Logan
When Matthew and Charlene welcomed their son Logan into the world, they thought they knew what parenting would look like. But as Logan grew, they realized they wanted something more than just milestones checked off and routines followed. They wanted to truly connect with him, to nurture his curiosity and confidence, and to feel confident as parents themselves.
That search for connection led them to Southwest Human Development.
“We’ve always wanted to feel part of a strong community here in the Valley,” Matt says. “We started going to Valleywise Community Health Center, and that’s where we found our first Raising a Reader class and that’s where we met Karla.”
Karla, a Southwest Human Development early literacy coordinator, became more than an instructor. She became a partner in their parenting journey. “Logan absolutely loved her. The songs, the dancing, how she really connected with the kids. It meant so much,” Charlenesays. They even followed her to other centers just to keep learning with her.
The program opened doors they hadn’t expected. Matt remembers feeling unsure about raising Logan to speak two languages, after hearing from others that it might confuse him. “Carla and the team reassured me. They explained how being bilingual could actually help his development. That gave me so much confidence.”
For Logan, the classes sparked a love of learning that spilled into their everyday lives. “He really got into music after the self-esteem and development class,” Charlene laughs. “Now he puts on performances at home, singing, dancing, asking us to play drums or piano with him. It’s become a family thing.”
Books became another passion. Logan rotated through favorites. Llama Llama Red Pajama, baby sign books, even The Book of Mormon, which he insisted on sleeping with for weeks. “We’d sit and read together every night. That time built such a strong bond between us,” Matt says.
One memory stands out vividly for them. During a class, Logan received a small stuffed sea turtle in his activity packet. He became completely obsessed. “We learned everything about sea turtles,” Charlene says. “How they can’t breathe underwater, how to say ‘sea turtle’ in Spanish, even how to sign it. All from one little stuffed animal. And knowing that packet was put together by volunteers made it even more meaningful.”
For Matt and Charlene, Raising a Reader didn’t just help Logan grow, it helped them grow too. “These classes took away so much stress,” Matt explains. “I feel more prepared, more capable. I know how to support Logan now.”
They’ve noticed big changes in Logan as well. “He’s more outgoing, more confident,” Charlene says. “He’ll walk right up to people and start talking. I see a huge difference.”
Today, they’re proud to share their story as a Southwest Human Development Ambassador Family. “We tell all our friends about these programs,” Matt says. “Because they’ve made such a difference in our lives. They help parents see their child’s potential, understand milestones, and really enjoy the journey.”