A Parent’s Reflection

Adrielle shared the below speech with the broader community at HCA’s 2026 Fundraiser Luncheon. We were so blessed by her transparency and confidence in the work the Harbor is engaged in, and the transformation that it has brought to her family!

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Good afternoon everyone — thank you for being here today. Thank you for caring enough about this work to actually show up. Because that already says a lot. And thank you to the Harbor leadership, board, and staff for the work you do every day to make this possible.  

My name is Adrielle, and my husband Rashad and I have two amazing children at Harbor Christian Academy — Rashad Jr., who is 11, and Ella, who is 9. And listen… we didn’t stumble into Harbor.  

We chose it.  

Years ago, one of Harbor’s founders — who also happened to be a minister at our church — heard me venting. I was frustrated. Our kids were aging out of one Christian school, and I was searching for something that matched our values, our faith, and our reality. I didn’t want just what was affordable. I wanted what was transformational. I wanted intentional. I wanted Christ-centered.  

And Harbor became the answer to that prayer.  

You’ve heard about Harbor’s mission today. I want to show you what that looks like inside one real family.  My son, Rashad Jr. — I am literally watching him become a young man right in front of my eyes. And not just taller and with a deeper voice… but better.  

And what makes that even more meaningful to me is this — RJ was born with multiple heart defects and has had three open heart surgeries and countless other procedures.  

So every ounce of growth, every ounce of maturity, every step forward feels sacred to me.  

He’s becoming more respectful. More responsible. And yes… a little less lazy — because preteen boys will test your patience and your prayer life.  

But what matters most to me is this: he is learning how to carry himself with strong Christian values. He’s learning who he is — and whose he is.  

And then there’s Ella. My emotional fireball.  

When she was struggling to regulate her emotions, Harbor didn’t just discipline her — they discipled her. They walked with her. They helped her learn how to slow down, process her emotions, and respond in a way that reflects her faith.  

And I saw that culture up close during a parent-teacher conference with Ms. P, one of Ella’s previous teachers. Nothing was wrong. There was no crisis. No emergency.  

She simply asked me if she could pray with me. And in that moment I realized — this isn’t just a school that teaches Christianity. This is a place where people are living it out loud.    

And that’s exactly why Ella began to change. She started crying so much less. Not because she stopped feeling — but because she learned how to handle her feelings. And as a mom, watching your child gain emotional strength like that… it changes everything.  

And that growth didn’t stop with her emotions. Somehow… both of my kids almost know the Bible better than me. Which is humbling. And slightly offensive. But mostly amazing.  

They’ve both been here since first grade. Which means Harbor hasn’t just taught them lessons — Harbor has helped shape them.  

And now, as RJ gets closer to aging out again, I’m reminded why this moment matters — because families like mine don’t just need Harbor to start strong… we need it to keep growing.  

And that matters in a community like ours.  

There’s a quiet belief that neighborhoods like Denver Harbor and the Fifth Ward are “too far gone.” That these kids need to be rescued. Fixed. Saved by outsiders.  

But here’s the truth from a mom raising kids in this community:  

Our children are not broken.  

They are resilient.  

They are talented.  

They are already heroes.  

What they don’t need is low expectations placed on their lives.  

They need opportunity.  

They need consistency.  

They need people willing to invest in what’s already working.  

And that’s exactly what Harbor is doing.  

My husband and I don’t just trust Harbor with our children’s education — we trust them enough to partner with them in other ways too. When you protect what matters most to you, you choose carefully. And Harbor has earned that trust.  

When people talk about return on investment, I think about my kids. I think about confidence where there used to be insecurity. I think about faith taking root early. I think about a community being strengthened one family at a time.  

Harbor isn’t just doing good work — it’s doing effective work. And I’m living proof of that.   

So thank you for being here. Thank you for walking alongside this work. And thank you for being part of what God is doing through Harbor.  

—Adrielle, HCA Parent