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When she was five years old, Julie (Juliana) Villanueva first stepped into a KidWorks’ classroom as a preschool student. Now a freshman business major at Orange Coast College, Julie overflows… Continue Reading
I was a summer intern with KidWorks in 1996. This was after my sophomore year at Biola University. A friend at Biola, John Lewis, told me about KidWorks, he had been an intern the previous summer. After serving as a summer intern in 1996 I stayed connected to KidWorks and the youth I had started mentoring on Townsend St. I continued to lead a weekly youth Bible study in the neighborhood. The following summer I joined the KidWorks team as Program Director and moved back onto Townsend Street. In 2002, when KidWorks was spun off from the Hispanic Ministry Center and became it’s own non-profit I shifted from being staff to serving as the Board Chairman. I served on the Board on and off for a few years until 2015 when I joined KidWorks in my current role as Executive Director/CEO. 27 years after my first day as a KidWorks intern I still live in the neighborhood to this day.
Taking youth to travel camp in the early years. For many youth it was their first time traveling outside of their neighborhood. We experienced many firsts together: jet skiing, white water rafting, visiting San Francisco, among others. They were fun experiences that broadened the youth’ outlook beyond their neighborhood.
Living in the neighborhood. Getting to know my neighbors. Learning to live in community and supporting each other. Experiencing and learning generosity from them.
Opening new KidWorks neighborhood centers. Getting to know new neighbors, families, and youth. Building relationship and earning their trust. Seeing them take pride and ownership of their new space.
Building trust in the neighborhoods with youth and families when KidWorks was first getting started. Over time, through our long-term commitment we have built trusted relationships.
Competing with the lure of the gangs in the early days, dealing with the heartbreak of seeing some of the youth pulled into the gangs. On the other hand, we have now seen other kids that connected with KidWorks at an early age and stay connected into young adulthood, some are now on our staff.
Dealing with limited space in our early days, not being able to serve all the youth we wanted to serve. Having wait lists. Over time, we have been able to add new locations and expand our main center.
KidWorks has had a vital role in shaping the person I am today. I was introduced to KidWorks when I was 19 years old. My whole adult life has been directly influenced by being a part of the mission and vision of KidWorks. The youth, families, staff, and partners of KidWorks have directly impacted me and my family. I have learned a lot through being a part of KidWorks. KidWorks has helped me live a life of purpose. I am a better person for having the KidWorks community in my life.
KidWorks has had a very positive influence in the lives of all the many youth that have been a part of the journey over the past 30 years. Over the next 10+ years my hope is that KidWorks will continue to expand to serve more youth in more neighborhoods in Santa Ana. I hope to see KidWorks raising up a generation of grounded, confident young leaders to positively influence our community and our world.
KidWorks is a special place with very special people. I believe that everyone who is a part of the KidWorks community is better for having had the experience (from youth to staff, to volunteers and supporters).