Lucia and her parents moved to Milwaukee from Mexico more than two decades ago. She was 17 years old.
“My family wasn’t economically stable in Mexico, so my dad came here to work. I could have stayed in Mexico and continued my studies, but I didn’t want to be alone,” she said. “We planned to be here for only two years, but we ended up staying.”
When she arrived, Lucia didn’t speak English, and she had no friends.
“I was resentful about moving at first, but now that I’m older, I know it was the best decision for me. I’m grateful to be with my family; I love them, and they’ve always supported me.”
Lucia learned English at Milwaukee Area Technical College, where she studied several subjects. While she wasn’t at school, she worked as a dishwasher at a restaurant. When she could no longer afford tuition, she was forced to drop out.
She took on additional work and eventually, she was able to resume her studies.
Her family received health care at Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic, the largest free clinic in Wisconsin, which serves a large Hispanic population. At the clinic, Lucia met Leslie Davis, a psychologist.
“I’m the only Spanish speaking counselor at Aurora Walker’s Point,” said Leslie. “Several years ago, we began a series of online classes for Spanish speaking women called Creciendo Juntas, which translates to ‘Growing Together.’ We teach skills like mindfulness, compassionate communication, and emotion management.”
Created in partnership with Aurora Walker’s Point and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health Program, Creciendo Juntas is a multi-course, trauma-informed, peer-centered stress reduction intervention. The program focuses on mental and emotional health and well-being and is designed to reduce the impact of daily stress through the identification of triggers and learning stress reduction techniques. The classes are taught by Leslie and Tessy Ayzanoa, who was a physician in Peru before she came to the U.S. Sessions are offered at no cost to participants.
“After I had my second baby seven years ago, I suffered from postpartum depression,” shared Lucia. “Leslie thought the classes might help me manage how I was feeling. I enjoyed attending and meeting other women I could relate to. I brought my mother and sisters and even retook the classes because I always learned something new.”
In the Walker’s Point area, there are minimal resources for mental health services that are affordable or free of charge, especially for Spanish speakers.
“Demand for mental health services in the general community is high, but these women face unique barriers to mental health care,” explained Leslie. “They’re mostly immigrants – the vast majority were born in a different country. There are often serious, traumatic reasons why they had to leave their homes. Getting here isn’t easy, and settling in is difficult with challenges like racism, discrimination, fewer resources and no community. They’ve faced a lot.”
Each year, about 200 women participate in the classes. They often forge close bonds and build relationships through shared life experience and similar cultural identities, which further encourage social connectedness and belonging.
“There’s so much loneliness and isolation, so to see them connecting with each other is so gratifying,” said Leslie. “We’re creating a context that’s safe and trusting. I see women I personally know from counseling who didn’t have friends, and now they’re opening up, sharing with people and building friendships. That’s more important than building a relationship with a therapist. That’s the dream – women building community.”
Today, Lucia is a community health worker who was hired by the clinic and is specifically assigned to work with this program.
“A few years ago, they needed help expanding the program, and Leslie encouraged me to apply,” shared Lucia. “I wanted to be part of this program. I wanted to help women because these classes helped me comprehend situations in my life that I had to improve – like communication with my husband and daughters. And I see how important it is for these women and how it impacts them.”
How you can help
Aurora Walker’s Point Community Clinic has been serving our community for over 30 years, providing health care to uninsured, immigrant, refugee, and homeless patients and families who have limited options.
Your generosity helps us to serve critically underserved people in our community who otherwise may not have any access to care.
Like all programs and services at Aurora Walker’s Point, Creciendo Juntas is offered at no cost and relies on philanthropic support. Please consider helping women like Lucia by making a gift today.