It’s a Joshua Station “tradition unlike any other.”

Down the stairway they come, mom and kids, beaming. Their own individually-chosen theme music is cranked to high volume in order to be heard over raucous cheers and tasseled party blowers. Up the center aisle they stride and then turn to face the crowd. Mom adjusts her mortarboard graduation cap and takes a big breath.

“Wow. I was really surprised at how many people were there,” says program graduate Maria Lopez. (Over 80 residents, volunteers, staff, relatives, and other well-wishers packed the room.) “It made me nervous at first. But then my family advocate [Miriam Medina] started talking about how proud she was of me. She said that at the beginning I didn’t trust anybody here. It was true. It was hard for me to trust people after everything I had been through, and I had no confidence. Plus it was a whole new environment. I didn’t know how to be in community, but now I do.

“At first when people in the crowd stood up and started saying good things about me, it was awkward. But then I felt very proud of myself. They meant what they said, and I realized it was all true. My kids were listening, and it made them proud of their own accomplishments.

“I was really proud of the other graduation families also.” (Five families completed the program this year and are now in their own stable housing, continuing with their education and employment goals.) “We have made friends for life, and we still love coming back to Joshua Station dinners and activities. We all made sure to thank Joshua Station for all they have done to help us get to this point in life!”

Maria, Crystal, Priscilla, Brittany, and Jennifer—and your beautiful children—we are absolutely bursting with joy and pride. It’s an honor to know you so deeply, and to see all the ways you are becoming. You’ve each made a big impact at Joshua Station, and you’ll always be home here in our hearts.