In May, more than 30 parents gathered at the Santa Maria office of Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC) for a Spanish-language workshop. For many, it was their first time attending a public meeting at the center.
This was the first session of Talleres para Familias, a new pilot Spanish-language Community of Practice at TCRC. A Community of Practice is a group of individuals who come together to share experiences and knowledge, learn together and solve problems. Talleres para Familias was created after families told Tri-Counties they wanted more training and information in Spanish, outside of work hours. With the help from the team at Alpha Family Resource Center and Norma, a parent, TCRC staff was able to spread the word.
The families who attended the workshop created One Page Profiles. These profiles give a short but meaningful snapshot of a person. They include what other people admire about them, what’s important to them, and how they can be supported. These profiles can be shared with teachers, service providers, or even first responders in case of an emergency. They are simple, clear, and personal.
What stood out that evening wasn’t just how many people attended; it was the strong sense of community. One mom who couldn’t read or write was helped by another parent to enter information onto her child’s One Page Profile. Families expressed their desire to take part in more events and even stayed after the event to share ideas for future workshops.
“The more that we can empower communities to advocate for themselves, and the more time we take to listen, the closer we can become to a truly equitable system,” said Angel Montoya, Chief Equity Officer of TCRC.
The second One Page Profile workshop for Spanish-speaking families was held on June 26 at the Oxnard office. The staff at TCRC is also working on expanding Talleres para Familias to more office locations, with help from Family Resource Center partners.