In 2025, PLN launched a community-centered approach to gathering insights from our community about what matters most. More than 600 PLN families and staff members participated in surveys and listening sessions to share their top challenges. Time and again, families described the same issues impacting their ability to survive and thrive, including:  

• Affordable housing is out of reach, unsafe, or comes with strict barriers.
• Rising costs of living are straining families’ ability to thrive.
• Immigration enforcement creates fear and instability for families.
• Jobs are unstable and don’t pay well.
• Families are experiencing repetitious trauma, deteriorating their mental health and wellbeing.
• Neighborhood safety issues add to families’ daily stress.  

All of these are interconnected and impact the ability of our families to fully engage in our programs and fulfill their educational, emotional, and economic goals.   So, ensuring that families have safe and stable environments and have their basic needs met is mission-critical.   

GROUND TRUTH reveals the real stories behind the statistics and each one sits at the intersection of our policy agenda priorities.

Nicholas Curl is the Communications & Digital Media Coordinator at Para Los Niños and has been with the organization since 2024. In addition to supporting multi-media storytelling across all PLN communications platforms, including email, social media, website and more, Nick is GROUND TRUTH’s producer.

Nick is originally from Oregon. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, making use of AMC A-List, and watching Borussia Dortmund finish in second place in the Bundesliga year after year.

He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Television Writing & Production from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.