Educational Support for Families and Youth at St. Boniface: Providing Hope for the Future

We’ve all heard some variation of the phrase, “Children are our future.” It’s easy to understand, on an intellectual level, the importance of investing in our young people, as the leaders of tomorrow. However, for many — particularly those without children at home — it can be difficult to know exactly how to support our young people and their families.

Several years ago, parishioner and longtime educator Anna Hodges decided to use her 40-plus years as a teacher to help families in our parish community.

“I started out with a program called ‘Step Up to Success in Education,’” Anna says. “Initially, it was showing monthly, inspirational movies for the youth, to motivate kids. Then, I initiated this mentoring program and tutorial program for our students. The idea was no child should be left behind.”

Through the program, Anna worked to connect parents and their students with adults who were willing to serve as volunteer tutors, in a particular subject area. In addition to helping connect students with tutors and mentors, Anna has also hosted several events, helping families to understand the FAFSA process, applying for financial assistance for college.

“Without educated young people, where are our leaders coming from?” Anna says. “These students have talents, but if they don’t develop those talents in education, they will never reach their full potential and become the future leaders of America. I will do everything I can to help children and families.”

Anna’s passion for helping people learn is not, however, limited to young people. As someone who attended college as a mom with four children, she also enjoys helping adults, especially in the area of literacy. She hopes to offer an adult ESL class in the future.

“It’s never too late to learn,” Anna says.

Anna encourages her fellow parishioners to consider how they might be able to serve in assisting our families and youth, particularly during a time when distance learning presents a unique set of challenges. Tutors are needed for students ranging from kindergarten through college, in all subject areas.

“The students are our future,” Anna says. “You either pay now or you pay later. You pay now in educating them and investing in their future, or you pay later in jails and for other bad things they may get into, or welfare because they don’t make enough money to support their families.

“An investment in our youth is an investment in our future,” she adds. “We have to invest in our youth. There’s a great need.”

If you would like more information on helping to support students, as a tutor and mentor, or if you would like to learn about upcoming education opportunities — both for children and adults — please leave a message (English or Spanish) for Anna Hodges at 903-852-6808. You may also email Anna at jbajhodges@aol.com.

Parishioner Anna Hodges loves to share her passion for learning with others — young and not-so-young alike!