From the System of Care Bilingual Program Coordinator's Desk:
Hello, my name is Rosa Gonzalez, and as of February 2025, I am the Amani Center’s System of Care Bilingual Program Coordinator for District One (Columbia, Clatsop and Tillamook Counties).
I have worked with families in this community since 2015, when I started working for Head Start. I was an Assistant Teacher, then I moved into the Family Advocate role where I was until 2018 before transitioning into the Family Support Specialist with Healthy Families. In 2021, I was hired at the St. Helens School District as the Family Resource Liaison. During this time, I also trained to become a Parent Educator, which I love! I am also trained in a few curriculums, to name a few: Families In Action, Nurturing Parents, and Growing Great Kids.
Coming to Amani has been great as I am excited to be part of the work this agency does in my community. The Amani Center is working towards building relationships with our Spanish speaking community and one way they are doing so is by hiring bilingual staff. The Center has also started to provide Parent Cafés (Café con Padres) to build relationships not only with the agency but within the community as well, and this is a project that I lead.
Parent Cafés are physically and emotionally safe spaces where people talk and listen to each other on topics that matter to them, such as the challenges and victories of raising a family, navigating landscapes of inequality, enhancing well-being, or being involved in the recovery process of someone they love. Through individual deep self-reflection and peer-to-peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to strengthen their families. Participants leave Parent Cafés feeling inspired, energized, and excited to put into practice what they’ve learned. Parent Cafés are highly sustainable with training reinforcement, institutional support, and a commitment to an approach that engages and affirms parents as leaders. I am inspired by this work with families, and it fills my bucket!
– Rosa Gonzalez, CHW
D1 System of Care Bilingual Program Coordinator
What's New?
We’re excited to highlight a new monthly community event that we’ve recently started hosting: Café con Padres!
Café con Padres (Parent Cafés) meet the second Wednesday of every month and are held in Spanish. This free event offers an opportunity for parents and kids to come together, eat a delicious meal, and meet with their neighbors and friends in the Latinx community of Columbia County. The next Café con Padres meets on Wednesday, July 9th at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Helens Community Center, 2625 Gable Rd., St. Helens, OR 97051.
We have been encouraged by the positive response we’ve had so far to Café con Padres and can’t wait to see this community group continue to grow and support children and families. For further details on this event, contact Rosa Gonzalez.
July Spotlight:
With summer vacation in full swing, our Amani Center team is ready to make some fun summertime memories with you during the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo at the 2nd annual Teddy Bear Picnic! In partnership with Wauna Credit Union, we’re thrilled to bring this free event back again this year to kids visiting the fair.
The Teddy Bear Picnic takes place on Thursday, July 17th and welcomes children ages 3-10. A free picnic lunch, craft and activity are provided. Families are asked to register at 10:00 a.m. at the Gazebo for the picnic taking place on the Pavilion Stage at 11:30 a.m. Participation is limited to the first 90 registrants. Food, supplies and volunteers are generously provided by Wauna Credit Union, with additional volunteers from the United Way.
Kids are invited to stay after the conclusion of the picnic for a story time with local children’s book author Natalia Lee.
25 Years of Amani:
We have another scrapbook page to share as we look back on “25 Years of Amani” all throughout 2025, celebrating our 25th anniversary.
Take a look at this newspaper photo featuring previous Director Amani Grow and Forensic Interviewer Lisa Galovich holding donations of quilts and other items for children receiving services at the Center. Community support has been one of the strongest pillars that the agency has been sustained by. Creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for children at the Center is possible due to the continued generosity of people like you!
If you’d like to celebrate our “silver jubilee” anniversary with us, consider donating via our 25th Anniversary donation page. All donations will support the building fund, making a permanent home a reality for the Amani Center. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see more scrapbook photos from the past!
Upcoming Events:
July 3rd, 11:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Pints for Nonprofits at Crooked Creek Brewery
Join us at Crooked Creek Brewery for the “Pints for Nonprofits” fundraiser! Crooked Creek will donate $2.00 to the Amani Center for every beer sold all day, including pints, to-go crowlers and “buy a friend a beer” cards. Bring the whole family to this kid-friendly (until 9:00 p.m.), dog-friendly event for a great cause and enjoy some delicious food, refreshing beers, and nonalcoholic offerings! Funds raised will directly support families and children in Columbia County impacted by abuse, neglect and victimization.
July 17th – FREE Teddy Bear Picnic at the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo
The Amani Center is hosting a free Teddy Bear Picnic during the Columbia County Fair & Rodeo for all kids ages 3-10! Register for the picnic at 10:00 a.m. at the Gazebo for a free lunch, craft and activity taking place at the Pavilion Stage at 11:30 a.m. Families are invited to stay after the conclusion of the picnic for a story time with local children’s book author Natalia Lee. This event is sponsored by Wauna Credit Union.
July 21st, 6:00 p.m., Bunco at the Ol’ Pastime Tavern
Don’t miss our monthly Bunco fundraiser night coming up on Monday, July 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the Ol’ Pastime Tavern in Rainer. The cost is $15.00, so roll the dice and have some fun with a chance to win prizes, all while showing your support for the Amani Center! This event is sponsored by RE/MAX Power Pros Agent Dennis O’Brien.
September 13th – Hullabaloo Dinner
Get ready to kick up your heels and join us for the Amani Center’s annual Hullabaloo Dinner & Live Auction on Saturday, September 13th, 2025! This year is extra special as we celebrate a HUGE milestone – our 25th anniversary of making a difference in the lives of children! But that’s not all – we’re also bursting with excitement to celebrate the grand opening of our brand-new Mental Health Facility! Come be a part of this incredible night filled with fantastic food, thrilling auction items, and the infectious energy of a community coming together to benefit the Amani Center and help Columbia County’s child victims of abuse and neglect find hope, healing, and recovery.
Tables are available now to buy with a variety of sponsorship options; connect with Monica Rush at 971-899-1268 or mrush@amanicenter.org to secure your spot, or to donate items for the live and silent auctions. And last but not least, we send a big “thank you” to the Elite Sponsor of the Hullabaloo, InRoads Credit Union!