Building Hope Under One Roof
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Sometimes, an unexpected challenge reminds us just how much a place means to a community.
In the spring of 2025, severe water damage at our ACLAMO Pottstown Community Center left us facing major repairs that we had not planned or budgeted for. More importantly, it put at risk a space where families come to learn, children grow, and community members find connection and support.
Today, we are very happy to share some good news: the roof repairs are complete!
We could not have done this alone. Thanks to the leadership of the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation @prcfconnect, the generous support of the 25th Century Foundation, and everyone who stood behind our “Two Partners. One Purpose.” campaign in April, we were able to protect this very special place.
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What started as a difficult and unexpected situation became something much bigger, a reminder of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
This wasn’t just about repairing a roof. It was about protecting everything that happens underneath it: the classes, conversations, friendships, opportunities, and moments that make the ACLAMO Pottstown Community Center feel like home.
To everyone who helped us get here: thank you.
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Growing Our Team, Strengthening Our Mission
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Every person who joins ACLAMO brings something new to our story, and this month we are very happy to welcome Jennifer Miller and Maria Lima to our team!
Jennifer Miller joins us as our Education Administrative Supervisor, helping strengthen the coordination and systems behind our education programs. Her work will support our students, families, teachers, and education team as we continue growing our programs and creating more opportunities for the young people we serve.
Maria Lima joins ACLAMO as our Community Health & Outreach Specialist. Maria will be out in the community connecting individuals and families with health information, resources, and opportunities that can make a real difference in their lives.
For us, growing our team isn’t simply about filling positions. It is about bringing in people who believe in our mission, understand our community, and want to be part of the work happening every day at ACLAMO.
Jennifer and Maria are already bringing their own ideas, experiences, and energy to the team, and we are excited to see what comes next.
Welcome to the ACLAMO team, Jennifer and Maria!
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A Summer of Creativity, Community, and Pride
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Summer of Freedom Flag Art Contest – 1st Place in the group category (ages 9-13)
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This summer gave our students another reason to make us incredibly proud.
More than 5,000 students participated in the Summer of Freedom Flag Art Contest, and our ACLAMO Summer Bridge students earned 1st Place in the Group category for ages 9–13!
Together, they created a flag inspired by the people, values, and sense of belonging that make their community special.
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And there was even more to celebrate.
Ariadne S. earned 2nd Place in the Individual category for ages 9–13, creating a beautiful and thoughtful design inspired by herself, her family, and her neighborhood.Text Link
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Yes, we are proud of the awards. But we are even more proud of what they represent.
Our students worked together. They used their creativity. They thought about where they come from and what community means to them. Most importantly, they had the confidence to tell their stories through their art.
Congratulations, Ariadne, and congratulations to all our Summer Bridge staff members and students! You made ACLAMO very proud.
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Big Dreams, Fresh Starts, Stronger Communities: ACLAMO Wellness Back-to-School Fair
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There is always something special about the beginning of a new school year.
New backpacks. New classrooms. New teachers. And, of course, a lot of excitement, and maybe a few nervous parents and children too!
This year, more than 150 community members and partners joined us for ACLAMO’s Wellness Back-to-School Fair, bringing families, health providers, educators, community organizations, and neighbors together for a day focused on helping our children start the school year strong.
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We were proud to give away more than 120 backpacks filled with school supplies, made possible by generous donors who wanted our students to walk into school prepared and ready to learn.
The Fair was also part of the One Nation, Overcharged initiative, which calls attention to something we believe deeply at ACLAMO: everyone should be able to access the care they need, when they need it.
A backpack won’t solve every challenge a family faces. Neither will one health screening or one community event. But each connection matters.
And when we bring all of those connections together: health, education, resources, relationships, and community, we give families a stronger place to begin.
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Celebrating Stories, Entrepreneurship, and Community
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There is something special about being there when a new community tradition begins.
ACLAMO was proud to sponsor the inaugural Montgomery County Black Author & Business Expo, bringing together authors, entrepreneurs, publishers, financial literacy organizations, technology and AI professionals, wellness experts, youth-serving organizations, and many others from across our community.
The day was about much more than books or businesses. It was about people meeting people.
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New connections were made. Local businesses found new supporters. Authors shared their stories. Families discovered resources. Professionals exchanged ideas.
For ACLAMO, supporting events like this is part of how we build community. We want to be in spaces where voices are heard, talent is celebrated, opportunities are created, and relationships can begin.
We were proud to be part of the very first Expo, and we look forward to seeing where this new tradition goes next.Text Link
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ACLAMO, Housing Stability Coach, Joyce Colmenares, Montco Director of Immigrant Affairs, Nelly Jiménez-Arévalo, and ACLAMO Pottstown Site Supervisor, Denisse Pimentel.
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Commissioner Jamila Winder
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ACLAMO, Housing Stability Coach, Joyce Colmenares
with community members
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Community members connecting
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A Journey of Support, Resilience, and Hope
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Over the past year and a half, ACLAMO has had the privilege of supporting a Colombian family as they work to build a more stable future in the United States. What began as housing assistance grew into comprehensive support, including economic stability, immigration resources, document preparation, and coordination with their attorney.
When one parent was unexpectedly detained during their immigration process, ACLAMO stood by the family, helping them navigate the emotional, practical, and logistical challenges they faced. With the support of their attorney, he was released after a week and a half.
ACLAMO also helped the family overcome additional barriers to obtaining their Social Security numbers and State IDs. Through persistence, advocacy, and connections to resources, the family was able to move forward.
This story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, making a difference means simply not giving up; finding another solution, opening another door, and making sure families know they are not alone.
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Nourishing Our Community, Strengthening Our Connections
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ACLAMO’s Health Promotion & Wellness Manager, Mony Salas (4th from left), and ACLAMO’s Community Resource and Advocate Specialist, Jacob McCrea (5th from left), with partners at Montgomery County’s office.
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Food access isn’t only about having food on a shelf. It is also about how people are treated when they need help.
Recently, ACLAMO’s Health Promotion & Wellness Manager, Mony Salas, and Community Resource and Advocate Specialist, Jacob McCrea, joined partners at Montgomery County’s Food Access in Immigrant Communities meeting.
The conversation focused on something very important to us: how we can continue improving food access while creating pantry experiences that are welcoming, respectful, and responsive to the needs of immigrant families.
At ACLAMO, we serve thousands of individuals and families, but we never want to lose sight of the person standing in front of us. A parent coming to a food pantry should feel welcomed. An older adult asking for assistance should feel respected.
A family going through a difficult moment should know that asking for help does not mean giving up their dignity.
Meetings like this give us the opportunity to listen, learn from other organizations, share what we are seeing in our own community, and find better ways to serve together.
Because addressing food insecurity is not something any one organization can do alone. It takes a community.
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Thank You to Our Partners
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Standing With ACLAMO: Partner of the Month
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Some partnerships begin with one event. The special ones keep growing.
This month, NBC10/Telemundo62 and Citizens Bank, our Platinum Sponsors, helped make ACLAMO’s Wellness Back-to-School Fair possible through their generous support and commitment to our families. We are also deeply grateful to Mendoza Group, Wegmans, Giant, and ACME Foundation for helping bring this special event to life.
A heartfelt thank you to our amazing community partners, PJM Interconnection and Victory Church, for their generous support in providing backpacks and school supplies to local children and families
Each sponsor and partner played an important role in creating an opportunity for children and families to enjoy a day filled with wellness, resources, fun, and community connection.
But what makes these partnerships especially meaningful is that they represent more than support for a single event. They are an investment in the families and communities ACLAMO serves.
We are especially excited that NBC10/Telemundo62 and Citizens Bank will continue walking alongside ACLAMO as supporters of two of our upcoming signature events: Senior Fest 2026 and Summer Bash 2027.
Together, these partnerships create more opportunities for children to celebrate, families to connect, older adults to feel seen and valued, and our community to come together.
Strong communities are built through strong relationships, and we are grateful for every sponsor and partner who stands with ACLAMO.
Thank you for believing in our community and in the work we are building together.
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Every day at ACLAMO, we see small moments that tell a much bigger story.
A student discovers that science might actually be something they love.
An older adult learns how to use technology and suddenly feels a little more independent.
A parent leaves our food pantry knowing there will be food on the table.
A family finds someone who listens, understands, and helps them navigate a difficult moment.
Those moments don’t happen because of one person.
They happen because a community of people believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive.
Every volunteer who gives their time, every donor who makes a gift, every partner who opens a door, and every person who shares our mission helps make this work possible.
Because of you, ACLAMO can keep opening doors.
Thank you for being part of our story—and for helping us write what comes next.
Together, we are building stronger families, stronger neighborhoods, and stronger futures.
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