Speak UP’s Parent of the Month: Hilda Ávila, ‘cultivating warrior parents’

Hilda Ávila is Speak UP’s Parent of the Month

When Hilda Ávila became a mother 12 years ago, the leader inside her was born too.

A pregnancy class, followed by a parenting workshop, marked the beginning of her journey to becoming a parent leader in the community of Wilmington, in South Los Angeles.

“I started by attending classes, then became a volunteer, and I continue being involved to this day'', Hilda said about Harbor Pregnancy Help Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting mothers to continue with their pregnancies, which was the first place that fostered Hilda’s spirit of service.

Hilda immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico City, where she completed two years of college majoring in Communication.

"I wanted to take a year off and go back to get my college degree, but I stayed here and then became a mother."

Hilda began getting involved with her son Jaziel’s education as soon as he started attending the Head Start program at age 2. That's when she began advocating for children and their parents’ rights until it turned into her passion.

“I would enroll in the same classes over and over, because I think you always learn something new, and even from other parents in the class,” Hilda said. “Children won’t stay little forever. I had to keep learning and growing as a mother along with my child”.

Hilda has been collaborating with different organizations such as CARECEN, Families In Schools, Rotary Club of Wilmington, United Way Greater Los Angeles and Speak UP on issues related to education,  immigration, public health and even the environment.

She also collaborates with the Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office and the First 5 California Best Start program, which focuses on getting Los Angeles County children ready for kindergarten and beyond.

“I don't realize everything I do because I'm just passionate about it,” says Hilda. “Helping other parents grow gives me great satisfaction.”

When her son began attending LAUSD Fries Elementary, she started volunteering at the school’s Parent Center. And in 2018, Hilda was recognized as an “LAUSD Hero in Education” by then-Superintendent Michelle King and LAUSD School Board President Richard Vladovic.

“I had been serving in the PTO for 3 years then. At first, the principal...let’s just say that he wasn’t very fond of me, but later we began to collaborate very well. It was a teacher who nominated me, so it was very nice for me,” she said. "I experienced humiliation and criticism when I started getting involved, so that recognition for me was a real achievement."

Hilda joined Speak UP’s Latino Padres Unidos earlier this year, to be part of the Digital Parent Leadership Team, which was in charge of recruiting about 200 parents, through social media, to attend a virtual town hall in August about the new LAUSD superintendent search.

“To change something at the root, it has to be top down. By changing the person who heads (the district) and with the support of parents, great changes can be achieved,” said Hilda, who thinks Latino parents must get involved in the process.

Speak UP created a petition for parents to get involved in the search process for the next superintendent asking LAUSD school board members to elect a leader who can put kids first. 

Hilda is currently leading a literacy workshop in Spanish called "Mamá reads, Papá reads", to help parents pass the love of reading to their children. She teaches the workshop to 20-30 parents per 10-week session. In addition to workshops, she also offers one-to-one support to parents facing challenges with their special education children or to parents of English learners, like her. She successfully helped her son reclassify.

"There are parents who tell me that they did not know that their children were classified as English learners," she said. Hilda believes that as parents, when advocating for their children, it is OK to demand, "but when demanding you must recognize your obligations too." 

She also advises parents that they must prepare before advocating, so they don’t get carried away by their emotions. "If we get carried away by sentiment, we do not advocate effectively and that is when the system wins."

Here are some tips from Hilda on parent leadership:

Hilda Ávila actively participates in a Latino Padres Unidos meeting on Oct. 28 on Zoom

What do you like the most about joining Speak UP’s Latino Padres Unidos?

The term Latino is key. I think as a leader, I have the right and the obligation to parents to be impartial when I share information so they are well informed and they are able to make up their minds on their own, according to the needs of their student, in collaboration with teachers and the administration. [I like] the resources that Latino Padres Unidos offers for parents. And being able to foster warrior parents.

How can Latino parents be more involved in their children's education?

It is important that you take the time to get involved. Many parents don't get involved because they don't know how, and often because their work schedule is a barrier for them. Sometimes they say the language is a barrier, but they can see that I do not speak English and I can still be involved. I invite parents to get involved, to meet the child’s school principals, teachers. They can be your friends and allies.

We must commit ourselves not only to improving the education of our children but also the education of all families in our communities. It is important that the Latino community come together as one so we can show our power.

How have you been successful in collaborating with LAUSD and other community organizations?

I tell parents to prepare themselves. I tell them, ‘if you're okay, your family will be fine, your entire community will be better.’ Do not be afraid of challenges. Challenges are important for growth. I believe that the one who lacks, grows. Sometimes our abilities are not awake but they emerge when we are challenged.

I am not into fighting. I am all about collaboration. I, for example, represent several organizations. I like to be able to represent all organizations. That’s what has worked for me. As a leader, I think about parents, what can benefit parents and the community.

What do you think should change immediately in LAUSD?

In the school system..I think more than change, it should improve. It should primarily improve collaboration with parents, teachers, and administrators. Offering parents clear communication is key. LAUSD has the funds, it has the core programs. Not all parents know that.

There is no one to take you by the hand to navigate the system. If the foundation already exists, let's do something to improve it. Almost everything is generalized, and, the thing is, not everything is the same. Each community has different needs and needs different resources.

And in terms of politics, the priority should be to collaborate for the well-being of children, regardless of whether I give you my vote or not.

What is your main goal as a parent leader?

My passion and my motivation is that my son sees me advocating for others, being involved and helping the community. I want him to see me and know that it is not bad to ask for help, there are no silly questions. You have to learn all the time and keep preparing. I want him to be proud of me. And the second thing is for parents to prepare in order to achieve change.

We will achieve change when each parent recognizes their ability. Together we can create big change.