June 29, 2026

The world is Kimberly Santana’s playground. She’s curious and “talkative”—that’s the word she uses to describe herself. Over her 14 years with KidWorks, Kimberly transformed her natural talent for conversation into a skill for success. 

Kimberly’s mother heard about KidWorks from a trusted neighbor in 2009. Doña Rosio, a longtime resident of the neighborhood around the Dan Donahue Center (DDC) and community partner of KidWorks, recommended that Kimberly enroll in our preschool. 

At four-years-old, Kimberly arrived at DDC for her first day. Moving from home to school was challenging, but Kimberly’s upbringing prepared her well: “My parents taught me that even if a problem feels big in the moment…In the future, it’ll reveal itself to be small. It’ll be something that I learned from.”

Preschool was one of Kimberly’s first opportunities to practice what her parents taught her. 

While she felt apprehensive on her first day, Kimberly soon gravitated to the front of the line at preschool with the support of her teachers. They encouraged Kimberly to fearlessly embrace her new routine. 

“Preschool at KidWorks teaches you to be brave. Teachers told you that you were brave to help regulate your emotions and empower you to tackle problems head-on.”

With a renewed sense of security in her environment, Kimberly spent her days at KidWorks learning how to build meaningful experiences inside the classroom. 

Kimberly poses for a class picture at KidWorks’ preschool in 2010.

Among her favorite memories of preschool: the birthday she celebrated alongside her classmates. The long table with small plates for cake. The birthday crown she was gifted by her teachers. Everyone singing happy birthday. The exact details of the event are spotty, but Kimberly looks back at this moment with affection.  

Preschool introduced Kimberly to a world outside her home—replete with memories, feelings, and relationships that carried a different pulse than what she was accustomed to. Kimberly built a positive association with learning at KidWorks that motivated her to explore other aspects of the classroom.  

“I’ve gotten a lot from preschool. My teachers taught me how to be nice, say sorry, and to see that school is fun—everyday there’s something new to do, friends to hang out with, and fun to be had.”

As an outgoing child, Kimberly thrived in the preschool’s outdoor classroom. She refined her motor skills on the playground slide. But most importantly, she met lifelong friends that keep her grounded among life’s many shifts. 

This was true for Kimberly when she returned to KidWorks in 6^th grade. But the transition during elementary school proved challenging at first.

When Kimberly stopped attending KidWorks programming in elementary school, she was worried that the friends she’d made at KidWorks had moved on.  Seeing familiar faces at DDC quickly eased Kimberly’s anxieties. Friends and staff welcomed Kimberly back, reminding her that she always has a second home at KidWorks. 

 “KidWorks has always been a place where I can be myself, where I don’t have to shy away from who I am. Sometimes I feel like I’m too talkative…but KidWorks staff give me the space to be myself,” she says.

Over the next 7 years, Kimberly embraced her natural charisma and sociability. She volunteered with KidWorks in high school, joined the College Apps Academy, and participated in the Youth Leadership Team (YLT), now referred to as Youth Community Leaders (YCL).

“I had a lot of new experiences at KidWorks. I tried public speaking and community work. Being part of the Youth Leadership Team taught me that I enjoy helping my community and giving back to a neighborhood that has given me so much. YLT helped me find my values and adapt to the many transitions in my life.” 

Through her participation in YLT, Kimberly elevated her interpersonal skills. She grew meaningful relationships with her community in Santa Ana. And at KidWorks, Kimberly developed a close relationship with her mentor Maria Ruvalcaba, Youth Leadership Development Coordinator and YLT’s staff lead. 

With Maria and YLT’s support, Kimberly was selected as a student speaker for Noche de las Estrellas in 2023, KidWorks’ graduation celebration.

Kimberly celebrates her graduation with Ms. Alma, Ms. Minda, & Ms. Idalia at Noche de las Estrellas.

That experience helped her develop a passion for advocacy that changed the trajectory of her life: “Speaking at Noche taught me that I am not afraid to talk in front of a crowd. That achievement shaped me to be out there…always talking with people, giving out resources, and helping the community.”

Kimberly is now a third-year Business Administration major, concentrating in Information Systems, at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. 

The skills Kimberly developed at KidWorks have helped her advocate for students like her at Cal Poly SLO, which is a predominately white institution (PWI) where first-generation Latine students comprise a small percentage of the university’s population. Kimberly’s tenacity has allowed her to advocate for her community and celebrate her cultural heritage proudly.  

She’s part of the Latinx Business Association, two ambassador programs with University Housing and the College of Business, and mentors high school students in her free time. 

After college, Kimberly looks forward to working as a Business Intelligence Analyst and giving back to her community by encouraging others to pursue an education beyond high school.  

Thank you, Kimberly, for being part of the KidWorks family! We celebrate your continued success in college and look forward to seeing how you make an impact in the world. 

When you support KidWorks with a financial donation, you support students, like Kimberly, to find their voices and empower them to pursue higher education. Give today at kidworksoc.org/donate.

Preschool enrollment is now open! Find out more about how you can register your child today at https://kidworksoc.org/registration/

By Bryanna Paz, KidWorks Marketing & Communications Assistant