Maricela's Story
It's Never Too Early to Begin Prevention.
Maricela Sanchez is not a mother—yet. She and her husband, Alfonso, plan to start a family soon and to get ready she sought parent education by joining a Community Café. As a 
recent immigrant, Maricela faced special stresses: “When I
came to this country I felt lonely because I didn’t have any family or friends,” she remembers of her 2008 immigration from Mexico. “I was emotionally shocked by how difficult it was to make friends because of the language barrier.”
Fortunately, a friend invited Maricela to join Familias Latinas, a Spanish-speaking Community Café hosted at the Family Support Center of South Sound in Olympia. Familias Latinas offered her the support she needed to adapt to her new life. She no longer felt alone and became empowered to train for parenthood. “It has helped me to prepare to become a better parent when I have my own kid,” Maricela shares. “I am learning from other parents’ experiences and about useful resources in the community that will benefit my children in the future.”Maricela is currently a member of the Community Café Leadership Team, passing the baton of empowerment to other future parents.
Familias Latinas is one of the first Community Café programs funded by Children’s Trust Foundation.
