Family of the Month - Jan 2021
We are thrilled to celebrate Kathy Nava and her family as Imagine LA's January 2021 Family of the Month. Since starting Imagine LA’s Family Empowerment and Mentorship Program in 2018, Kathy, her daughter (9), and her sons (11 and 13) have met their case management goals, built deep and meaningful relationships with their mentors, and are on a track for long-term financial security.
The Nava Family, their mentor team, and Sancho the pug
During the family’s Virtual Graduation Ceremony on Tuesday, January 19, the children and mentors shared fun “pre-COVID” memories of going out for boba (yum!), trips to the skate park, adventurous hikes and picnics outdoors, and visits to local museums.
Of course, everyone bemoaned not being able to meet up in person since March 2020, and not being able to come together for Imagine LA’s traditional Graduation Potluck Dinner. Instead, the mentor team collaborated in advance to send cupcakes and balloons to the family for the Zoom meeting! Talk about sweet!
All the mentors praised Kathy for her strength of spirit, advocacy for her children, and resilience during these challenging times. One of Kathy’s long-term goals is to move out of Westlake and into a larger home, and eventually become a homeowner. Toward that end, she is joining Imagine LA’s Child Development Workforce Pathway and will continue to receive services while she enters and settles into the program.
As the ceremony closed, Kathy shed tears of gratitude for the life-changing impact the mentor team has had on her and her children. As often happens, the mentors assured the family that while their formal mentorships are ending, they look forward to their relationships continuing and evolving throughout 2021 and beyond.
