A Profile in Courage: Amanda Montes
A PROFILE IN COURAGE: AMANDA MONTES
Written by David Cordova
Amanda Montes never met the late Guadalupe Reyes, El Valor’s founder, but she knows of Mrs. Reyes’ legacy of compassion, courage, and commitment. When Amanda first came to El Valor seeking assistance for her two children, little did she know that she would develop into a leader who would serve on El Valor’s Board of Directors and become a champion for children with disabilities.
Like many families looking for better opportunities, Amanda’s parents migrated from Brownsville, Texas, to Chicago’s southeast side, where her father became a steelworker at Republic Steel. After graduating from Bowen High School, she obtained a job at a local Jewel supermarket, where she remained for 25 years. She married and was blessed with two children, Pedro and Enrique, now 5 and 4 years, respectively. When told that Enrique was born with Down Syndrome she was overwhelmed with concern about his development and well-being, as well as her ability to cope with the demands of caring for a child with special needs who could not speak or walk.
Soon after Enrique was born, Amanda had to stop working and devoted her full attention to caring for Enrique. Pedro was later diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which added to the demanding challenges Amanda faced. She realized that she would be out of work caring for her two children and that it would be difficult to re-enter the workforce unless she prepared ahead of time. Amanda had the courage to enroll at Phalanx Adult Education, where she earned a Certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA). During this time, Amanda also experienced domestic violence.
Last year, she attempted to find a center to provide early childhood education and care for Pedro. She found a center, but she was soon notified that it could not continue to serve Pedro due to his high level of hyperactivity. This occurred at a time when she also needed assistance in caring for Enrique. It was at this point when someone told her about El Valor. Amanda becomes emotional as she recalls bringing her children to El Valor and how a team of teachers and staff took them in whole-heartedly. “They evaluated and made preparations to accommodate Enrique’s special needs and placed Pedro in a program designed to address his ADHD. My concerns about how other children would treat Pedro and Enrique vanished as I saw how all children are taught to be accepting and respectful of others.”
During this time, Amanda participated in parent development workshops and advocacy training at El Valor. It was here where she found the self-confidence to get more involved in her children’s education. She found the courage to leave an abusive marriage and to move from being a victim to taking charge of her life. Within a short time, Amanda became an advocate for children with special needs, meeting and writing to legislators to fight for adequate funding for programs. Amanda was elected by the parents of El Valor to represent them and to serve on El Valor’s Board of Directors. In November, 2011, the parents elected her as their representative to El Valor’s Health Advisory Committee.
“I cannot thank El Valor enough. Pedro is now attending LEARN Charter School, his hyperactivity has decreased and he may soon not have a need for medication. The support, care, and education provided for Enrique has been a blessing. There should be an El Valor in every neighborhood,” Amanda declared.
Today, Amanda is in a position to look for a job. She has aspirations that she would never think possible before she came to El Valor: “I want the best education for my children. I want to establish a recreational center for children with disabilities in the Southeast side of Chicago, where families can bond and find support in their daily struggles and where they have time to be thankful for their blessings.”
Amanda may not have met Mrs. Reyes, but she is definitely following in her footsteps.
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For information about El Valor's Parent Engagement & Governance Programs, please contact:
Manager, Family Engagement & Governance - El Valor
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