to the Austin willing to start from the ground up if it meant keeping their family safe. With the help from Caritas of Austin, Sezar and Dayla received support and resources to find employment, transportation, housing and food security. His English proficiency was key in obtaining stable employment. Sezar’s first job was at Target; he said no job was beneath him. Now, five years later, he has a great career in the oil industry.

Contact: Lindsey Dickson, 512-646-1265

Literacy Coalition of Central Texas

Antonia, a housekeeper at the Hilton Garden Inn, was known as “Doña Buenos Días!” because of the exuberant way in which she greeted her coworkers every morning. Antonia is a natural leader and communicator who was strongly motivated to expand her job skills. Unfortunately, she lacked the English communication skills she needed to reach her goals. The Hilton Garden Inn offered Antonia the chance to attend ENGLISH @ WORK’s in-house courses. Near the end of the program, her employers gave her the opportunity to train in the kitchen—a first step toward working in the banquet services department. Improved English skills allowed Antonia to cross train, which paved the way to a more public-facing position in food service and making her a more valuable worker to her employer. Antonia also became a champion of ENGLISH @ WORK’s classes and an inspiration to her peers. At each end-of-course ceremony, Antonia wowed the crowd with her motivational speeches. And as her English skills increased, Antonia’s coworkers began to refer to her as “Doña Good Morning!”—a great indication that English is now an integral part of her life.

Contact: Maegan Ellis, 512-735-2533

Southwest Key Programs

Jennifer Perez was a high school drop out with limited English skills. With the help of the free, Spanish-language GED class at Southwest Key Programs, she obtained her certificate and went on to become a dental assistant. She now plans to become a dentist. “This program was perfect for me because my English was not perfect and I did not have a lot of money,” says Perez. Jennifer’s dream is to take free dental care to Mexico. “I love to help people,” says Perez. “I just want to say thank you because I was able to move on in my life and pursue my dreams.”

Contact: Cindy Casares, 512-949-2665

Capital IDEA

Pedro Torrez is a Surgical Technician at Seton Family of Hospitals. In 2011, he was suddenly unemployed and realized he needed more than a high school education to make ends meet. He enrolled at ACC, but juggling odd jobs and classes brought him to the edge of dropping out. Capital IDEA provided the support he needed to continue his courses, and the birth of his daughter Ella only strengthened his resolve to finish his studies.
A first generation college graduate, Pedro recently accepted his degree with his entire family cheering him on. He started work one month later.

Contact: Liz Ramon, 512-485-8341

Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area

Marcus Walls’s future could have been determined early in life, when his parents abandoned him as a toddler. Instead, the recent graduate of LBJ H.S. and freshman on full academic scholarship to UT Austin’s McComb’s School of Business, is pursuing his dream to become a corporate attorney. With a hefty dose of mentoring, encouragement, and financial assistance from Boys & Girls Clubs, Marcus rose above his circumstances and took charge of his future. “It wasn’t easy, Marcus says. “I started down the wrong path, with the wrong crowd. I am forever grateful for the Club, the staff and my mentors that helped me change my future.”

Contact: Misti Potter, 512–444-7199; Holli Lopez, 512-444-7199