Blog

In late June, OLC staff had the chance to visit Brighter Beginnings’ Family Support Program, one of this summer’s OLC Summer Action Grantees. Brighter Beginnings supports income-eligible families—specifically young parents under 25 with kids ages 0-5—with early learning resources, parenting education, healthcare, and mental health services. Their Family Support Program currently serves 95 families.

Through regular home visits, monthly workshops offered in multiple languages, and access to a wide range of resources, the program offers families more than just services—it fosters a trusted community. Parents build strong relationships with dedicated family advocates and case managers who support pregnant and parenting young adults in caring for themselves and their babies, continuing their education, and planning for future employment and self-sufficiency.

Program Manager Leslie De La Torre emphasized the high value families place on, the safe, welcoming, and connected environment the program fosters. In today’s political climate, Leslie shared, that sense of safety, inclusivity, connection, and community is more important than ever. 

At a joyful family gathering, the parents and caregivers came together to share pizza, build community, and learn together. Each family received a gift bag filled with culturally affirming books provided by an OLC Reading Everywhere Action Grant, and the celebration kicked off with a warm, bilingual read-aloud of Cerca / Close. The grant funding covered food for the celebration.

Thanks to support from the Summer Action Grant, Brighter Beginnings was able to host this beautiful end-of-year celebration—a powerful community learning experience that offered families the encouragement, books, and resources they deserve.

To learn more about Brighter Beginnings’ Family Support Program, please visit the website here.