BALTIMORE- Herelys Parks is considered a loving, caring, supportive cultural bridge for the many Hispanic children and their families at Baltimore’s Bay Brook Elementary/Middle School.
Parks, the school’s United Way of Central Maryland community school coordinator, won the Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award.
A United Way Community School means the school provides many forms of community support, including social work services and food.
Parks also works with the House of Ruth to provide support to Latina victims of domestic abuse.
“Words cannot express the gratitude that I have and that our staff has for Ms. Parks because she does so much for our community that we would not know what to do if we did not have Ms. Parks,” Bay Brook Principal Shavon Carter said.
“I have an impact”
Parks immigrated to the United States from Venezuela eight years ago. Her work, translating and supporting many times frightened, confused, and over-whelmed Hispanic children, is a perfect fit.