Mother’s Day is a big deal at schools in Mexico, where each class presents traditional dances for the parents, people bring food, and children work to make presents for their mothers.

When The Heights at Burien staff first saw how Mother’s Day was celebrated at the schools here in Burien, they were disappointed, and missed the lively celebration from home. Residents from Mexico, who make up over 70% of the residents at the Heights at Burien, felt the same way.

In response, parents, teachers and New Futures staff collaborated to create the Mother’s Day celebration. Parent prepared diverse regional foods. Community members helped set up. The children and New Futures’ staff presented dances, and then parents and adults stayed to dance all evening. New Futures staff also collected items for a raffle to be able to give presents to some of the moms, as is traditional in Mexico.

Bringing something that people missed from home and honoring mothers is only part of why New Future’s Mother’s Day celebration is important. The party is also the only chance for many parents, who work during times that meetings are scheduled, or don’t have access to evening childcare, to meet their children’s administrators and teachers.

And it is important not to disregard the feeling of community and joy that paying tribute to residents’ home culture brings. As a staff member noted, “You can’t imagine how special it is to see our kids dancing our regional dances for us.”

To read more inspiring stories about the kids and families of New Futures, visit our Story Archives.