Jennifer ran out the front door of the adoption agency and hid inside the van that brought her once again to meet new caregivers. She was afraid of going to another foster home and not seeing her five younger sisters. Several adults went searching for her, but it was Luis Sosa who found her, crying, and assured her that things were going to be different this time. And, they were--- Jennifer and her sisters were in for an incredible journey of hope, home, values and music, which would change their lives forever.

Born to a mother who was unable to raise them, the six sisters, including two sets of twins, found themselves living in separate foster homes near and around Fresno, California.  

Foster parents Luis and Maria Sosa had cared for several children of different ages, but it wasn’t until they were assigned to care for Lena and Samantha, the oldest set of twins, that they thought about adoption. The Sosa’s learned from the twins about the four other sisters, Jennifer, the other twins, Ruby and Priscilla, and little baby Heaven, all who had been placed in separate homes, and how they only saw each other on occasions. Feeling the need for all the girls to be together, the Sosa’s with the help of friends, family and people at the adoption agency, made the effort to adopt all the girls.

“At first it was a big decision for us,” says Maria. “We wanted to give them everything they needed for school, college, everything.  I really wanted them to be back together.”

Maria and Luis say that the adoption process wasn’t that hard because they did it all through the foster care system. “The hardest thing was making room in the house for everyone,” says Luis, of their home in Hanford, which is in San Joaquin Valley.

When asked about the challenge of suddenly being parents to six children, Maria says, “It wasn’t that hard - it all depends on how you raise the kids. Jennifer, the oldest, was about eight years old when I started teaching her how to cook – now she can cook just like me.”

Maria says that every girl has a day of cooking and cleaning and that they have learned that they have to clean up after themselves. “Whatever we do, everyone contributes,” says Maria.

Shortly after arriving to their new home, the girls noticed that their new dad had a garage full of musical instruments and asked if he could teach them how to play.

Luis says it was Ruby’s idea to start the band. “It looked like fun, something to enjoy together,” says Ruby.

“Everyone chose their instrument and I started teaching them one at a time and eventually they learned more and more,” says Luis.

With the help of a Sacramento entertainment agency, the girls began getting professional performing jobs and recording their music at the studio of Danny Rodriguez. Luis says the girls felt nervous at their first professional performance. “It´s very different playing at home than playing in front of people,” said Jennifer.

The sisters, Heaven, 9, Ruby, 12, Priscilla, 12, Lena, 14, Samantha, 14, and Jennifer 16, have been performing together for five years as ‘The Sosa Sisters’. The girls have performed at adventure parks, wedding receptions, Cinco De Mayo celebrations, and county fairs. They have been the opening act for notable bands such as WAR, Malo, Puro Bandido, and others. They have also performed and recorded with Jorge Santana and auditioned for the TV show America’s Got Talent. They write their own songs and are currently working on their third album of all original songs.

Their first performance in the East Bay will happen Thursday, July 21 in San Pablo as part of a series of ‘Music in the Park´ concerts. Their performances are known to be not only entertaining, but also inspiring, especially for young people who have felt neglected, unloved, or unsure about their future.