Dan Jones
Juntos Club Advisor, Madras High School
Kyle Yeager Photography
“Every young person deserves an equal opportunity to reach their potential and achieve their dreams, and Juntos is passionately dedicated to providing those opportunities. What a wonderful thing.”
Ruth Jones
Hispanic Advocate for Sisters School District and Juntos Coordinator
Deschutes County
Kyle Yeager Photography
I first learned about Juntos last spring, and we started our first session in the fall. Before this, Sisters had no program to reach all these families. I worried in the beginning; I doubted if anyone would even come. By the end of the program’s first session, our group was consistent and every family that was invited participated.
I think the biggest factor is that it’s bilingual. Speaking their language means we’re meeting them at their level. We’re saying, “I’m not better. I’m a parent too. I share your culture.” That engages families right away and builds trust. This program is successful because we’re not trying to change who anyone is as a culture; we value the culture they came from. That trust and knowledge have increased the families’ overall involvement in the school – more conferences, sporting events, etc. Everything is better.
https://create.osufoundation.org/juntos
Adriana “Juntos Mom” 
Kyle Yeager Photography
I had noticed that many Latinos who come to this country don’t go to college. I thought that they couldn’t go. As parents, we didn’t have that chance either when we were younger. But now we see that it is a possibility for our kids. I want Latinos to realize that they can study and have the same career opportunities. Before Juntos, I didn’t know how to help my son. I didn’t have the right information on his progress in school, who to talk to with questions, nothing. With Juntos, I now understand that my son could get to a university. I know how to help him. To me, college means a better future for my children; they can study and a have a better career. We as parents didn’t have that chance. I want my kids to keep their Latino culture and customs. I know that they can go to college and keep their identity at the same time. Juntos helps because the whole family, the whole community can get involved. Everyone at the school and in the family can work together to help kids catch up when they’re behind, and to work at their goals. It’s even helped me as a parent. I keep volunteering for Juntos because my son must know that you have to get involved when you want good things to happen.
