Staff rooted in Community: Meet Martha
Martha first discovered Solidarity when seeking homework help for her children attending Maple Elementary School. What she originally viewed as a place her children could get academic support, soon became an organization where she would grow into a respected community leader, dedicated to uplifting other immigrant mothers.
During those early years with Solidarity, Martha’s family faced serious challenges. When her husband became ill and could no longer work, the family struggled financially. Martha spoke very little English and faced significant barriers to finding employment.
After sharing her situation with the Elementary Afterschool Program Lead, an opportunity quickly emerged. The very next day, Solidarity’s Executive Director hired Martha to help clean the Maple Community Center so she could support her family. She worked diligently in that role for several years.
As time passed, Martha needed additional hours to continue providing for her family. At the same time, she noticed many mothers in the neighborhood were searching for community, support, and a safe place to grow. Recognizing Martha’s deep connection to the community, lived experience, volunteer service, and leadership potential, Solidarity offered her a staff position, where she launched a new program for neighborhood mothers: Mamas de Maple.
With support from longtime Solidarity volunteer Judy Camp, Martha began by inviting women to a small Bible study. At first, only two or three women attended, but they remained committed. Over time, trust deepened, relationships formed, and the group steadily grew.
As Mamas de Maple developed, Martha continually looked to the women and the broader community for direction. She asked questions like: What is happening in the neighborhood? What do you want to change? How can we better support your family?
In these early conversations, women spoke about challenges ranging from youth violence to limited access to healthcare and insurance. Guided by the lived experiences of the mothers themselves, Martha expanded the program to provide holistic support designed to address real needs and help families flourish.
Over time, Mamas de Maple transformed into a deeply connected community. The women celebrate milestones together, support one another through hardship, and share experiences many of them never imagined possible. Through those shared moments, they have built lasting trust and unbreakable unity.
Since many of the mothers spent their childhoods working or caring for others, Martha intentionally emphasized the importance of rediscovering joy. Celebrations like Día Del Niño and field trips to the beach are not only for kids but for the moms’ inner child as well. Despite living in Fullerton for many years, some of the women had never been to the beach in California.
Now, over a decade later, Martha continues to lead Mamas de Maple with courage and compassion.
Both of her children, alumni of Solidarity’s youth programs, will be college graduates in Summer 2026, earning degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business.
What began as a search for afterschool support for her children became a journey of leadership, service, and transformation. Martha helped grow a small gathering of women into a vibrant network of mothers who learn, celebrate, advocate, and care for one another.
Her story reflects the heart of Solidarity: when people are given trust, opportunity, and belonging, they do not simply thrive individually, they help transform entire communities.
Flavors of Solidarity
Dia De Los Muertos 2025
Dia Del Nino 2026
Mothers Day 2026