5th Annual Empowering Lives Dinner 2021

2023 is quickly approaching, and before we talk about goals for next year, at Templo Calvario Community Development Corporation (TCCDC) we want to reflect on the big and small successes of 2022 because we know none of it would have been possible without supporters like you. The true success of our programs and services is not in the number of people we serve, but in the impact we have on each individual who walks through our doors. There are so many stories to share, and we are pleased to tell you Diana G.’s story. Diana recently completed our Santa Ana Parent Project (SAPP), a highly effective peer-to-peer educational program designed to help parents raise healthy, highly capable, and responsible children. TCCDC was proud to relaunch SAPP this year with additional curriculum and in new sites in Santa Ana Unified School District to meet the growing needs of our community. To say that SAPP transformed Diana’s life would be an understatement because not only is Diana’s life changed forever, but her children’s lives are as well. Diana is a mother of three, and two of her children currently attend TCCDC’s Edward B. Cole Sr. Academy (EBC) and TCCDC’s Empowered Scholars Afterschool Program. Diana grew up in Santa Ana and unfortunately, lost a brother with whom she was very close to gang violence. When Diana’s youngest child turned one, Diana decided that she wanted to turn her life around not just for herself, but for her children. She started by stepping away from her group of friends who were a negative influence on her life, going back to school to earn her GED, and getting involved in her children’s lives at school. During one of the SAPP Family Fun nights at EBC, TCCDC’s Family Program Coordinator met Diana and encouraged her to sign up for the next session of SAPP. Since Nicole started SAPP, she showed incredible dedication. She didn’t miss a single class, and frequently volunteered to share her story and experiences with the rest of the group. Diana expressed that before SAPP, she was not even aware that there was another way to parent her children. “I am grateful to TCCDC because I was given the opportunity to be part of a wonderful class where I could grow and learn to be a better parent and learn from other parents and their experiences. Thank you for all the support and wonderful things we were taught in this class. We bonded and shared many things. Thank you for all this beautiful experience and the new family.” We are in awe of the progress that Diana made in such a short time, and we are excited to continue supporting her and her family. Diana expressed an interest in continuing her education and our Family Program Coordinator is assisting her with registering for classes at Santa Ana College. In addition, Diana will be participating in our next SAPP Parent Leader training where she will continue to share her story as she helps other families like hers change their lives. We are grateful to supporters like you who helped make stories like this possible. Connect with us to learn more about our work and how to volunteer and/or make a donation to support our core programs. Thank you, Rev. Lee de León President & CEO