Growing in literacy, growing in love.
As a single father, Favian feels the burden of supporting his children—Eli (10), Angel (8), and Andrea (7)—alone. He owns a limo rental business, and when he’s not working, he’s helping them with homework, teaching them skills like how to sew and cook, taking them to the park, and coming to Urban Ventures.
“We come every Wednesday,” Favian reports. While he attends the Center for Families: Siempre Padres program for parents, Eli, Angel, and Andrea attend a literacy program.
All three children began in the literacy program’s first level but quickly excelled and were bumped up to the second level.
Eli’s favorite subject in school is math, but he’s also developed a love for reading while at Urban Ventures.
“Our Urban Ventures teachers read with us and teach us respect, discipline, and responsibility. At Urban Ventures, we learn to respect teachers, our dad, and other adults,” Eli says.
He enjoys fiction the most, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid being his favorite book.
Eli also reads to Angel and Andrea, and sometimes, “we all read together,” Andrea remarks. “We take turns reading one paragraph at a time. My dad goes first, Eli goes second, Angel goes third, and I go last.”
A bundle of energy, Andrea’s favorite part of coming to Urban Ventures “is learning how to make crafts and work together.” When it comes to reading, she loves Dr. Seuss.
Andrea has made such remarkable progress in reading and comprehension that she was awarded the “Reading Champion” of her class last school year.
Like his siblings, Angel also loves to read, and his favorite book is the novel Wonder. In addition to reading, he also enjoys learning and doing crafts at Urban Ventures.
He remembers one day in particular: “We learned about kindness and God. We learned that God is our heavenly father. I love Jesus!”
In June, Favian graduated from Phase One of the Center for Families: Siempre Padres and is now in Phase Two.
“Coming to Siempre Padres has helped me understand my kids and how to handle their problems. I think coming here has changed me,” he realizes, with a hint of amazement.
Eli, Angel, and Andrea readily agree. “He now takes better care of us,” Eli recalls. “Before, when we were at the lake, he wouldn’t say anything when we went to the deep side. Now, he’s taking better care of us. He will tell us not to go on the deep side of the lake.”
“He got nicer,” Angel adds. “He’s nice, responsible, and smarter.” Andrea chimes in too, exclaiming, “My dad is a very good dad!”
Favian marvels hearing his kids speak of him in this way, then shares: “I am so proud to have very strong kids. They are very good, disciplined, respectful, and smart kids—all of them. I’m very proud of them.”
When asked if they want to continue coming to Urban Ventures, the whole family responds with a resounding “Yes!”
At Urban Ventures, Favian has the support and encouragement he needs as a single father. And while he’s in class, Eli, Angel, and Andrea are able to grow academically, personally, and spiritually. Love emanates from this close-knit family of four, and their future appears brighter than ever before.
