13 minute read
Neighbors
Chandler Pride marks a year of helping parents
Every month Chandler Pride hosts a meeting where parents who are dealing with their child coming out as LGBTQ+ can get support.
“I show up,” said Schroder, who is president of Chandler Pride. “I have been there in the past alone waiting for someone to come join me and sometimes they don’t come.”
Chandler Pride is celebrating its first anniversary as an advocacy organization this month. Schroder, and the group’s secretary, Jennifer Morrison, know what it’s like to go through that coming out process as a parent. Schroder is the mother of a transgender child, and Morrison the mother of a gay child.
“We’re fortunate enough to have, I think, maneuvered through the coming out process with our children,” Morrison said. “Not that it isn’t challenging, and shocking, and sometimes difficult. But we managed to come through that in a very positive way.”
The group, which officially became a nonprofit in July 2021, has staged a Pride event, put together a candidate forum, and hosts the monthly Parents & Ally support group.
But some of the most important Eduarda Schroder and Jennifer Morrison lead Chandler Pride, which helps parents of LGBTQ+ children. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
work they do, Schroder said, is to connect people.
For example, a group of student activists wanted to protest the city’s refusal to adopt a non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) to protect its LGBTQ+ residents. She helped student leaders from different campuses connect so they could work on it together.
Same with students concerned about mental health. Since LGBTQ students are more likely to die by suicide, they decided to get involved in that issue as well.
“There are other organizations in the community that we are pulling in to our events,” Schroder said. “And then from here on, one of the focuses would be to continue to have conversations around youth mental health, youth homelessness specifically.
“Then look around and see what potential partners we can develop, who might be interested in, in contributing to alleviating, if not solving, the problems.”
Schroder said one moment where she felt like Chandler Pride was making a difference came during its candidate forum. Council candidate Farhana Shifa gave the group credit for helping her think differently about the NDO issue.
Chandler is the largest city in Arizona without a NDO to protect its LGBTQ residents. While she did not commit to voting in favor of one, Shifa said that if shown enough evidence that one was needed, then perhaps she would be willing to consider it.
That was a bit of an evolution from her answer at the Chamber of Commerce forum, where she said she would vote against one if given the chance. Three Council candidates favor a NDO: Angel Encinas, Matt Orlando and Jane Poston. So does mayoral candidate Ruth Jones.
Mayor Kevin Hartke and Shifa are against it. Council candidate Darla Gonzalez has not taken a position.
Shifa credited Schroder with help-
See PRIDE on page 47
EV Dream Center helps people in need in many ways
Jovani Cedeno didn’t have to look far to find the inspiration for the nonprofit that he and his half-brother, Dan Gonzalez, started in Chandler.
It was their mother.
“I took my mom out once when we went door knocking, and she got teary because I was giving them the spiel of what we’re doing here,” Cedeno said.
“And she says, ‘Man, if someone came to my door, and told me, they’re going to pick you up from school, they’re going to feed you. You’re getting in sports, you’re doing counseling, and they’re dropping you off. I would have signed all five of you up really quick.”
Cedeno and Gonzalez started the East Valley Dream Center just before the pandemic began. Their goal was to help people get off of government assistance and to become thriving members of the community.
“So my brother and I, we grew up with inner city, Chicago, single mom and all that and welfare, public aid, Section 8, and very poor and just kind of grew up in inner city noticing how she struggled. We chose not to [get involved with] the gangs, the drugs and we wanted to grow up and do something in the community.”
Gonzalez moved to Chandler and Cedeno soon followed. They wanted to do something to help those in the community, but figured how much help was really needed in the Chandler-Gilbert area.
“But then we found [problems in] the downtown Chandler area,” Cedeno said. “And so we had to do something. So three years ago, it was him, myself and a friend, we got together in my living room and say, let’s just start a nonprofit up.”
They went to Costco and bought some food and then went to a park to hand it out to folks in need.
“It kind of grew from there,” Cedeno said.
They were soon hosting block parties in parks and attendance was growing. But then the pandemic struck and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said block parties were no longer a good idea.
“But we didn’t want to stop,” Cedeno said. “So, we kind of went back to the drawing board.”
They decided to knock on doors, mostly in public housing complexes.
“It was incredible,” he said. “We got to know these families.”
All of this was before they qualified for any grants, so they were managing on about $1,000 a month in donations. The door knocking became so successful, they now are getting grants and are much more sophisticated in what they offer.
First, they have their own app. It allows the people they help to let them know what household goods they need and which they don’t.
They also have a center on Pecos Road where they hold financial literacy courses, teaching people how to manage their money. They pay people who attend the four courses to encourage them to stick with it.
The East Valley Dream Center also gets to know the children, and develops programs for them. There are classes during the week, and then group outings, including going to see a movie.
The City of Chandler recently awarded a block grant of $10,000 to the East Valley Dream Center.
They have become such an important part of the community, Cedeno says the schools will often call them when there is a problem with one of the students in their program.
“When the school has a hard time, they contact us saying, ‘Can you really go knock on the door, because they don’t trust the individual on our end.’ And so that’s a service we’re taking pride in.”
The East Valley Dream Center offers an app where residents can request a delivery of food, household essentials and cleaning supplies. (David Minton/Staff Photographer)
Rotarians of the Month named in Sun Lakes
BY DR. HONORA NORTON
Guest Writer
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes named Ed Anderson its July 2022 Rotarian of the Month and former club President Jon Lyons its June Rotarian of the Month. It was in 2015, while playing golf at Oakwood Country Club, that Ed was asked to a RCSL breakfast. Ed served as 2018-19 club president and for many years has served on the golf committee, various other committees, and community service projects. Since 2020, Ed has served as Rotary International District 5495 assistant governor and advises five of the 65 clubs in the district. Ed is a US Army veteran and Sun Lakes resident. Ed is now semi-retired with many years in real estate and currently is an award-winning sales agent with West USA Realty.
Jon served two terms club president, currently serves on the RCSL Board as past president and sergeant of arms and serves on Rotary International District 5495 committees. Jon joined RCSL in 2016 and immediately took on responsibilities, including membership chair and other roles. Jon is an Arizona State University graduate with a BS in accounting and has worked in many disciplines, including finance, sourcing, quality, lean manufacturing and operations.
He retired in April 2016. The Chandler Chamber of Commerce honored Jon at its 33rd annual Chandler Chamber Community Awards Dinner with the Community Cup Award for his outstanding contributions to the community.
Ed Anderson Jon Lyons
PRIDE from page 46
ing to educate her on the issue. So did Shifa change her answer because she was at a Chandler Pride forum, or was it a true change of heart?
“I think the most important thing out of that is holding a forum that holds them accountable,” Morrison said. “Having them have to answer the question. This topic for some people is very uncomfortable. And they answer with the equivalent of, you know, hope and prayers. But they don’t answer the hard question of what will you do?”
There is no PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Family of Lesbians and Gays) chapter in Chandler, Schroder said. So, Chandler Pride is the only group as of now to help anyone who is struggling with the coming out process.
So every first Tuesday of the month, Schroder or another member of Chandler Pride’s leadership, heads to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church between 6:30 and 8 p.m., just in case someone needs to chat.
“We’re there, and we are going to continue to show up,” Schroder said.
Information: chandlerpride.com
DREAM from page 46
Cedeno says he is proud of how the nonprofit that he and his brother started has grown. He’s also proud that the children in their program can look at him and see a Latino man with tattoos is able to succeed and give back to his community.
And they may have the coronavirus pandemic to thank for their growth.
“You know, if it wasn’t for that, we still would have been doing the block parties and all that,” he said.
East Valley Dream Center
900 E. Pecos Road, Chandler 480-761-7260 eastvalleydreamcenter.org
Gilbert girl, 6, now one of world’s youngest authors
BY CECILIA CHAN
Managing Editor
When Kyra Mishra laid eyes on Cowboy, a Shetland pony, she felt an instant bond.
The Gilbert girl, then 4 1/2 years old, had insisted on equestrian lessons and Cowboy was her first ride in a saddle. “He’s a grumpy horse and everybody told me to stay away from him,” Kyra recalled. “He looked really sad.”
But remembering her mother’s advice to trust her instincts, Kyra did trust the horse and the two became fast friends. “They were good for each other,” mom Isha said. “She would give apples to Cowboy and he started recognizing her and started neighing. They just connected.”
Kyra, who is now 6, penned and published a book in June based on her experience with Cowboy titled, “Kids, Horses and Apples: Come Join My Horsey Fun.” And that’s not all – Kyra’s dedicating a portion of the book’s proceeds to horse-rescue organizations such as S.T.A.R.S. of Horsemanship, where she continues to take weekly lessons to this day.
“I thought that abandoned horse needed help,” Kyra said. “And I wanted to share my story with lots of kids.”
The book’s available in paperback and on Kindle at Amazon and the Barnes & Noble store in Mesa. The Mesa Public Library also has purchased the book for patrons to check out. So far, the book’s getting five stars with one person calling it, “Fantastic... seamless and encouraging” and a United Kingdom reader saying, “Excellent read, will be waiting for the next one.”
Kyra’s now one of the world’s youngest female published authors.
The title for the youngest to publish a book belongs to a British girl, who was 5 years and 211 days old, according to Guinness World Records. The youngest boy to achieve that distinction was 4 years and 356 days old.
Kyra put pen to paper last fall as a kindergartener and wrote the book in bits and pieces, taking one to two weeks to accomplish her task. She’s dedicated the book to sister, Amaira, who’s soon turn-
Left: Kyra Mishra’s family includes her father, Abhudaya Mishra, mother Isha, and baby sister Amaira. Kyra is one of the youngest published authors with her book “Kids, Horses and Apples.” (David Minton/Staff Photographer) Right: Cowboy inspired Kyra’s book.
See AUTHOR on page 49
䨀唀䰀夀 匀䄀䰀䔀匀 䔀嘀䔀一吀
䌀栀愀渀最椀渀最 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀 眀愀琀挀栀攀猀 吀嘀
AUTHOR from page 48
ing 4 months old.
One of the most fun parts of writing was coming up with the glossary to acquaint readers with equestrian words and phrases, Kyra said. Isha said her daughter often wrote stories on her own but when she saw how serious her oldest born was with her book, a professional illustrator was called in.
Although Isha said she had a hand at editing for grammar, everything else was Kyra, including her thought process, telling the illustrator what scenes she wanted depicted and the colors used in the book.
“I’m like she ended up actually writing and publishing a book,” Isha said. “Best thing about her is how much she cares about animals. It was her idea to do something for Cowboy.
“For her to say she wanted to write a book and contribute to them, I’m so proud of her.”
Isha said her daughter developed an interest in horses at an early age, explaining that “my grandfather was a polo player.”
And, without fail, every time they drive to the stables, Kyra brings along carrots or apples for all the horses.
Kyra’s accomplishment at such a young age is no surprise to Isha or dad Abhudaya, who says their daughter is a star pupil at a BASIS charter school.
Danya Wright, founder of S.T.A.R.S. of Horsemanship near Williams Field and Lindsay roads, called Kyra’s endeavor “wonderful.”
“Almost all the horses in our program are rescues and many were once in an auction kill pen,” Wright said. “Cowboy, however, was owned by a lady who did parades with one of our instructors and she sold him to our program.”
The equestrian facility teaches English and Western Horseback riding lessons to all ages and also has a Special OlympicsEquestrianTeam.
“My business motto is, my horse, my hero,” Wright said, “because of how much they have inspired me and changed my life. I am so thrilled to hear Cowboy has inspired Kyra to write a book about horses.”
Kyra no longer rides Cowboy, having advanced in her skills and is on the backs of larger and more athletic horses.
She says she wants to become a doctor and an equestrian when she grows up. But for now, she has first grade to look forward to and a second book is in the works. “I’m trying to finish my tooth fairy story,” she said, unsure when she might publish again but then adding, “Maybe next year on June 22.”
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