Part 3: Case Studies: Juntos Coordinator Experiences
To tell the Juntos story, it is vital to get the perspectives of the people on the ground who are working with the students and families each day in their specific counties. Coordinators are the lifeblood of the Juntos program and directly provide resources and information to the participants. They form partnerships with school staff and administrators and local community organizations to create sustainability and access to information for the Juntos families. We asked Kathy Rivera, Bianca Wall, Eddie Reyes, and Jessica Aguilar — all of whom are current or former Juntos coordinators — to talk to us about their passion for the work and tell us how they advanced the program in their respective counties.
Q: What’s your fondest memory of being a Juntos coordinator? Kathy Rivera “ Witnessing how Juntos truly affects a family and not just the student. Three years ago, during our Milestone
Celebration, we had the honor of celebrating a parent who graduated earlier that week with her high school diploma. The parent shared with me that all the encouragement and information she received during the six-week high school workshop series to help her son
actually helped her. The constant reminder of ’si se puede’ (Yes, it is possible.) for the students motivated her to complete the academic coursework for a high school diploma in an adult program.”
Indiana’s first Juntos 4 -H Summer Academy in 2021
Bianca Wall “The times I spent with the students at Summer Academy or Camp Rockfish (a leadership camp that was held in North Carolina). It was incredible to watch these students who had mostly never experienced a camp before bond and realize that they were not alone and shared common experiences with other students across the state. Those weeks were always transformative not only for the students but for us as a staff, as well.” Eddie Reyes “There ar e many wonderful memories that I have had since being a Juntos coordinator, but one that sticks out is when I had the opportunity to visit North Carolina and meet coordinators from other parts of the nation. I love what I do, so meeting other individuals who share that same passion and desire was amazing. We had the opportunity to get to know each other personally and professionally, as well as share advice and our expertise with one another.” Jessica Aguilar "S eeing our students during our ‘Love Yourself’ family night and experiencing the vulnerability between each student and family. Part of this workshop included having the student write a letter to themselves and asking them to read out loud to their peers; being vulnerable is often seen as a weakness, but in that moment, each student was able to show strength by telling part of their story and sharing a part of themselves with the group. We also allowed parents an opportunity to write a letter to their children about the love and support they had for them. This was when parents showed strength, too,
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