Why Friendly Center: Faviola Arguello’s Story of Community and Care
At Friendly Center, transformation often begins with a simple first step through the door. For Faviola Arguello, that step came more than a decade ago when she enrolled her young son in the preschool program. She could not have anticipated how deeply the organization would shape her family’s future or how fully she would come to embody its mission of service and community building.
What started as a way to support her children’s early education soon became a lifelong connection. Over the years, Faviola’s involvement expanded as she participated in English classes, contributed her time to volunteer work, and helped lead the growth of Friendly Center’s community Zumba program. With the support of her colleagues Lourdes Lomas, Salud Farfan and Friendly Center, she helped secure a city permit, allowing the program to offer free classes three times a week.
Through her work with Zumba and the Community Engagement & Advocacy Council (CEAC), Faviola played an important role in creating a space where participants found not only physical and mental wellness but also meaningful friendships and access to critical resources. Friendly Center became a place where families could come together, build trust, and find strength in community.
Throughout her experience, Faviola experienced the many ways Friendly Center impacts lives. She appreciated the parenting classes that supported families through different stages of their children’s development and the educational programs that encouraged adults to continue learning and growing. Her experiences helped her understand the far-reaching effects of a supportive and welcoming community.
Her time as a volunteer has been deeply fulfilling. Faviola found great value in giving her time and energy to Friendly Center, knowing that her contributions helped others feel supported and uplifted. Volunteering became a source of joy and belonging, reinforced by the relationships she built and the gratitude she witnessed from those around her.
Faviola’s involvement with Friendly Center has always been strengthened by the sense of community she found among fellow volunteers. Rather than facing challenges alone, she was surrounded by a supportive network of mothers and peers who shared a common goal of helping others.
The opportunity to see families grow more confident, more connected, and more resilient continued to inspire her commitment. Faviola believed that her own life experiences had prepared her to offer support to others facing challenges, especially to mothers raising adolescents.
As she looks toward the future, Faviola envisions Friendly Center expanding its reach with more sites, more volunteers, and more opportunities for young people. She hopes to see an increase in after-school programs focused on sports, arts, and STEM education, providing children with safe spaces to learn, grow, and connect. Faviola also hopes to see more youth involvement in volunteering, recognizing that giving back not only strengthens the community but also instills a sense of belonging and purpose in young people.
For Faviola, the essence of Friendly Center lies in the way it welcomes and respects every person who comes through its doors. She values the empathy, kindness, and humility that characterize the staff and the broader community. Friendly Center, in her view, is a place where people are supported without judgment and where help is given freely and generously.
She believes that supporting Friendly Center means standing alongside an organization that lifts people up in their most difficult moments and gives them the resources to move forward with dignity and hope.
Above all, Faviola is filled with gratitude for the donors, volunteers, and partners who make Friendly Center’s work possible. Her journey reflects the heart of Friendly Center itself: a place where families are strengthened, communities are built, and every act of service carries the power to transform lives.