Impact Stories
Discover the real-life moments that define who we are. From family journeys and team spotlights to community partnerships and adventures with Lumi the Learning Dog, these stories highlight the people, providers, and programs shaping brighter futures together.

April 23, 2025
When Noah was a toddler, his grandmother Dolores—affectionately known as Gamma—was at a doctor’s appointment with him at First Step when a team from Aprendamos noticed something. They gently approached her and asked a few questions. “That’s how we first heard about Aprendamos,” she shared. From that moment on, the journey began. Noah was referred to early intervention services, and his team soon recommended testing for Autism based on observed developmental delays. “We agreed,” said Dolores, “and once he was officially diagnosed, the therapists could really begin to understand how to help him.” That diagnosis became the key to personalized care strategies that would shape the course of Noah’s future. The early days weren’t easy. “It was chaotic… unknown,” Dolores recalled. She, her husband, and her youngest daughter reorganized their lives so one of them could always be present during Noah’s therapy sessions. “We tried to keep the three of us on the same page,” she said, “because we knew we needed to give him the best shot.” That decision led to over 14 years of continuous support through multiple Aprendamos programs—including Early Intervention, Esperanza Children’s Therapy, and Mariposa Autism Service Center (MASC). Now 16 years old and preparing to enter his senior year of high school, Noah has made incredible strides. “People tell me, ‘He doesn’t look Autistic,’” said Dolores. “But what they don’t see is everything we’ve worked on—the way he’s learned to self-soothe, the way he handles crowds, and how far he’s come in school.” Despite ongoing challenges with changes in routine and overstimulation, Noah is thriving. Throughout the years, many team members have left a lasting impact, including Lydia, who was there in the beginning, and his current Esperanza therapy team—Monica (OT), Kathleen (PT), and Karah (SLP), who has been a consistent figure in his life. And then there’s Camp Amigos, which Noah attended from age 5 to about 12. “He loved it,” said Dolores. “It gave him joy, community, and structure. We still remember those summers.” Looking back, Dolores says they never imagined how much Aprendamos would come to mean to their family. “They’ve gone above and beyond our expectations. Aprendamos changed Noah’s life—and ours.” To families just starting their journey, she offers this advice: “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid. Be patient. It will help you—and most of all, it will help your child with their journey in life.” Today, Noah is a Pokémon expert, a loving grandson, and a young man preparing for graduation in 2026. As Dolores puts it, “He might not learn in the ‘normal’ way, but he’s learning in his way—and that’s all we ever wanted for him.” Here’s to Noah, and to 14 incredible years of partnership, progress, and love.

April 18, 2025
As Aprendamos Family of Services celebrates 20 years of service, we’re proud to spotlight Krystal Chavarria-Gonzalez — a team member whose story captures the spirit of our mission and the heart behind our work. Krystal’s journey began in 2006 when she joined Aprendamos as a file clerk while still a senior in high school. She spent her early days organizing therapy notes and developing filing systems, but her favorite part of the job was talking with therapists and learning about the progress their clients were making. That curiosity, combined with a deep passion for child development, would go on to shape her future in ways she couldn’t have imagined at the time. With encouragement from a mentor, Krystal earned her 45-hour Early Childhood Certification and began supporting children as a Developmental Specialist under supervision — all while continuing her education at NMSU. After graduating in 2011, she transitioned into a full-time role as a Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist II. What was originally a one-year commitment turned into nearly two decades of impactful work and leadership. Over the years, Krystal has served in a variety of meaningful roles — including Family Service Coordinator, Community Education Coordinator, Evaluator, and Program Director. She was instrumental in developing our Early Intervention Internship Program, collaborating with universities like NMSU, WNMU, UNM, and ENMU to mentor and train future professionals across departments. Her work has left a lasting mark not only on families, but on the next generation of early childhood specialists. After welcoming her daughter in 2022, Krystal made the decision to step back from management and return to Aprendamos in a role that allowed her to balance motherhood and her passion for service. Today, she continues her work as a Developmental Instructionist II/Evaluator, while also participating in leadership initiatives through UNM, the Doña Ana Early Childhood Coalition, the Gadsden Chapter, and more. She’s a member of both the Built on Values and Professional Development teams, and serves as a board member for the Children’s Reading Alliance and the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. When asked about her favorite memories, Krystal recalled the magic of organizing Aprendamos’ Winter Wonderland event with fellow team members — decorating the office until 3 a.m., wrapping cubicles like presents, stringing lights through the halls, and bringing holiday cheer to families. Without planning committees or formal budgets, it was a labor of love fueled by the shared commitment of a team that always found joy in going the extra mile. One of the most meaningful parts of Krystal’s journey has been the relationship she built with a single mother and her children — a connection that lasted more than 15 years and spanned two generations. What started as a service visit for an 18-month-old boy became a lifelong bond with his siblings and, later, his children. That family’s resilience, strength, and love left a lasting impact on Krystal — a reminder of why this work matters. Reflecting on her time at Aprendamos, Krystal shared what has kept her here all these years: “I have grown personally and professionally throughout my years here. I’ve developed meaningful relationships with my co-workers and the families I’ve served. You become a very meaningful human being in the lives of children and families.” We are truly fortunate to have Krystal as part of the Aprendamos family. Her dedication, leadership, and compassion have helped shape who we are — and her story is one of many that continues to inspire our mission today.

December 10, 2024
Once upon a time, a tale of pure delight, In our halls at Aprendamos, something wasn’t quite right. A furry friend had joined our crew, always ready to play, But finding the perfect name? Now that was quite the way! The suggestions started flying day to day, “Excel!” called one voice, while “Gato!” made our pup look away. Names filled our halls bringing laughter and fun, But finding that perfect match had only just begun. Then one magical afternoon, the brightest bulb lit up bright, As someone remembered our purpose – everything felt right: “Igniting Hope to Build Brighter Futures Together” was our guide, And suddenly the perfect name was impossible to hide! “Luminoso!” The word rang out like a bell, Filling the room with light and stories to tell. But try yelling that name at the dog park! We chose “Lumi,” it’s more clever, Short and sweet, now that’s much better! Now Lumi bounces through our halls with joy and grace, Turning moments into memories in every single space. From morning meetings to afternoon fun, Our bright little star outshines the sun! Together we shine, together we grow, Spreading light and joy wherever we go!

November 25, 2024
Did you know 1 in 10 babies is born prematurely? Given how common prematurity is, it is critical that babies and their families have access to resources to help them thrive. While we help children acquire essential skills to grow and develop to their greatest potential through our Aprendamos Early Intervention, Cariño Home Visiting, and Esperanza Children’s Therapy programs, there are other organizations in our community making a meaningful difference specifically for premature infants and their families. With November recognized as Prematurity Awareness Month, we would like to shine a spotlight on a community partner making an impact in our community, The Wee Warriors Project. The organization was created to support New Mexico families with medically fragile babies and children. Since the journey for families of premature babies often begins in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), The Wee Warriors Project made it their mission to begin helping families during one of the most overwhelming and difficult times, while also supporting hospitals with the resources necessary to care for premature infants. Services they provide are: NICU Support Boxes: These boxes are packed with items to help families cope with the difficult transition into the NICU. Diaper Bags: The Wee Warriors Project has donated 200 diaper bags to families at Lovelace Regional Hospital in Roswell, NM. These bags help families manage the day-to-day challenges of caring for a newborn, especially one facing medical issues. Hospital Equipment: They have donated high-quality hospital-grade reclining chairs to the NICU at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) and Lovelace Regional in Roswell, ensuring parents have a comfortable place to sit while staying by their baby’s side. NICU Incubator Blankets: The Wee Warriors Project has provided NICU incubator blankets to hospitals across the state, ensuring that every baby has access to the comfort and warmth they need in their first days of life. Training and Certification for Birth Staff: They also recently provided funding to the Three Suns Birthing Center in Roswell, NM to ensure their staff received STABLE certification—a specialized training program that focuses on six assessment and care modules in the program (sugar, temperature, airway, blood pressure, lab work, and emotional support.) The program emphasizes stabilizing and caring for newborns, particularly those born prematurely. The Wee Warriors Project is also working to establish a statewide program to offer STABLE certification to healthcare providers, improving the quality of care for preterm infants across New Mexico. When we asked The Wee Warriors Project Founder and CEO, Camille Hines Plante, what she would recommend to new parents who have given birth to a premature infant, she said, “Become your baby’s advocate by learning and asking all questions in the NICU and of the healthcare team. Also, communicate your needs to family and partner to establish a realistic plan to spend as much time as possible with your baby.” Thank you, Camille and The Wee Warriors Project, for all you do to make a meaningful difference for babies, children, and families in the Land of Enchantment! For more information on The Wee Warriors Project, please visit www.weewarriorsproject.org .

July 11, 2024
Sometimes all it takes is a parent wanting more for their child to create change for an entire community. In the Fall of 2009, Estee Hafassa embarked on a journey to find a way to give her son, who had been diagnosed with autism, the experience of attending camp. She began brainstorming and realized that in addition to developing a children’s camp, she also hoped to raise awareness for autism and provide additional resources for children and families in Southern New Mexico. In December 2009, Estee shared her vision with our CEO, Abel Covarrubias, and the Aprendamos team. Immediately, we knew that we needed to partner with Estee to find a way to turn her dream into reality. We worked together to plan the inaugural Masquerade Ball, which brought together 200 compassionate, community supporters eager to support the endeavor and learn more about autism. Thanks to their generosity, we established the Hearts for Autism Fund at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico in 2010. The fund aims to increase awareness about autism while providing important resources to children and families, including the annual Camp New Amigos. Since then, the Hearts for Autism has been a vital resource to children and families in our community. Camp New Amigos, hosted on the NMSU campus, provides a summer camp experience to 40 children ages 6-13 complete with horseback riding, kayaking, swimming, a climbing wall, and art projects. In collaboration with Las Cruces Public Schools, a Hearts for Autism Lending Library was also established to provide resources, books, and toys for families and community partners. We realized we couldn’t do this alone, so we added a Board & Community Liaison to the team. Our current liaison, Ruth Ann Ortiz, MSW, brings 18 years of social work experience and a background in Infant Mental Health to Hearts for Autism. Ruth helps support families and children who have recently been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by providing vital resources and assisting them as they navigate their journey. When we asked Ruth how Camp New Amigos has made an impact for children, she said, “We have been able to support children, help them deal with their challenges, and work through these challenges as they arise at camp so they can continue to participate. Parents really appreciate that they can bring their children to a week-long camp and know they are safe and have a great opportunity.” An impact story Ruth shared involved a mother who moved to our community last year and was looking for resources for her child. Ruth invited her daughter to attend Camp New Amigos, and during the camp, her daughter met another child in the program. The two children formed a connection and continue to maintain a relationship outside of camp and have regular play dates. The mother was so appreciative of the opportunity that she attended the Hearts for Autism Gala to share her story with attendees. We are fortunate that our community helps to fund these important initiatives. The annual Masquerade Ball, the Hearts for Autism 5K & half-marathon, and donations from generous individuals helps to raise additional funds for programming. Now an official nonprofit organization, Hearts for Autism continues to be supported and led by a diverse board of directors from Southern New Mexico. We will always be grateful to the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico for helping us realize our dream of increasing awareness about autism, providing the necessary support to families, and experiences to children with autism in our community. We invite you to learn more about the organization, volunteer at next year’s camp, and attend the upcoming Hearts for Autism training in October. Together we can make an impact, celebrate the unique needs of autism, and educate the community to embrace us all!