KeilyMunozisa12yearsoldgirloriginallyfromGuatemalawhocame toU.Sattheageof2.SheparticipatesinElCentrodeRecursosAfter SchoolProgram.KeilysmentorisHayriAmezquitaoriginallyfrom Guatemala;sheisanactivevolunteeratElCentroaswellasa religiouseducationteacheratalocalchurch. Keilyresideswithhermother,asingleparentsinceherfatherleftthe homewhenshewasaninfant.Keilyhasnthadcontactwithher fatherforyears,hermotheristhesolesupporterandhaschallenges keepingKeilyfromgangsandpoverty.Ithasntbeeneasyforboth. Duetomomsjob,Keilyspendsmostofhertimealoneandisathigh risktofallintoganginvolvementthatcouldaffectherinthefuture, becauseofthatshestartedthementoringprogram.WhenHayriwas madeawareoftheprogram,shehadnodoubtsKeilywouldbeanexcellentcandidateandthatthe mentoringprogramwouldinfluenceKeilyslifeinapositiveway.

HayriandKeilyhaveawonderfulrelationship,theyhavebecomeveryclosedtooneanother,Keilyhas foundsomeonetotrustandlookupto,butmostimportantlyarolemodeltofollow,also,Hayris supporttoKeilyhasmadeabigimpactinhergradesandvalues.Hayrihasintroducedandmodeledfor KeilyawonderfulexampleofCatholicismtothepointthatKeilynowattendsclassesforFirst CommunionandConfirmation. ElCentroisamultiservice,familyfocusedcommunityprogramthathelpsindividualstoincreasetheir qualityoflifeofferingavarietyofservicesthatgoesfromalltypeofeducationalclasses(ESL,computer, GED,jobcoaching)tosocialandsupportservices(counseling,healthyrelationship,supportgroups, mentoring).ElCentrohelpsthemostvulnerableofthecommunitybyprovidingfoodandclothingona weeklybasisinconjunctionwithalocalchurch. Prayersarealwayswelcomeforourmentorsandmentees,aswellasdonationsthatcansupportusin thischallengingtheenvironment.