I’m a mother of two children who attend Creighton Elementary School in Phoenix. Our inner city neighborhood has many challenges, including crime. Many families in our neighborhood struggle with more than three part-time jobs just to make ends meet, and they have no money for childcare. I rely on Creighton School to be that safe place where my children can learn and be safe until I pick them up, but with City budget cuts two years ago, we lost our after-school program. Many kids walk home along an unsupervised canal, and through an unsafe neighborhood to be latch-key kids. They sometimes get mixed up with gangs, and some have even been exposed to sex offenders.
After hearing the stories of parents’ concerns at Creighton and St. Agnes parish, we organized with VIP to learn more about the City Budget – and we learned that this year, the City had money. But they planned to give a tax cut. What about our kids? We attended budget hearings, and met with City Manager Cavazos, Mayor Stanton, and Councilman Johnson from our region. We told our stories, and insisted that they give the money to things that kids need most: after-school programs, library hours, parks – things kids need to learn and be safe.
We were thrilled that the City Council voted to restore nine after-school programs for inner-city schools and to expand library hours! Councilman Johnson approached me after the vote to say, “Ms. Espinosa, I want you to know you made the difference in my vote.” I know I’m not powerless to defend my kids, and I can make my city a better place.