ALL FRED FINCH NEWS

“I am Chicana. I am first generation, eldest daughter, born here from parents born and raised in Mexico.” — Doris Sanchez, Mental Health Therapist, Transitions For Doris Sanchez, understanding her identity has been a journey shaped by language, family, representation, and the experience of finding words for parts of herself she had not always felt comfortable expressing. Growing up as the daughter of Mexican-born parents, Doris navigated different expectations about who she w

Kahmari has always been someone with a creative mind and a lot of interests. He is an excellent artist, an avid gamer, and a talented cook with a few impressive recipes up his sleeve—including his famous Cajun chicken Alfredo and a family heirloom tuna salad. When Kahmari joined our Supportive Services for Transition Age Youth (STAY), and began working with our Individualized Placement and Support (IPS) team, he was ready to take on something new: finding his first job and ex

Sameena and her son, Adnan, shared their family’s journey at recent 11th Annual Impact Celebration. For Sameena and her son, Adnan, progress has meant finding new ways to communicate, manage big emotions, and navigate experiences that once felt overwhelming. Adnan is 16 and has an intellectual disability and PACS1 syndrome. During Fred Finch’s 11th Annual Impact Celebration, Sameena shared that her son was the first person in the United States and the third person in the worl

Tay's journey reminds us why Café Vida matters. What can a first opportunity make possible? For Atavion, known to friends and family as Tay, it meant discovering a path toward a future built around his lifelong passion: cooking. For the past six years, Tay has been part of the Fred Finch community, working toward his dream of becoming a chef. Like many young adults transitioning into adulthood, the path hasn't always been straightforward. Balancing school, employment, and sig

There are some people whose impact can never be measured by years alone. There was laughter. There were tears. There were stories spanning decades. And there was one unforgettable comment from a young participant that perfectly captured the spirit of the day. When Mar Smith shared with the youth in her program that she would soon be retiring after 36 years at Fred Finch, one participant had an immediate question. "Permanently?" "Yes," Mar replied. "Permanently." After thinkin