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Helen’s Journey from CASL Youth to CASL Teacher
As a child, Helen experienced firsthand what it meant to belong to a place that cared deeply for families. Years later, that same sense of connection led her back to CASL—not as a participant, but as a member of the education team.
Volunteering & Support
Helen’s story begins at CASL, in a bustling room filled with the sounds of cooking, singing, and laughter. As a child, she experienced firsthand what it meant to belong to a place that cared deeply for families. Years later, that same sense of connection led her back to CASL—not as a participant, but as a member of the education team.
Today, Helen helps new families navigate the same questions her own parents once faced: Is this the right school for my child? Will we feel welcome here? Her journey, from growing up in CASL’s programs to shaping them for the next generation, shows the lasting impact of community and the power of coming full circle.
You can help create more stories like Helen’s. When you give to CASL, you make it possible for families to find support, for children to thrive, and for future leaders to give back to the communities that shaped them.
Helen's Story
I remember it being a warehouse and it was always really loud. The space was an open warehouse with multiple programs running. There weren’t real walls—just shelves acting as dividers.
You could hear the culinary program chopping away, cooking their stuff, and then the seniors singing. It was very community-like. My mom knew everybody, and they all knew me. Even the front desk person knew everyone. The programs were sectioned off, but you could still see what they were doing because there weren’t real walls. It felt very inviting.
I’ve always wanted to help people. That’s just in my nature. So I decided to get my master’s in early childhood education. While I was planning that, my mom bumped into the former manager of the child development center. They got to talking, and she told her about my plans. The manager said, ‘I’m hiring.’ That’s how we got connected.
There were so many kids going through this program, and yet she remembered me. I wasn’t particularly smart or a bad kid—nothing that would make someone remember me for so long. But the fact that she did made me think, maybe I was a special kid.
When I help enroll a new family, I see my mom or dad in them—the nervousness, not knowing the language, wondering if this is a good school for their child. There are so many schools around here, so what makes us special? That’s a moment I relive often.
I think of the phrase ‘It takes a village.’ In education, a child doesn’t just learn from their teacher—they learn from their environment and the adults in their lives. Whether it’s a sibling or a cousin, it really takes a village. And CASL is already such a big village that’s here to support.
—Helen Cao
Associate Director of Children Services, CASL
Help Build Futures Through Education
Helen’s story is a testament to what happens when children grow up surrounded by opportunity, and how those experiences ripple forward for years to come. At CASL, we believe education is more than classrooms; it’s about creating a village where families feel supported and children thrive.
Your gift ensures that more families find the guidance, care, and community they deserve, and that future leaders like Helen have the chance to give back.
