ALMS is Thankful For You
And There’s More to Come!
As we wrap up 2025, ALMS wants to express our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Woodland community. Each young person we have the privilege to touch – whether from one of our high schools, 18-25 youth, a referral from the DA’s office, or an inmate at the Juvenile Detention Center – we want you to know that we could not do it without you. You are part of the family, and we need you now more than ever.
Excerpts from the 10th Anniversary Dinner Speaker, Betty Choyce, in her own words - sharing about a young man who attended ALMS with her from 2016-2019. This young man was present in the audience.
"Before joining the ALMS Adult Program, he often felt stuck. He described himself as feeling ignorant - not because he lacked intelligence, but because he had never been given the opportunity, the guidance, or the belief he needed to begin building a future. He was struggling to get his High School Diploma and felt like life was speeding forward while he stood still, unsure of how to catch up. But then he found ALMS. And that changed everything. He found belonging - a place where questions were welcome, mistakes weren't punished, and growth wasn't just allowed - it was celebrated.... As a result, he didn't just find his voice, he found his direction. And then came one of the most powerful milestones in his journey. He earned his high school diploma, and that moment was more than a goal met -- it was a declaration!
He said, "I can, I did, and I will keep going." It was the proof that he could finish what he started, no matter how long it took. That he wasn't behind - he was just beginning, and what' even more inspiring is what he's doing now. He is currently taking courses in CODING and CYBERSECURITY, diving deep into a field that once felt out of reach. But not anymore. Because now he knows he belongs in the room. He's dreaming bigger - not just of a job, but of a future he can build with his own two hands.
A future that reflects the strength he fought for and the confidence he earned. He once told me (Betty said) "ALMS didn't make me perfect - it made me ready. Ready to stumble and still move forward. Ready to start over as many times as it takes. Ready to face the world - not just with hope, but with skills, confidence and with a fire that refuses to go out." Healing doesn't always make noise. Sometimes it moves like a whisper - steady, brave, and unstoppable, and today that whisper has become a roar.
The ALMS Woodland Youth from Woodland, Pioneer, and Cache Creek High Schools wish you a happy Thanksgiving Day with friends and family. May you be richly blessed.
Happy Holidays to You and Yours!
Jayne Williams | 916.769.5162 | jayne@almsinyolo.org
