Learning Rights Law Center created the TIGER Program in 2005 to help students like Bryan. The only program of its kind on the West Coast, the TIGER Program uses intensive, year-long training and mentorship to help low-income parents become better education advocates on behalf of their children. In addition to TIGER, Learning Rights sponsors Community Groups for parents who are looking for resources and support.
Parents who have learned how to advocate can share this knowledge with other parents at monthly TIGER Community Group meetings. Through Community Groups, parents end up playing an integral role in their communities – supporting one another, sharing resources, and mentoring leaders. Four current TIGER Community Group leaders head the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) in their own school district. CACs maintain an ongoing interaction between educators and parents and advocate for effective special education programs. Their efforts and impact are starting to be recognized. The National Legal Aid & Defender Association and National Legal Service Program bestowed the TIGER Community Group Parent Leaders with its 2015 “Client Contribution Award” for their extraordinary efforts in advancing justice and civil rights of children in their communities.
After seeing the benefit that TIGER provided to herself and Bryan, Mayra was determined to share what she learned with other parents. She helped start a TIGER class at the Tichenor Clinic for Children in Long Beach. Additionally, she started up her own Community Group in Long Beach. Mayra dedicates hours of her time each month to ensure that parents are as skilled an advocate as she is.
Her work is well noted within the community. This fall, the Carl and Roberta Deutsch Foundation awarded Mayra with their HALO Award! The award recognizes volunteers who are doing exemplary work in their community, and we are proud to say that Mayra is doing just that.
We are excited to see how the parents who graduated this year will use their knowledge to support their communities. To support our TIGER Program and help parents like Mayra discover their voice,
donate here
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