Charlitas y Café contestants! Here is a great activity to spark up some conversation…

The Time That Remains

Showing at the Ross March 18-24.

THE TIME THAT REMAINS is a humorous, heartbreaking film composed of elegantly stylized autobiographical episodes from the life of writer/director Elia Suleiman. The film explores life among the Israeli Arab community, and is shot largely in homes and places in which Suleiman’s family once lived. Inspired by his father’s diaries, letters his mother sent to family members who had fled the Israeli occupation, and the director’s own recollections, the film spans from 1948 until the present, recounting the saga of the filmmaker’s family in subtly hilarious vignettes. Inserting himself as a silent observer reminiscent of Buster Keaton, Suleiman trains a keen eye on the absurdities of life in Nazareth.

¿Le interesan los temas migratorios?

Si a usted le interesa conocer un poco más de los temas de actualidad relacionados con la migración, como por ejemplo, el hecho de que actualmente en la legislatura estatal de Nebraska se están discutiendo iniciativas de ley como la LB48, que busca limitar la inmigración ilegal.

Para saber más acerca de este tema, escuche Nómada, un programa radiofónico de la Universidad de Nebraska-Lincoln, todos los lunes de 8 a 9 de la noche en 90.3 KRNU.

En este programa conducido por Gabriel Medina podrá escuchar entrevistas a especialistas en migración, abogados,  políticos e inmigrantes.

Para mayor información puede visitar la siguiente página Web http://cojmc.unl.edu/immigration/?p=269

People have different perceptions about immigration matters, some think that America should welcome them because this is a country built by immigrants, some have a different opinion.

Nebraska Lawmakers have introduced four bills in the Legislature to place restrictions on immigrants. If you’re interested in finding out more information about current immigration issues like this one, Nómada is a new radio program that will explore these topics in Nebraska through interviews, analysis and debate.

Mondays 8 to 9 PM, with Gabriel Medina, on 90.3 FM, KRNU.

For more information visit their Website at http://cojmc.unl.edu/immigration/?p=269

¡Hola y buen día a todos!

Les invitamos hoy, a las 6 de la tarde en el Clyde Malone Center (justo al lado del Centro de las Américas), a una plática de los taxes, para hablar de cómo hacerse los impuestos, y cómo sacar la mayor cantidad de devuelta posible para el año 2010.  Vamos a aclarar un poquito este proceso de llenarse los taxes, lo cual es aveces confuso.

Así que para todo el mundo que se ha quedado trabado o confundido en cualquier aspecto de los impuestos, o para aquellas personas que nunca han tenido que entregar un 1040, que pasen por el Clyde Malone Center hoy mismo para participar en esta charla de impuestos, a las 6 de la tarde.

What happens when a small town’s school system suddenly becomes 50% minority? That’s exactly what Brent Meier and Elisabeth Reinkordt boldly and ambitiously set out to discover with their documentary When We Stop Counting.  Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 26th, they will be premiering this emotional and inspirational tale of the obstacles hurdled in the lives of six Crete youth.  Theater lights will be dimmed by 7pm for this free showing to begin, but come early!  As this will surely prove to bring a FULL theater!

The documentary will be shown at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center, located in the heart of Lincoln’s downtown, bordering the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s campus.   There will be no entrance fee (free of charge) and the film will last shortly over an hour.  On street parking is limited, but downtown provides several parking garages located within walking distance of the theater.  Come out on this beautiful fall evening, take a stroll through Lincoln’s crisp and fallen leaves, and further your cultural and educational insight as to what really is happening  in this small town Nebraska school.  Afterward, meet the individuals featured in the film and hear their personal epilogues, as they too will be present for this touching premier.

Back in 2008 the down economy had me squeaking by, dabbling in some graphic design stuff and just hanging out. I had heard about AmeriCorps back in the day but mostly had forgotten about it. The grapevine informed me there were some positions available, one at a certain “El Centro de las Américas”. Here I am nearly two years later, rocking the Education and Technology Program Coordinator position. And guess what? The turnover for our current AmeriCorps volunteers is September, so tell your bilingual friends that there will be one full-time position and two part-time positions opening up and they should apply with Deb Buckman over at the F Street Community Center. You can go as far as the ganas take you.

(photo by: GWYNETH ROBERTS - Lincoln Journal Star)

Thank you to those in attendance and those lending assistance for the GED program and graduation ceremony last Saturday. We are ever grateful to Gloria Sarmiento, Maria Fernanda Joya, et al, for the program leadership, and to Wesleyan University and Tesia Risk for realizing need and recognizing accomplishment.

Further reading: Lincoln Journal Star

El Centro de las Américas to Graduate Largest Class Ever of Spanish-Language GED Students

55 students from 10 communities graduate Saturday — including 30 from El Centro de Las Américas

Fifty-five students from Lincoln, Hastings, Wayne, Wakefield, West Point, Fremont, Schuyler, Crete, Norfolk and Lexington will gather at Nebraska Wesleyan’s O’Donnell Auditorium on Saturday, June 26 at 3 pm to celebrate graduation from the GED (General Education Development) program.  The group will include 30 students from the program coordinated by Lincoln’s El Centro de las Américas.

The ceremony will celebrate the dedication of the adult student graduates, some of whom work, have families and children and drive up to three hours to get to the classes.  Since the successful GED in Spanish program began, many students have gone on to higher education degrees. El Centro de las Américas will also award three scholarships at the ceremony to its top students to help them further their education.

The O’Donnell Auditorium in the Vance D. Rogers Center for Fine Arts at Nebraska Wesleyan University is located on the north side of Huntington Street between 50th and 51st Street in Lincoln, Nebraska. In attendance will be GED students, family and administration of El Centro de las Américas, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.

As noted in the prior post, we celebrated the last days of our most recent Family Literacy sessions. Thanks again to Karen at Lincoln Literacy Council for the great shots of the W Lincoln potluck. Check out the entire album!

All are invited to this national event combining workshops, planning groups, assemblies, art shows, etc. to clarify objectives and build movements for social change. This year it will be in the Forum-dubbed “Solution City”, better known as Detroit.

Detroit is in an interesting position to reclaim itself post-collapse, making it an appropriate host for a grassroots event looking to toss around ideas for improving “the system”. There is a caravan going from Lincoln, so read up the website and perhaps you will consider joining them.

And congratulations, if you are graduating.

Hasta el lunes.