AgaLinks’ Beginnings
Inspiration Is Contagious

Back in 2000, myself, Maria Santiago and Frances Maldonado joined forces to reunite the Homekids we grew up with in the 1950’s & 60’s that we had not seen in years.  The networking resulted in our newsletter, AgaLinks,  and in 2001 one of the largest reunions ever held at St. Agatha, where over 300 Homekids showed up.  Little did we know that just four years later the Home would be closing, that Myrna Maldonado would be lost at the WTC, that it'd be the last time many of us would see Jimmy Beaner, Nelson Rosado, Michael Fields, Patricia Newton and a few others who've passed since then.   Several Homekids participated in AgaLinks and thus my collection of notes and stories began, all of which you’ll eventually see here in our Literary Wall of Reflection.

Our paper publication of AgaLinks ended in 2000 after only two issues but it was the beginning of many wonderful things to come.  Many of us have remained in touch since then and thanks to Nancy Canfield’s book HOME KIDS and her St. Agatha Home website, along with the Alumni Committee’s efforts to hold regular alumni reunions, our St. Agatha family is once again reunited.

AgaLinks is now online as of May 2008 and has received 3,231 visits as of this writing.  So many were the stories being shared that my Agatha brother, Ron Lugo, suggested it was time to create a new website specifically geared to showcase all our wonderful memories, poetry, prose and stories.  From our paper publication of AgaLinks to Ana DeJesus' Angelfire website, Augustine Cruz’s sculptures, Nancy’s book HOME KIDS, the St. Agatha Home website, AgaLinks online, Rita Villa’s website, to the Literary Wall of Reflection – we’ve come a long way, Baby! – www.myspace.com/mariaagosto

sculptures by St. Agatha alumnus Augustine Cruz (photo on left)