Seven years ago, Angela Solis was severely depressed. Her husband was drinking heavily, her son had severe untreated rheumatoid arthritisarthritis, and they were very poor. Angela’s sister told her about Common Hope and insisted that Angela arrange a visit with a social worker. Angela agreed, but the day the social worker came to the house Angela’s hair wasn't done, her clothes weren't clean; she just didn't care.

The social worker realized that this was a family that needed special help. The youngest son, Danilo, qualified to become affiliated. Her son with rheumatoid arthritis was able to receive medical assistance as well. Common Hope helped with half the cost of the treatment and medication, and his condition dramatically improved.

Angela began attending Al-anon meetings - not to learn how to get her husband to stop drinking, but to help herself, to learn how to live and cope while being married to an alcoholic. Miraculously, her husband eventually stopped drinking two years later and has been sober for several years, working as a bricklayer. Their oldest son, who also drank heavily, is now in AA as well.

Eventually, Angela joined the sewing and dressmaking class. Once in the sewing class, Angela learned she could also return to school to complete her education. Angela studied hard and completed 6th grade. Then she met with one of the people in charge of scholarships. She had the option to continue studying or become a professional dressmaker. Angela decided to continue studying.

Every Saturday, she attended classes. In two years, she completed three years of schooling and graduated with her diploma in Science and Letters.

While at Common Hope, Angela has also taken advantage of other programs. She learned how to plant flowers and vegetables, and make natural medicines and soap. She was able to help her family economically by selling what she produced.

Angela has also volunteered to teach other adults how to read. Otto, the Director of Adult Education, says that Angela is very self-motivated and very special. He says that she has helped the Adult Literacy Program a lot through teaching in the literacy classes.

In addition to all of her studies, Angela cares for a family of seven, washes clothes by hand, keeps house, and makes 75 tortillas every day!

Angela’s son Danilo is still affiliated in the program. He is now 18 and was diagnosed with epilepsy five years ago. He has struggled to pass his first year because of depression and learning difficulties caused by the disease. Common Hope pays for his epilepsy medications, which has been a big help for the family as the medication and the visits to specialists are very expensive.

Angela is very grateful to Common Hope. She says that she and her family were in a bad, bad place before they started with Common Hope. “Since that time, my family has become more economically and emotionally stable, and we have progressed a lot.”

Common Hope works with hundreds of families similar to Angela’s that are struggling to bring stability to their lives. Our Family and Community Development Program strives to help them achieve that goal.

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