La Plaza Central

Yesterday we traveled to West Lincoln Elementary to attend a press conference on the Toyota Family Literacy Programs. Speakers included President and Founder of the National Center for Family Literacy Sharon Darling, LPS Superintendent Dr. Susan Gourley, and literacy participants Roberto Bernabé and Martha Matamoros. All four offered touching monologues for the ears of the well-attended gymnasium, and many familiar faces—from our students all the way up to administrators—proffered a smile.

Update: a quick thanks to Peggy over at LPS for sending us the following:

Channel 8 spent one hour at Everett Elementary today. They interviewed Jadi (Miller), Elizabeth Montes, and a parent. They also filmed PAC Time (Parent And Child Time) in a first grade room and…the adult education room…The segment about Family Literacy should run tonight at 6 & 10 for the feature.

Shout out to everyone who helps with family literacy!

There are four new faces on our Board of Directors, and I’d like to take a moment on behalf of staffers to welcome them and wish them a fruitful year:

Staci Bell, Wesleyan

Susanne Cramer, Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs, Inc.

Rebecca Gonzalez, Nebraska Appleseed

René Monarez, Cornhusker Council, Boy Scouts of America

And of course we musn’t forget to wish the same for the veterans: Mr Brown, Ms Cruz, Mr Diaz, Ms Egan, Ms Lieske, Mr Oliver, Ms Ordoñez, Mr Preciado, and Ms Rodriguez.

Cheers.

Yes, on it’s way.

March 20th, 8pm at the DelRay ballroom in the Historic Haymarket. $25 gets you in—and if you fancy one—a free tango lesson one hour prior to the start of the event. Come to El Centro for tickets, get them from one of us, or buy them at the door day-of.

Bring your money clips, for there will be live and silent auctions replete with unique and sundry items—some procured from foreign lands.

All are welcome…just try to look snappy.

And remember, drink when it’s for charity.

See? Told you I would write more often.

Tonight will be our second Monday preparing taxes as a VITA site for the IRS. Boy is it fun. Actually, last week went rather well compared to last  year. We have that year under our belts and have a more defined idea on how to manage the program. Just got the rest of my forms in the mail, so I’ll get to do my own taxes one day when I feel like it.

Also new: Hartley Elementary opened up their own Family Literacy Program just this afternoon and we are pleased to be a part of it. They have us down Fridays for clases de computación. Our three other classes are going well — today in the Migrant Family Literacy Program, I had students copying a Garcia Lorca poem, complete with instruction on how to enter accents and and upside-down exclamation points. Easier than you think (on a Mac!).

Info on Wine!Chocolate!Tango!…soon.