Where Perla and Her Sons Live Matters
were picking up after themselves at home without being asked to do so. They were putting their toys away and washing their hands before eating. They were even helping her with errands around the house. Last month, Perla attended a parent-teacher conference and her sons’ teachers reported that all of them have shown improvement in the classroom. Since the only significant difference in their lives was enrolling in the afterschool program, Perla gives credit to NHPF and Operation Pathways for bringing about such a welcome new chapter for her children and their family life.
Perla and her family live in the Heritage Square Apartments in Dallas. Her sons—Andrew, Adrian, and Anderson—participate in the Brighten Up program. Recently, Perla asked to meet with her RSC, Natalia, to discuss her sons’ behavior. Since the boys were making so much progress in the afterschool program, Natalia was surprised to hear from Perla. As it turned out, nothing was wrong. On the contrary, Perla wanted to know what was going on in the afterschool program to bring about so many positive changes in her boys. Perla told Natalia that, since joining the afterschool program, her sons
Where Carol and Alisson Live Matters
show it. This year alone, Carol has improved her reading by one grade level putting her in the fifth grade for reading. Alisson gained two grade levels and is now reading at the seventh-grade level. Many new immigrant families struggle to assimilate while also trying to provide for their children’s basic needs. NHPF and Operation Pathways work together to help immigrant families live in safe and stable housing they can afford, while building the skills they need to become successful, self-sufficient citizens. Alexandra has no doubt that Alisson and Carol are on that path.
Second-graders Alisson and Carol are twins whose school ranks in the bottom 25% of North Texas schools. The student-to- teacher ratio is high, the operating budget is low, and only 58% of the students met state reading standards last year. Luckily, Alisson and Carol are enrolled in Operation Pathways’ afterschool program overseen by RSC Alexandra at The Grove at Trinity Mills in Dallas. The twins’ family only speaks Spanish at home, but the Brighten Up program is helping the sisters excel in their English skills. They are both avid readers and their test scores
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OPERAT I ON PATHWAYS F I SCAL YEAR 20 1 6 ANNUAL REPORT
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