Caminando juntos: creating connection, access, and community for families 

On August 15, our local team welcomed 31 families and their children to our first Family Advocacy Resource Fair, Caminando Juntos hacia el Éxito Escolar, in St. Paul, MN. This special, closed event was created specifically for survivors of domestic violence and their families who have a connection to Esperanza United through our various initiatives, including the Refugio, Community Advocacy, and Transitional Housing. The event provided a welcoming and supportive space for families to prepare for the school year and connect with community organizations that shared information about their services, programs, and resources. 

Throughout the day, families had the opportunity to ask questions, connect with community partners, share a meal, and spend meaningful time with one another. While the information and resources offered were an important part of the event, what made the day especially meaningful was the sense of comfort, connection, and community that grew throughout the gathering. Bringing families together in a supportive space helped strengthen relationships and created an environment where families felt welcomed, valued, and connected. 

For some families, simply getting there required overcoming barriers. 

Transportation and childcare can make attending community events difficult for participants. To help make the resource fair more accessible, we provided childcare onsite and Uber vouchers for participants who needed transportation.  These supports helped remove barriers to participation and ensured that more families could attend, engage with community resources, and fully experience the event. 

Once families arrived, the space was intentionally intimate and welcoming. Because the fair was designed specifically for families connected to our programs, participants had an opportunity to connect organically with one another, speak openly with staff and community partners, and ask questions in an environment where they felt safe and comfortable.  

Resources all in one place 

Eight community organizations joined the fair to share information, services, and resources related to education, health, immigration, legal support, family well-being and more. Participating partners included Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM), International Institute of Minnesota (IIMN), Neighborhood Development Alliance (NeDA), Hispanic Advocacy and Community Empowerment Through Research (HACER), St. Mary’s Health Clinics, Riverland Community Health, and the Mexican Consulate. 

Additional community partners, including the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Think Small, also supported the event by providing printed materials and information for families to take home. Together, these organizations helped create a resource-rich space where families could learn about services, ask questions, and connect with organizations that could support their needs beyond the event. 

One participant shared how valuable it was to speak directly with a a staff from the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and receive answers right away on how to connect with their services.  

Community partners also noticed families’ strong interest in learning about college access and educational pathways for their children. 

Another participant initially hesitated to attend because she thought the event was only for families with children. She ultimately decided to come and was glad she did. She enjoyed meeting new people, spending time outside of her usual routine, and sharing a meal with others. 

Those moments reflected an important part of the day: participants were not simply receiving information. They were asking questions, making connections, and identifying resources that could support the goals they have for themselves and their families. 

Preparing for the school year with tangible support 

Families left with practical resources for the months ahead. 

Children received backpacks filled with school supplies and new jackets, while families had access to hygiene products, diapers, gift cards, and other essentials. 

For staff, seeing the children’s excitement as they received their backpacks and supplies was one of the highlights of the day. 

These resources were possible through relationships with community partners, including United Way and local churches, as well as flexible foundation funding that allows our Family Advocacy team to respond directly to participants’ needs. Together, these partnerships help us meet families where they are and remove some of the barriers that can make accessing support more difficult. 

More than a resource fair 

The day also offered something that cannot fit inside a backpack: connection. 

Staff described seeing participants move comfortably between resource tables, reconnecting with familiar faces and beginning conversations with new ones. Former Refugio residents returned and shared how they and their families have grown since first connecting with Esperanza United. 

Children played. Families shared food catered by El Burrito Mercado. Participants talked with one another, and staff and community partners exchanged conversations, laughter, and gratitude, the connections happening naturally. 

For families who have navigated uncertainty and fear in recent months, having a space to simply gather, learn, ask questions, and enjoy being together carried its own significance. 

The challenges facing our communities have not disappeared. But neither has their determination to move forward, care for their families, seek information, build connections, and imagine what comes next. 

Caminando Juntos hacia el Éxito Escolar reminded us what can happen when resources are made accessible and community is given space to grow. 

31 families walked through our doors that day. They left with backpacks, supplies, information, and new connections. But they also helped create something together: a space filled with community, possibility, and esperanza. 

And that is why we keep walking forward, together.