We are often asked why we picked the name Avante Center. The core question is: what does the word Avante mean? Avante is actually an ancient battle cry meaning "forward" with the connotation of a command to move ahead.
I am reminded of a story from the Old Testament. The Israelites had been in slavery for many years and God had just delivered them as a result of miraculous plagues against the Egyptians who had held the Israelites in slavery. The Israelites are now free and leaving Egypt on foot led by Moses, but the Egyptian king changes his mind and sends his army after the Israelites in order to bring them back into slavery
At this point in the story the Israelites look up and find themselves trapped between the advancing Egyptian army on one side and the Red Sea on the other side. The Israelites are terrified and yell at Moses saying, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?" (Exodus 14:11 NIV). In response Moses addresses God and God's response is "Tell the Israelites to move on." In essence God tells the Israelites "Avante." As a result, God parts the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross and drowns the Egyptian army behind them. In other words, regardless of what the circumstances look like, our job is to move forward.
Maybe you feel like you're trapped too. Our goal is to help you find the path to move forward no matter what the past experience entailed, no matter what the future appears to hold, and no matter where you are currently. Let us help you "Avante."