The White House on Monday named Sandra Gutierrez, national program director of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, as a Cesar Chavez Champion of Change. Gutierrez is one of 10 community leaders chosen for reflecting the spirit of the Latino leader’s legacy.

“Parents are true champions of change, unsung heroes of our country.” Gutierrez said at Monday’s award ceremony. “All parents we see work hard and want a better life for their kids.”

Abriendo Puertas, an important partner of the GLR Campaign, helps Latino families with children from birth to age 5 to expand parenting skills and become advocates for their children. Since its launch in Los Angeles in 2007, the program has trained more than 1,000 facilitators and provided its curriculum to more than 30,000 families in 256 cities across the country.  Results from a 2012 independent evaluation demonstrate that participants make significant gains in parenting skills and knowledge, and become advocates for their children and families.

The Los Angeles-based nonprofit has worked with the GLR Campaign to develop pledge cards in English and Spanish for parents of young children and has partnered with Attendance Works to create material for Spanish-speaking families. Abriendo Puertas is also involved with the local LA grade-level reading coalition.

Before coming to the organization,  Gutierrez founded the first service organization to assist Central American Refugees, developed health education programs for agricultural workers, led campaigns to promote preschool in the Latino community and served as State Commissioner for First 5 California.

 

 

 

Sandra Gutierrez is the National Program Director of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors (AP/OD), the nation’s first, evidence-based comprehensive training program for Latino parents with children aged 0-5. Ms. Gutierrez led the development of the AP/OD program and curriculum, which is designed with parent input and uses the “popular education” approach to engage parents in lessons that authentically reflect their culture, communities and experiences. Since its launch in Los Angeles in 2007, AP/OD has trained over 1,000 facilitators in more than 400 family-serving organizations and has provided its curriculum to over 30,000 families in 256 cities across the country. Results from a 2012 independent evaluation demonstrate that participants make significant gains in parenting skills and knowledge, and become advocates for their children and families. Prior to joining Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors, Ms. Gutierrez’s expansive career included founding the first service organization to assist Central American Refugees, developing health education programs for agricultural workers, leading campaigns to promote preschool in the Latino community, and serving as State Commissioner for First 5 California.