Creating a Safe Space for All
Enrichment Classes During Community Mornings
Every Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, I have the privilege and the opportunity to teach a class about personal growth. We discuss topics like, parenting styles, drug use and prevention in teenagers, shame and guilt, stages of change in substance abuse, SMART goals, etc. I teach this class to a group of beautiful people that choose to stay after they are done with their breakfast during Community Mornings at Family Empowerment Centers. In this group, we have people from all walks of life: homeless people, people with substance abuse or addiction, people with health or mental heath problems, unemployed people, and people who do not have cars or education. We also have people with financial and emotional stability who own their houses and cars, are educated, and have jobs who join these classes. We create an environment of unity where everybody feels welcome, accepted, and understood.
The program started on September 2023, and the attendance has been consistent since week one. Sometimes we have up to eighteen participants. Some of the participants wanted their families in other states or even in Mexico to be able to see and learn from the class. Because of this, we started using ZOOM about three months ago to provide this service for their families, and we have 4 to 6 people connecting every week via ZOOM.
Some participants have stayed after class to ask me if I can give them a personal session. The answer is YES, of course! We began offering these sessions after class from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. I have the opportunity to work with families, couples, individuals and teenagers. So far everyone has reported that these sessions have been helpful for them, and they are grateful that Family Empowerment Centers provides this service.
I really hope and believe this program will continue growing and blessing many people in need.
– Julio Sotelo (Life Coach)