Leadership

The Aha! behind Aha!

Ed Gomez

Founder

During the winter show of 2021 a boy who attended our enrichment classes in music sang a solo. The Aha moment came when I realized, as I watched in amazement that this was the same boy who stammered when he spoke. However, when he sang, and a solo at that, he did not stammer, but beautifully sang the song before us all.

Carrie Worley

Program Director

I am reminded of a day when our kids were more challenging than the average day, nothing we tried seemed to work. As a last attempt we decided to just ask, WHY!? It was the response that was given that has continued to serve as an AHA moment for me, “Ms., when we are here, we can be ourselves.”

Jessica Huerta

Program Coordinator

An Aha moment that will always stay with me was when a kid had a situation and needed a moment to compose himself. While we were talking, and he said, “I have never been treated with so much kindness, so I don’t know what to do with you”. We talked and he shared some of his life as I was sharing mine. After that, he grew so much with finding ways of calming himself down and being proud that he did it on his own.

Christienne “Chan” Celestino

Media & Events Coordinator

Chan’s AHA! Moment is anytime a child tries to photobomb a picture or video she takes.

Leonardo "Mr. Leo" Velásquez

Drama Instructor

My most significant AHA moment has been when in a rehearsal in drama class, a child told me that he couldn’t do it because he was afraid and I told him to think about it because I believe that you are capable of doing it. And he did!

Eva Huerta

Treasurer

One of the AHA moments I have experienced was with a kid who joined us in summer 2021. Most of the summer he would only speak to 3 other kids, one of which was his cousin. Later, in September 2021 while doing math homework he began telling jokes and laughing which was something new. After that day he made a 360-degree change, he would express his likes, dislikes, and comments. It was so surprising and special to see him find his own voice, I remember our former art teacher saying, “he used to not talk at all and now I cannot get him too stop”.