May was a remarkable month for AVANCE, full of events, celebrations, and milestones highlighting our commitment to families and building thriving communities.
The month began with graduation ceremonies in El Paso and Austin, recognizing the hard work of our AVANCE to College graduates and celebrating their journeys of challenge and triumph. Among them was Mayra Marquez from El Paso, who entered the program seeking tools to transform her life. Once struggling with her teenage son, Mayra now enjoys a closer relationship with him. She also started a business selling organic shampoos and looks forward to continuing her education. Mayra expresses deep gratitude to AVANCE for providing programs like AVANCE to College that helped her achieve more and strengthen her family bonds.
In San Antonio, our annual Mother of the Year Luncheon was a heartfelt tribute to the mothers who shape our community with their strength, dedication, and boundless love. At this year’s Luncheon, we honored Marise McDermott, former President and CEO of the Witte Museum in San Antonio, and Alma Ramos, AVANCE PCEP graduate, educator, leader, and passionate advocate for educational equity. Read more about our honorees here.
Meanwhile, in Dallas, the Super Dad event promoted positive fatherhood with “Yo disfruto ser papá,” a workshop that encouraged fathers to reflect on their roles as providers and active caregivers and emphasized fathers’ significant influence on their children’s success and well-being. The event concluded with families surprising fathers dressed as superheroes, a touching recognition of their heroic roles in their children’s lives.
The spotlight returned to El Paso as we celebrated our 50th anniversary with the community. The unforgettable event was made more special by the moving testimonial of Denise Enriquez, a 2022 AVANCE to College graduate whose educational journey led her to a criminal justice degree from El Paso Community College and now on to further education at The University of El Paso. Denise’s story is just one of the many that exemplify AVANCE’s lasting impact on the community.
Through these events—from empowering workshops in Dallas to a tribute to mothers making a difference in San Antonio and a historic anniversary event in El Paso—we celebrate past successes and ignite the spirit for future achievements, highlighting the tapestry of support that AVANCE weaves across communities on the journey to social and economic justice.