An Astronaut Chef Engineer Scientist…who can sing. This is what David would like to be when he grows up.

David is 5 years old. When David was just one year old, David’s mom, Lia, knew how important it was to spend time educating David, so she signed up for United Way of Lake County’s Better Together. Better Together is a program for North Chicago families with children birth to three years old. Through Better Together, parents can learn how to become their child’s first teacher and the program provides a safe place where children can develop the readiness, physical and cognitive skills crucial to their education.

David started attending Better Together with his grandpa. And, when Lia’s work schedule allowed, she would bring David. David engaged in the weekly program, learning, playing, and exploring with his mom and grandpa. One day at Better Together, David and his grandpa took part in an outdoor scavenger hunt where David was able to explore leaves, grass, rocks and flowers with a magnifying glass. David had so much fun, he and his grandpa stopped at a store on their way home to buy a magnifying glass so David could continue his exploration at home.

Better Together fostered David’s love of learning and helped to prepare David for success in school. Today, David is in preschool at Green Bay Early Childhood Center in North Chicago. Lia shared that “Better Together helped shape David’s development and prepared him for school in so many ways. David is so smart and detail oriented. He already knows his multiplication!”

Through Lia’s active engagement in Better Together, she has become empowered to take a leadership role in the community. “Where we live in Lake County, the minority is the majority. We must have a role. We need leadership from within our community to stand up and take action.” Lia has become an active leader in the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) at Green Bay Early Childhood Center and in Que Pasa Lake County, a virtual bulletin board for Spanish speakers to learn about events and resources in Lake County. Lia also recently started classes to earn a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Advocacy and Leadership.

And Lia is taking action to make a difference for children living in her family’s hometowns in Mexico. Over the summer, Lia and David organized a backpack drive and collected 250 backpacks. Together they are traveling to two towns in Mexico, Escuchapa and San Miguel, to hand deliver the backpacks to children. “I can see how resources, like Better Together, are helping David prepare for success in school. It motivates me to do more and become more involved so I can help other children.”

Since David was a baby, Lia has been helping David prepare for success in school. When we give children a solid educational foundation, they are better prepared to succeed in school and life. David is well on his way—on his path to success. In the next 20 years, keep your eye out for the first Astronaut Chef Engineer Scientist…who can sing.