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By Stephanie Hirsch

Children in Somerville are almost twice as likely to be living in poverty. Though Somerville has very few children nowadays (as a percent of the population), we still don’t have enough programs and services to go around. This Community Heroes column features five people who have dedicated their lives to filling those gaps and helping our children grow up to be healthy, happy, and ready for adulthood. In the descriptions below, each person shares his or her thoughts on how to try to help.

Creator of the Mystic Learning Center Fluffy Bergman.

Humor, Love, and Resilience over Decades of Service, Fluffy Bergmann: Fluffy has been a positive presence in Somerville for decades, and she is a role model of mine. She moved to the Mystic Housing Development as a child, when her house burned down, and has been connected to that neighborhood ever since. She has led the Mystic Learning Center, a youth program for kids in Winter Hill, for the past 45 years(!). Fluffy shared her story:

“My work at the Mystic has been my life or sort of calling. I grew up in the Mystic public housing community. While I was poor financially, I was rich in community and family. As an older teen and through my college years I worked under Sister Elinor who founded the Learning Center for youth and families of the development. Sister Elinor hired teens to help run programs for younger children.  She mentored and inspired me so that when I graduated from college, at the age of 22, she asked me to take over the program. Here I am, 41 years later, still helping kids and families of the Mystic. I am inspired because every day that I go to work, I am making a difference in the lives of Mystic residents. What was given to me, I am able to give back.”

I have been lucky to see Fluffy in action. She is an amazing combination of warm, empathetic, fun, creative, and determined. How can we learn from Fluffy about how to help kids succeed? Here’s Fluffy’s advice:

“Kids and families need a variety of things to thrive. It doesn’t take just one thing. It takes many things like strong schools, city programs, places of faith where individuals learn values and morals, and community groups where people can feel a sense of belonging. When all these groups work together, they can keep kids and families healthy and strong.”

Out of School Time Coordinator Jose Mendez.

A New Determined Problem Solver, Jose Mendez: Jose came to the City this year to accelerate progress on an issue that we’ve struggled to tackle for years – expanding and improving out-of-school time options, especially for underserved groups and ages. Prior to coming to Somerville, he worked in out-of-school programs in Malden and Cambridge. Jose tries to problem-solve across sectors – the City, the District, and non-profit providers. Providers, for example, need help with issues like sign-up and recruitment, funding scholarships, and finding affordable space. The City and Schools need help arranging for enough affordable programs and activities for tweens and teens. Jose says about his role:

“The Out of School Time Coordinator role allows me to be the connective tissue that is so needed among public and private providers to leverage limited resources. It is imperative that we as a community work together.”

Children’s dental specialist Dr. Karen Bright.

A Spirit of Kindness and Service, Dr. Karen Bright: Dr. Bright helps kids in another – but equally important – way. She has had her dental office near the intersection of Beacon and Washington/Kirkland Streets for 17 years, where she has served thousands of Somerville children. She has a remarkable presence with her patients, especially the children she sees and the adults who may have fears of pain or dentistry that are worse than kids’ fears. (Not mentioning any names… but I’m in this category.) She has an empathy and patience that helps everyone feel calm, and makes the whole practice feel welcoming and joyful. True to her spirit of service, here’s what Dr. Bright said about her work:

“When someone decides to become a patient, I am moved by the generosity of their trust. I try to honor that trust with understanding, patience, and gratitude. And of course you know that children are the most generous people, so I have stored love for ages to come.”

Two Different Types of Community Heroes, Erika & Virgilio Garcia: The City Council recently confirmed Virgilio Garcia as a Somerville Firefighter. What made me so happy is that his wife, Erika, is a School Secretary, and their children go to Winter Hill Community Innovation School. The whole family has deep ties to Somerville. Both Garcia parents help children in different – but important – ways. Erika served as a School Liaison at the East Somerville Community School, helping families access services they need, and now she serves as School Secretary at the

Community heroes Erika and Virgilio Garcia.

Argenziano School. A colleague described Erika as a behind-the-scenes problem solver and advocate and as a “welcoming, strong, warm presence who, in greeting people (including many people in Spanish), sets the tone for an inclusive and calm school.”

For Virgilio, he will be literally physically helping adults and kids. He explained, though, another way he will help. Years ago, firefighters visited Virgilio’s Somerville class at St. Benedicts and told students: “You can be whatever you want to be, you can be wearing this hat someday.” That visit inspired Virgilio, and he hopes to help others in the same way:

“It’s going to be one of my responsibilities to go out, especially in my community, because we still have the situation that a lot of parents don’t know what’s out there for them or their children and what opportunities there are … People ask: ‘How did you get there? Is it tough?’ Those were the questions I had in the back of my mind, and now I can share with them the process … It’s something I will take upon myself to let them know they can do it.”

Thank you to all of these big hearts and strong hands for lifting up and supporting our children and families.