✨ New Voices, Big Wins, Bigger Hearts

What happens when we bring together local caregivers, international students, and a whole lot of heart? We grow. We learn. We make life better for people with disabilities in our valley.

We just wrapped up two of the busiest—and most beautiful—weeks of the year. First, we celebrated the 10th year of Eternal Anchor’s Love Extended: Health & Therapy, where our team worked side-by-side with volunteers to hold therapy clinics, build equipment, and visit families in their homes. Right after that, we welcomed the University of Washington’s GROW team—11 physical therapy students along with 2 prosthetic and orthotic students who joined us for more home visits, therapy sessions, and community outreach.

We helped each other learn. We danced with elders. We fixed broken equipment. And we showed that when we work together, we can reach farther and love better.

▶︎ Learn more about our 10th Love Extended: Health & Therapy program here, here, and here.
▶︎ You can read more about the University of Washington’s team here, here, and here. 

What do you get when a puppet show and a dance troupe visit our school? Joy. Wonder. Connection.

The Instituto de Cultura de Baja California came to Eternal Anchor twice this month to share art, movement, and laughter with our students and Friendship Club Without Barriers members. Everyone watched in awe as colorful puppets told a story, and then later in the month, danced and moved together with Agustin Avila at our school. 

We are grateful for partners like the Instituto de Cultura de Baja California who understand that everyone deserves moments to shine, move, and feel celebrated. We believe that art brings people together. And when we open our doors to joy, we all feel a little more connected.

▶︎ Read more about these two wonderful days here and here. 

Inclusion grows stronger when we lead together. We’re proud to share that Deborah Garcia (to photo, second from left), our co-founder and Director of Justice and Equity, was sworn in to San Quintin’s very first Junta de Gobierno del Sistema Municipal para el Desarrollo Integral de las Familias de San Quintin (Municipal System for the Integral Development of Families) governing board. We now have a seat at the table—and a voice to speak up for children and families across the region.

At the same time, our amazing education team is lifting up other educators, too. Dayana Sandoval Limón and Gabriela Santa Cruz led a powerful workshop for teachers in the San Quintin Valley, sharing tools to better support students with autism and ADHD. We believe that when we teach others what we’ve learned, the whole community wins. 

▶︎ You can read more about Deborah and the workshop here and here. 

What started just a year ago as a simple idea—to run, walk, and roll for inclusion—has grown into something much bigger. It’s now a celebration of community, effort, and hope.

June began with our second annual Eternal Anchor 6K: Ruta de la Esperanza (Route of Hope). This year was a record-breaker. More people showed up than ever before—students, teachers, families, neighbors, and friends. We saw kids in wheelchairs side-by-side with runners, walkers cheering on those crossing the finish line, and so many people moving with purpose. Every step told the world: everyone belongs.

But we didn’t do it alone. Local businesses, schools, and community leaders stood with us. They helped sponsor the event, spread the word, and joined us at the starting line. Their support means the world to us—and it shows that more and more people in the San Quintin Valley believe in what we’re doing. Together, we’re building something that lasts.

We didn’t just raise funds—we raised voices, raised spirits, and raised awareness. We clapped for every participant, posed for photos, and cheered until the last person came in. Because at Eternal Anchor, we don’t just celebrate winning—we celebrate showing up and striving forward.

And yes, we’re already thinking about next year. We hope it’s even bigger. Even bolder. Even more beautiful. Thanks to the momentum we’ve built—together—we believe it will be.

▶︎ See more photos and videos from our 2nd annual 6K: Ruta de la Esperanza here, here, and here.