The people we have the privilege of serving
Success Stories
These stories belong to the residents and clients who shared them with us. Meet the people pursuing an education, finding a stable home, building confidence and helping their neighbors.
Each story and photograph reflects the time it was first shared. Publication years are included, with links to the original accounts.
Story shared in 2025 · Silverado Creek
Diana
Finding her place in the community
Diana once hesitated to attend activities at Silverado Creek, unsure whether they were meant for everyone. With encouragement from Resident Services Coordinator Daisy Gomez, she grew more comfortable taking part. In her 2025 interview, Diana described feeling more connected and more involved in her children’s education. She also spoke about the ways tutoring and community activities had helped her family learn together.
“Speaking with Daisy made me realize there is so much more I can do to be involved in my children’s education.”
A place to call home
Story shared in 2024
Cristy
A home and a place to belong
A flyer outside a Calistoga market led Cristy to NVCH’s Home Sharing program. After an application and interviews, she was matched with a family in American Canyon. Helping with household and caregiving tasks reduced her rent and gave her a meaningful role in the household. In her 2024 story, Cristy described the relief of finding a stable home and the companionship that came with it.
Story shared in 2023
Carol
Room for a quieter morning
Home Sharing gave Carol a private room, space for morning meditation and a more affordable place to live. She helped her home provider with light housekeeping. A separate match helped her son find stable housing while working and attending Napa Valley College.
Story shared in 2022
Antonio
From transitional housing to a home of his own
After living in NVCH transitional housing, Antonio applied for an apartment at Stoddard West when Gina Enriquez told him the waitlist had opened. His 2022 story described a peaceful home where he grew his janitorial business.
Story shared in 2020
Blaize
A home base for his path to law school
While living at Arroyo Grande Villas, Blaize worked full time and earned a business degree. In 2020, he received a full scholarship to the University of Arizona Law School and moved to Tucson with his family to begin his studies.
Learning and pursuing goals
Story shared in 2024
Guadalupe
New confidence in the classroom
Guadalupe joined a summer math program in 2024 with encouragement from Daisy Gomez and support from her mother. Over two months, she became more comfortable with addition and subtraction and began solving simple multiplication problems. Her mother noticed a change beyond the homework: Guadalupe was more eager to participate in class. The report pictured mother and daughter together as they shared her progress.
Story shared in 2023
Ofelia
Making time for her education
Ofelia began virtual GED classes in August 2021 and earned her credential that December. While raising four children, she also took university courses online. Her 2023 story described continued English classes at Napa Valley College and her goal of studying business and accounting.
Story shared in 2023
Daniel
Practice that paid off
Daniel spent the summer of 2023 practicing math, reading and writing with support from his parents, a volunteer tutor and Daisy. By summer’s end, he answered all 100 multiplication questions in under five minutes. He returned to school feeling better about his writing, too.
Story shared in 2022
Karla
College, work and a goal to give back
Rising Star scholar Karla graduated from Napa High in 2022 and began a full course load at Napa Valley College while working full time. Inspired by her family, she hoped to study health sciences and give back.
Story shared in 2022
Vanesa
Working toward a future in health care
A Rising Star scholarship recipient in 2021 and 2022, Vanesa pursued health sciences at Sacramento State. She and her sister coordinated classes and carpools from Napa. Her goal was to use her education to serve her community.
Story shared in 2022
Fabian
Building skills one lesson at a time
With tutoring at the Von Brandt Neighborhood Center, Fabian became comfortable with addition and subtraction, then strengthened his reading and writing. His 2022 profile also shared his love of soccer and horseback riding.
Story shared in 2022
Angel
Finding a love of math
Math became a favorite subject for Angel after he joined Daisy’s after-school program. His persistence encouraged other students to join, too. In his 2022 story, the young soccer player was eager to keep improving his reading and writing.
Story shared in 2020
Leonardo
The first in his family to graduate
Leonardo became his family’s first high school graduate during the pandemic. An NVCH scholarship helped him begin classes at Napa Valley College. His 2020 story shared his interest in psychology, his wish to help people and the encouragement of his family.
Story shared in 2020
Natalie
Achievement and imagination
Natalie earned recognition for a 4.0 GPA while adapting to school during the pandemic. Her 2020 story also celebrated her artwork and love of writing. She drew landscapes, flowers and animals, including a mother wolf and cub for her mom.
Story shared in 2020
Joshua
Learning a skill and helping his family
Joshua taught himself to sew through online videos and made 22 masks for his family in 2020. He also helped Resident Services Coordinator Daisy Gomez, building office and communication skills. His story showed a young person finding useful ways to help.
Independence and community
Story shared in 2023
Consuelo
Persistence kept her moving
Consuelo drove neighbors to appointments and errands, so renewing her license mattered to more than just her. After several setbacks, she studied with Resident Services Coordinator Norma using printed practice tests. On her fourth attempt, Consuelo passed and could keep helping her neighbors.
Story shared in 2021
Maria
Setting goals and showing up for neighbors
Maria joined the Heart Walk program in her NVCH community and went on to lead the walks herself. She also kept studying for citizenship when in-person classes stopped, practicing exam questions by phone with a Resident Services Coordinator. She passed her exam in December 2020 and was sworn in the following January. Her 2021 story celebrated those achievements and her help with community food deliveries.
Story shared in 2021
Mireya
Becoming a citizen so her voice could be heard
Mireya studied for citizenship through Puertas Abiertas’ online classes, encouraged by NVCH Neighborhood Coordinator Georgina Enriquez. In July 2021, she passed her test and took part in the swearing-in ceremony the same day. A community volunteer provided the ride to San Francisco and back. For Mireya, becoming a citizen meant being able to vote and have her voice heard.
Story shared in 2021
Angelica
A stable home and goals of her own
After moving to Oak Creek Terrace with her sons, Angelica found work in hotel housekeeping and earned a promotion to supervisor. She also studied for citizenship with Daisy’s encouragement and passed her test in August 2020. In her 2021 story, she described home as time with her two boys and shared a goal of buying a home one day.
