At Padres Unidos, we believe that education is a lifelong journey. It does not matter how old you are, how much formal education you have, how successful you may be, how many challenges you have overcome, or how many scars life has left behind. What matters is maintaining an openness to learn. That openness allows us to learn from our experiences, from experts, from our families, from our communities, and from every moment life offers.We have the privilege of witnessing the educational journeys of our participants as they weave together many different forms of learning. Some arrive seeking the confidence to communicate with their children’s schools. Others pursue certificates, workforce credentials, or higher education opportunities that open new doors for themselves and their families. Many discover strengths they did not know they possessed and become advocates, leaders, and agents of change in their communities.

At the same time, we learn from every individual who walks alongside us. We learn from their resilience, their cultural knowledge, their determination, and their dreams. We learn from parents who navigate unfamiliar systems to create better opportunities for their children, and from elders whose wisdom reminds us that knowledge is not measured only by diplomas or degrees, but also by lived experience.

From learning English for everyday communication with a child’s school, to earning a two-year community worker certificate at a higher education institution, to preserving the wisdom of our elders, every step is a valuable part of the educational path. Equally meaningful is the lifelong learning that comes through the privilege and responsibility of being a parent. Each experience, each lesson, and each achievement becomes a title in the story of our growth.

Education is not a destination but a continuous process of discovery, empowerment, and connection. At Padres Unidos, we celebrate every learner, every journey, and every form of knowledge that strengthens families and helps communities thrive.

A Moment That Reminds Us Why We Do This Work

During one of our Chapman University graduations for the Two-Year Community Worker (CW) Award, the Padres Unidos staff was making our way toward the ceremony entrance when a young Chapman University student hurried toward us. 

With a warm smile, she asked, “Who is in charge?” 

I replied, “We all have very important roles in the work we do here at Chapman.” 

Her smile widened as she said, “I’m here because my mom is graduating today from your program. She attended a Padres Unidos parenting class at my elementary school with Mrs. Solomon.” 

“Wow, that is wonderful to hear,” I responded. 

She quickly replied, “No, no, no. You don’t understand.” 

She paused and continued, her voice filled with emotion: 

“Before attending that class, my mom always wanted me to become an adult as quickly as possible so I could start working and help carry the financial burden of our large family. But something happened to her in that class. She began believing in herself, and she began believing in me.” 

The young woman explained that her mother started telling her, “You need to go to school, all the way through university, and I need to continue my education too.” 

Then, with pride and gratitude, she said, “Today, I am a junior here at Chapman University, and my mother is graduating.” 

Her facial expressions and body language radiated joy and appreciation. Her eyes conveyed a depth of gratitude that words alone could never fully capture. 

Before leaving, she hugged each member of our team and said, “We are going to find a way to give back to others what we have received from you.” 

Moments like these remind us why this work matters. They reveal the profound impact that can occur when community leaders, educators, scholars, and families come together and share what they have with others. Through these collective efforts, lives are transformed, opportunities are created, and hope is passed from one generation to the next. 

God is so good to allow us a glimpse of the extraordinary good that can emerge when people unite in service, compassion, and a shared commitment to strengthening their communities.