Not long ago, Alma Miranda lived with Porfirio, a cat that resembled the character Garfield, with whom she shared thirteen years. More than a companion, Porfirio had become a mirror through which Alma not only lived and coexisted, but also talked, shared problems, and celebrated the achievements of her work at the helm of Help For Your Life.
“I witnessed his agony, the way and dignity with which Porfirio faced his last days. He died in October, but for me, it feels like it was just yesterday. Many people think animals don’t understand what’s happening, but they’re wrong. Porfirio knew, and he felt sad when he saw me sad. In his final days, he would just lie there, and when I spoke to him, he would wag his little tail. He was trying to tell me he was okay and that I should be okay too,” says Alma, director of Help For Your Life, an organization that helps the community in its process of assimilation in this country.
Alma now lives with La Cuca, a little dove who keeps her company and listens when she has something to share.
“This experience with Porfirio and La Cuca helps me in my work and helps me understand so many things that happen in my job and life. She wags her tail when she knows I’m about to leave. These animals help me understand my students, the youth and adults who come to our center seeking help, disoriented, not knowing what to do with their lives in a foreign country,” Alma explains.
The organization Help For Your Life is part of College Community International, located in South Gate. Alma co-founded both with Rubén de Arias. “We saw the community’s needs and told ourselves, ‘Why don’t we do it ourselves?’”
Help For Your Life offers numerous training courses, including Family Integration; health-related topics; domestic violence; legal services; anger management; parenting classes; job search assistance; technical, business, and work education. Currently, the focus is on training caregivers for the elderly.
“There are many needs in the community. Young people arrive here with studies from their home countries, but they can’t validate them here. We tell them what to do. Everything must follow a transitional process. Many have been able to return to their trained professions,” Alma says.
For her, the word respect is very serious. “If we want to progress as a community, we must respect others, establish commitments, and fulfill them. Other goals will come naturally.”
Help For Your Life offers numerous training courses, including Family Integration; health-related topics; domestic violence; legal services; anger management; parenting classes; job search assistance; technical, business, and work education. Currently, the focus is on training caregivers for the elderly.
Alma grew up in Monterrey, Mexico. However, she spent much of her life in the agricultural fields of Texas, Washington, and California helping her parents. She liked seeing people wake up early, ready to work with the best attitudes.
“I loved being out in the harvest. Tell me, who are the ones working hard so others can eat without problems? I was out there working since I was young, just like them, enjoying seeing them and living that atmosphere of solidarity and hard work. That’s what I learned from them. And out of respect for them, I try to provide these young people and adults with the tools they need to work and share with others,” she says.
The financial needs of her project have been met “thanks to God.”
“I’ve lacked nothing. I receive many donations from people who want to help in different ways. That’s how we got this building. Some people came and told me, ‘There’s this space—do you want it?’” she says.
“Students leave very grateful. We also help them financially. If they can’t pay for their training, we cover it. Others who can pay help us maintain a balance,” she adds.
She tells the story of one of her students, Taviano, who was in great need and whom she later ran into on the street. “I saw a young man running toward me, saying, ‘Don’t you recognize me?’ I asked who he was, and he said, ‘I’m Taviano. Now I’m a lawyer.’ Those are the stories that make me happy. I’ve asked God so much to help me, to help us, that He’s made this project my mission: serving the community.”
Alma operates a reward system.
“They have many needs. I help them find jobs. If they need shoes, I get them shoes. If they need clothes, I get them clothes. And you know what? God has allowed the community to donate many things to us. People call to donate all sorts of things, and that allows us to do what we do,” she adds.
THE CHALLENGE OF THE ELDERLY
Over the years, Alma has seen the need to train caregivers for the elderly. More and more, she sees families not taking care of their elders.
“They used to be respected. Now, many are thrown out on the street,” she says.
That’s why there’s urgency in having more qualified people to meet the need.
“We’ve seen elderly folks being given spoiled milk, being beaten, left with bruised buttocks—that’s just not acceptable. We must respect them and thank them for everything they’ve done for us. Many seniors call us at Christmas when they feel lonely, and we send someone to be with them,” she says.
Given the current political and economic climate, Alma has noticed that students are scared, fearful.
“I speak to them strongly. Many of these young people struggle to express what they’re going through with words. That’s why I’m starting a new course to help them practice. I tell them to write, ‘Time is in God’s hands.’ We can’t do anything ourselves,” she says.
Alma won’t give up. She’ll keep moving from place to place, helping anyone who asks. She wants a more just society—and that, she says, can only be achieved through work.
“I leave it all in God’s hands,” she says with conviction.
COMMUNITY FORUM
No to Elder Abuse
(Integrate the Elderly into the Family)
Location: Dollar Hide Center in Compton, 301 N. Tamarind Ave.
Date: May 28
Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
