Gather to Connect
The feeling of connection within a family is vital. Where do families gather to connect? Around the dinner table, playing games at the coffee table, cuddling on the couch for a funny movie, or engaging with others in a positive environment. At Saranam, for up to two years, families are provided with safe housing, intensive case management, and a strong, supportive community. We have two campuses where families live, go to class, and gather in community. All of these offer a safe place to heal, learn new skills, and strength family bonds.
Our Third Place
The Family Centers are places for meaningful connections. The centers are the hubs or “third place” to gather and grow. The concept of a third place, by American sociologist Ray Oldenburg, is where people gather not in their homes (the first place) or work (the second place), but a third place to connect and unwind. Family Activity Coordinators plan and facilitate evenings twice a week full of fun and lessons for the entire family. Volunteers play a role and assist in the activities.
“Family nights and the Family Center, to me, mean a great deal. The wonderful volunteers who take time out of their lives to come and spend time with us and our kids really make us feel important. Our kids and us get to experience some family time with one another, something we often take for granted. With our schedule we forget to just take time and play with our children, the whole reason we are here. I think it’s a valuable part of this community.” -Saranam family
A Saranam parent shared what the Family Center means to her and wrote an acrostic poem.
The family center means community to me.
Connection
Openness
Meaningful
Moments
Unity
New beginnings
Inclusion
Togetherness
Youth
Organized Chaos
These nights can feel like organized chaos (or just chaos) for some. With multiple families in the room, it may get loud and rambunctious. Anyone who is from a big family might be used to it, but for some it can be a “sensory overload”, shared one parent. Making memories isn’t always parents and children running gracefully through open fields with a kite. Although, families are known to make kites sometimes!
“The family center is a fun place. We have learned about different leaves. The slime was my fav activity. My fav meal was the dino meal. My fav project was the egg drop.” -Saranam child
Campus Centers
At Saranam FTA Campus, the family center is named the Weil Family Center. This building was purchased by a donor in 2018 for our families and organization. This was another moment in Saranam’s history of growth in our programming. We grew beyond our classroom, and into this house and backyard. A mural of a tree was painted on the wall at the entry, and handprints are added when families exit Saranam. The tree is filling up!
In 2026, at the ADC Family Campus, the Frances Thaxton Ash Family Center doors opened. This building was no stranger to families and visitors either! When Saranam bought this 3-acre plot of land this building already existed on the property. Initially, it was the Bellamah sales office then the first Taylor Ranch Library, and a YMCA. We’re glad that there is a small library in it to honor its roots and remember the families that once visited.
Other than family nights, there are other opportunities for fun and learning. Each center includes:
- A working kitchen for making meals and cooking classes
- Small library with books and games
- Patio for outdoor fun
- Gardens for Growth and Gardening class (Weil Family Center)
- Seasonal decorations and inspirational displays
Lasting Memories
The Family Centers leave lasting memories for our alumni. Those who lived at the FTA Campus, have lots of memories of the Weil Family Center. They range from holiday parties, learning to cook a Thanksgiving turkey in the kitchen, cooking together as a cohort with their new cookbooks, and learning about money to name a few. These are some comments from the annual alumni survey about their favorite experiences while they were at Saranam.
“It [Saranam] will always have a huge impact on me and my family, especially family nights. It was hard telling my boys no more family nights there but I learned how to turn it into our family nights.”
“My favorite experience were family nights.”
“I now appreciate family nights. I miss that. My kids and I hardly ever get together like that anymore”
The Family Centers bring hope to our families. Hope that all the skills, lessons, and bonds are building a stronger foundation for their family’s futures and dreams. This drawing captures one children’s dream.
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, offer a seasonal party, or tutor, reach out to Shannon Trujillo at strujillo@saranamabq.org. Check our volunteer calendar for weekly and monthly opportunities and other ways to give.