I hope your new year is off to a sensational start! It is hard to believe that I am already half way into my first year at the agency. I am really impressed with the progress the families at Unlimited Potential are making. The adult literacy classes are full and the mothers are moving forward in learning English. They speak to me in English and I have had the opportunity to practice my Spanish. Together, we are learning.
     The children, too, are learning. I often hear them singing in both English and Spanish. As they leave for the day, under the watchful eye of their mothers, some of the children sneak into my office and "borrow" my candy. I enjoy these brief opportunities to connect with them.
At Unlimited Potential we remain committed to creating a learning environment that is caring and family-centered. First year adult literacy teacher, Sandra Amarillas, continues to put together monthly family outings that foster a sense of community. Fortunately, I was able to participate in this year's Christmas celebration. Desert Schools Federal Credit Union supplied and served a fabulous dinner that allowed us to feast together, and Mountain View Presbyterian Church's Choir dazzled us with songs of the season.
     Ingrained in my memory is the vision of a young boy around ten who sat in the front row listening to the choir. He did not move throughout the performance and each time they tried to end their singing he would say "one more, one more" to which Kay Randolph, the choir director, would say "okay, one more." In all there must have been about five once mores.
     The Christmas celebration is just one of many moving events that remind me daily of how blessed I am to be working amongst such genuinely beautiful people. I wholeheartedly look forward to the second half of the year.

Sincerely,
Lorraine Moya Salas, Executive Director