November 19, 2024

Lupe Cruz's journey from “Hope Street kid” to health care professional

Discover how Hope Street Margolis Family Center's 26-year support transformed Lupe Cruz's life and inspired her to give back to her LA community.

Lupe Cruz standing in the Hope Street lobby When seven-year-old Lupe Cruz first walked through the doors of Hope Street Margolis Family Center, she was terrified. Having recently arrived from Mexico with limited English skills, everything felt overwhelming – especially the tall man named Sid Oxford who would become one of her greatest mentors.

"I remember asking my mom if he was going to be mean," Lupe recalls with a laugh. "But he wasn't. He was very nice. Hope Street became my safe space, where I always felt heard and never judged."

That first encounter marked the beginning of a 26-year relationship that would transform not only Lupe's life but her entire family's future. Through Hope Street's whole-child and whole-family programs, Lupe received tutoring that helped her catch up academically, participated in leadership classes, and even joined the center's unique Circus Arts class, performing at hospital events. Hope Street became her second home, a place where she could ask any question without fear of judgment.

Lupe Cruz in scrubs outside of the operating room As Lupe grew older, Sid and the Hope Street team continued to support her through life's transitions. When she became a mother, they connected her with vital resources. When she explored different career paths – from an after-school coordinator to law enforcement – they encouraged her to keep searching for her passion. Today, Lupe works as a surgical technician at California Hospital Medical Center, and her three-year-old daughter Ayla attends Hope Street's Early Head Start program.

"Every step of the way, Sid would say, 'Just don't give up,'" Lupe shares, tears welling in her eyes. "When you're trying to learn who you are, that's what you need. You don't need people judging you. We're all just trying to figure out life."

Located in downtown Los Angeles, Hope Street Margolis Family Center sits at the intersection of stark economic contrasts – from families making less than $25,000 a year to those living in luxury high-rises. This unique positioning makes Hope Street’s work even more crucial, providing vital support services, educational programs, and a strong sense of community to those who need it most.

"When you donate to Hope Street, you're giving a little hope to a kid out there who's dreaming to one day make it to that high-rise building," Lupe explains.

Sid Oxford and Lupe Cruz Now pursuing her nursing degree, Lupe embodies the life-changing power of community support and perseverance. Her story illustrates how Hope Street's long-term investment in families creates ripples of positive change across generations—redefining what a community hospital can do to change life trajectories. From the scared seven-year-old who first walked through its doors to the health care professional and mother she is today, Lupe's journey demonstrates the profound impact that having a "village" can have on a person's life.

“Lupe, like so many Hope Street kids past and present, means the world to me,” says Sid Oxford, Youth Center Coordinator and a Hope Street staff member for more than 25 years. “She is a model parent and she was a model student. She’s made this place better for me and better for so many people. I’m so proud of her.”

"I will forever have immense gratitude for Hope Street and what they did for my family," Lupe reflects. "And obviously, just gratitude to every person that ever donated. It just really does take a village for other people to have a village."

Sid Oxford has generously pledged to match all gifts made by December 31, 2024, up to a total of $10,000. Right now, your impact goes twice as far! Will yours be one of them? Support Hope Street this holiday season by giving a gift today at SupportCaliforniaHospital.org/Year-End.