Highlights

• Julie Ferris has worked with COA for over 17 years
• COA is an award winning charitable organization
• The HIPPY Program focuses on getting children ready for school and bonding with parents

Growing Up and Giving Back to Riverwest

Julie Esteves helped her mother raise her five younger siblings. Now, Esteves says she raises the community’s children.

Esteves is the bilingual co-director of the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, run through the Children’s Outing Association.

HIPPY is a national school readiness program for children ages 3-5. The program encourages parent involvement early on in a child’s education. HIPPY encourages family involvement and building strong family relationships.

While Esteves has been affiliated with COA for 17 years, she has been affiliated with the Riverwest community her entire life. Esteves grew up in Riverwest.

“It’s where I was rooted,” Esteves said.

Esteves helps run monthly family gathering nights in COA’s Goldin Center. During the family nights, families play games and other educational activities. These family nights encourage children to get excited about their education.

A magician attended the family gathering night on Nov. 7. He captivated the children with his magic tricks. He pulled birds out of the air, and attributed his magic skills through his ability to read.

In family gathering nights in the past, COA has provided various entertainment acts. COA brought in a “animal man,” who brought in animals. HIPPY has brought in different children’s dance groups, who performed Mexican and African dances. Once a year, the group travels to Betty Brinn’s Children Museum.

While HIPPY encourages children to get excited about school, it also builds family relationships. Esteves has witnessed many families grow closer together, particularly those who had difficulties.

Esteves was part of a memorable success story that left a lasting impact on her. Esteves worked with a mother with an autistic son. The mother was uncertain of the extra care that her son would need. COA helped the mother find educational accommodations and resources for her son’s educational and personal development.

When the child was 5-years-old, Esteves watched him graduate the HIPPY program. That year, the child won the “Story of the Year” award.

While Esteves has watched COA has helping families grow, Esteves has also noticed a change in herself. Prior to working at COA, Esteves was very shy. She said that she would not participate and talk in class as a child. COA has given her the confidence to work through her insecurities.

“You would never see that now. My experiences at COA have helped me through it all,” Esteves said.

Esteves has created her own saying about COA that has written down and displayed in her office.

“Every child and family in the community gets the same experience and pride I have gotten in being part of COA,” she said.

Esteves explained this through the lessons she learned raising her siblings to her career at COA.

“What I learned at home, I can do here,” Esteves said.

Through 17 years at COA, Esteves has been promoted and become an influential and trusted COA staff member. She gives back to the community the experience she has recieved.  She takes pride in her work to help families.

“I have come this far. This agency has been my stepping stone,” Esteves said.