Success Stories

Below are just a few of the many success stories that we see every year!

Successes in the Promotores Adult Program:

Rosa Bahena is a Promotora and a single, 20 year-old woman residing at Cornelius Park Apartments with her parents and three brothers (pictured left). She is a recent, documented immigrant from Mexico who began work in the United States picking strawberries. Rosa has been attending classes since 2003 and with help from HDC, entered the University of Oregon HEP program, a residential 3-month program to help farmworker youth attain the GED and gain exposure to a college campus. Rosa attained her GED in Spring 2004 and is now workng at Merix Corporation where she was recently named Employee of the Month.

Alejandra Aguilar, is a Promotora and resident of Willow Park Apartments in Forest Grove. She is a single mother of two children who volunteers at Centuro Cultural, and was elected by fellow residents as the first President of HDC's Resident Council. Alejandra enrolled in the Spanish GED class, completing 94% of the classes. During the project, Alejandra was able to secure a better job working part-time for the Forest Grove School District as a teacher assistant. She serves on the boards of Bienestar and Centro Cultural.

...................................................................................................................................

Successes in the Youth programs:

Mika Flaig has much to be proud of. His hard work and determination have paved the way for a GED certificate and a bright future, and it has also served to motivate other LISTOS students to do the same. Yet Flaig remains very humble and credits the Listos program with his success.  “I really appreciated it (the LISTOS Program). It helped me a lot. The classes and work experience have given me lots of opportunities.”  After he passed his math exam, Moreno remembers the first thing out of his mouth was “I couldn’t have done it without your help!” 

Hermelinda Estrada enrolled in the LISTOS program while pregnant after dropping out of high school, and had no family in Oregon. HDC helped connect her to Shriner's for her daughter's needs, provided her with glasses and a driver's license, and bought the scrubs needed to start her new job. She now has a diploma, works as a nursing home aide and plans to earn a CNA license, attend college, and work her way into the health field.

Levi Beam overcame many obstacles with determination, and is on his way to great things. With no family help, he has earned his GED with high marks and plans to start working at a nursing home soon. From there he plans to earn a CNA license, and continue studying to become a registered nurse. He has enrolled at PCC, and plans to transfer to PSU where he will begin studies to eventually become a Psychiatrist, where he can help others overcome their barriers to success and happiness as well.