Mi Papi would be 101 this 5 de Mayo

Mis amigos y familia,

This Cinco de Mayo my Papi (Dad) would have turned 101 years old. I'm celebrating his life of service by asking for your donation to El Futuro....why?

My Papi, Abraham Martí Soto, was 65 when he ended his own life in 1989. He was a retired 30+years steelworker with a third-grade education. Yet, he was a leader in our community of immigrants. As a founding members of El Brotherhood Social Club in East Chicago, IN, he was always serving: 1) the trusted treasurer, establishing a savings and loans so Puerto Ricans could save to go back to the island when there was a death in the family or hurricane; 2) cashier at Friday night bingos; 3) finding the orquesta from Chicago who would come to our little hall for the Saturday bailes; 4) cleaning up after the dance on Sunday. He was there. He was my hero. He walked to work my "student teaching" semester at Purdue so I could use the family car (we only had one) to drive to my assigned classroom in Lafayette, IN. He campaigned fiercely for Hubert Humphrey, JFK, and mayoral and local elections. He, the abuelo, picked up my little son from elementary school and would come to our home to stay with my baby girl so we wouldn't have to wrap her up in wintry cold and take her out at 6am when leaving for work. I am who I am because he modeled service to our working-class community of Latinos.. But upon retiring, he changed. He became confused and depressed. The shadows of his long-life, haunted him. I remember taking him to his PCP to address “the voices” he said were speaking to him. The provider did not speak Spanish. Maybe that would have helped? Maybe having someone speak with cultural sensitivity would have helped? I don’t know. I did what was mine to do then. I still grieve him.

Given today’s environment, there is definitely something I could do that I couldn’t in 1989. There is a place I want to be sure is there for all dads, granddads, moms, teenagers---all of us-- in the future…El Futuro. Read their story of service on this site.

Just a small donation ($101 or $10?) will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for El Futuro's Mental Health Month fundraiser. Let's be sure all who need services have access to quality care. It may save someone's lifei!

Feliz 5 de mayo, Papi.