BERWYN – Minutes before Cafecito con el Director, Morton East High School Principal Jose A. Gamboa waited by the school entrance door, ready to welcome the waves of parents. With a wide smile, he greeted them with a "¡Buenos días!" or "¿Cómo estás?" A quick handshake followed.

It's 10 a.m. on a Thursday and Gamboa and parent liaison Joshua Galvan ushered their guests into a modest meeting room across the office. Fresh coffee and a few select desserts were laid out on a small table nearby.

For Gamboa and Galvan, this sight – a nearly packed room on a weekday morning – has now become a common occurrence. It's the result of a consistent effort to bridge a better relationship among faculty, staff, parents and other community members, Galvan said.

In the past few years, the Cafecito con el Director, or Morning Coffee with the Principal, has transformed into a popular event at the Cicero-based high school and serves as a place where parents, especially, can talk candidly about their teens, share their concerns, ask for advice and learn more about local resources. At its peak, the cafecito brought in more than 60 parents, Gamboa said.

"Today, I thought it's going to be low," he said Nov. 14, surprised by the attendees walking in with grandparents and young children beside them, even after it already began.

After Gamboa gave an overview of Morton East's academic track so far, he turned the floor over and introduced his colleagues, including a handful of social workers, counselors and a psychologist. They sought to open up the conversation on mental health, a "no-no" topic especially in the Latino community, Gamboa said.

In front of the audience, Gamboa spoke about being a troubled teen and often making bad choices.

"I put my parents at a point where they should probably have sought out mental health [resources]," he said. "But, for them, mental health was going to church, praying a little bit harder, you know, sticking together as a family."

"There are other options out there," he continued, adding that this particular conversation was meant to put a spotlight on Morton East and Morton High School District 201's staff. Gamboa wanted to bring families face to face with the bilingual social workers and school psychologist because "we have the resources here."

At Morton East, where almost 96% of students are Hispanic or Latino, representation matters.

"There's always going to be somebody that speaks Spanish, from the greeter to the principal and anything in between," Galvan said. "And, if there's a need for an interpreter, there's always somebody willing to help."

The latter part of Galvan's sentiment is key to understanding why events such as the Cafecito con el Director are important. Galvan and Gamboa briefly spoke of the biggest challenge that their students face. About 91% of Morton East students come from low-income families. As a father of three and a longtime educator, Gamboa knows that schools are a home away from home – or at least they should be – and he and his colleagues have to respond to their students' and families' needs.

"The first thing we get graded on is our graduation rate and our test scores," Gamboa said about the Illinois State Board of Education's annual report cards. But, "if they come hungry, if they don't feel safe, they're not going to learn."

More often than not, Gamboa finds himself telling parents that their children can receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch at school and the building is warm during the cold seasons.

"I want our community to know that this is a safe place," Gamboa said. "This is a warm, welcoming environment where the kids could come here regardless of what is going on. I don't need to know necessarily why [or] what's going on. We can help support you here."

And while the cafecitos are geared for parents to help their teens, Gamboa, Galvan and other school staff also have worked to prioritize parents. Aside from the monthly coffee gatherings, Morton East offers classes for parents to learn English and basic computer skills. Parents also are invited to join a book club, which meets on Wednesday nights.

As the Nov. 14 cafecito came to a close, Gamboa ended with one of his favorite activities. He handed out a piece of paper and instructed parents to write down something nice for their children, encouraging them to compliment something other than an academic achievement.

These are just little acts of love, another way to bring families closer, he said.

"We're not perfect," Gamboa said about himself and Morton East. "The positive things that we're doing, the resources that we have available, we have pretty much everything that a family can need to support them and be successful through their four years of high school here."

Cafecito con el Director takes place every second Thursday of the month. To learn more about the cafecito or parent resources, email parent liaison Joshua Galvan at joshuagalvan@jsmorton.org.