Small Steps parent finds voice, shares story

Small Steps’ parent Rose Garcia read her life story aloud at Rice Center for Education’s Spring Reading.

On May 17, the School Literacy and Culture Project helped one Houston parent take a large step toward finding her voice and telling her story.

The project is an ongoing Small Steps program that empowers students by allowing them to tell their life stories. Kathie Hartzog, director, decided to include the parents in the project, which is how Rose Garcia got involved.

Garcia photographed things that meant something to her throughout her life, including her children, her church and a mother hen protecting her chicks. She then created a short autobiographical story using the photos and the stories behind them.

Rose read her story at the Rice Center for Education's Spring Reading. It is featured in Rice's "Impressions" anthology and is hanging on the wall with her photos at the Small Steps campus, 2902 Jensen Drive.

"Being even tangentially related to Rose's experience… was one of the highlights of my school year," said Karen Capo, director of the center's School Literacy and Culture Project. "The sharing of her story was so powerful."  

Small Steps is a nonprofit Christian group providing early childhood education and fostering social, emotional, physical, intellectual and spiritual growth among at-risk children in Houston.