In this issue: Afterschool Volunteer Survey, Food Distribution Continues, ESL Ready for Summer, LaAmistad Awarded Grant from Dollar General, 2020 Schirber Scholars, And more!
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LaAmistad Eyes Online-Focused Afterschool Tutoring for Fall 2020: A Message From the Executive Director
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Dear Volunteers,
Like many of you, LaAmistad has been closely following the most current information regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), its impact on what education will look like in the fall, and the many ways in which its course might alter the way we go about fulfilling our mission in the coming months.
Fortunately, LaAmistad's full and part-time staff of extremely dedicated people have been working around the clock to respond to the challenges COVID-19 may continue to present into September when Afterschool programming is scheduled to resume. Our team is considering every contingency as it undertakes the task of continuing the transformative, high-quality academic support LaAmistad has provided its students for nearly 20 years.
At the end of last semester, online tutoring and instruction were critical for us as we aimed to keep our over 300 students from across the metro area on track with the educational gains they've made. Given the circumstances, we are planning to continue tutoring our students online into the fall, closely monitoring changes in the functions of our school and church partners that may allow us to return in person again safely.
We've done this before, and we are confident that LaAmistad Afterschool's community of givers will once again rise to the occasion as we look temporarily to a reimagined afterschool programming model.
The only way our students can continue to receive the homework help and concept reinforcement that has helped them thrive is with the dedication and flexibility of you, the volunteer. The future of our organization is bright, and our students and families need you to help see them through this uncertain time. We look forward to embarking on this new method together, and we thank you for your continued commitment to our students, our families, and our community.
Cat McAfee
Executive Director
Can our students count on you to continue helping them with their homework in a virtual setting? Please take a moment to complete this brief survey and let us know how you'd be willing to help!
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LaAmistad Food Distribution Continues in Partnership with Second Helpings Atlanta
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As states prepare to reopen,
food insecurity remains a devastating reality for many of LaAmistad's students and families
throughout the metro area. Missing paychecks and housing instability have been the main contributing factors during this pandemic, leaving many LaAmistad families with limited options and few places to turn.
LaAmistad is here to help see the free-and-reduced lunch Latino community through this difficult time
, and did so in June with the help of Second Helpings Atlanta.
A
nonprofit food rescue organization whose mission is to reduce hunger and food waste in the Metro Atlanta area, Second Helpings Atlanta partnered with LaAmistad's outreach team this month to distribute
1000 prepared meals to LaAmistad students and families
.
LaAmistad is grateful for the opportunity to distribute these important resources to its families, and looks forward to continuing to support the community in any way needed going forward.
Click the button to read more about Second Helpings Atlanta!
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ESL is ready for summer! Come join us!
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LaAmistad's ESL Virtual Classroom uses the latest technology to keep students connected
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ESL volunteers and staff have worked around the clock to make this past Spring ESL Session smooth for students and their families. As of June 25th, we have successfully completed our first virtual ESL session online!
Here are some numbers: Over 400 staff and volunteer hours spent learning and teaching students and teachers the new online platform, a total of 33 students enrolled in online classes this spring, and 10 teachers taught, co-taught, or provided technical assistance. Thank you so much for your support and hard work!
Online ESL summer session will start the week of July 13th and finish the week of September 30th
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What are our students saying?
Vivian from Texas says this about her mother enrolling in online classes. “Hello, my mother is interested in classes but she lives in Texas. Can she still register and enroll?”
Diana says, “Last year I attended these classes and I really liked them, I really felt like I was learning but I moved out of state. With this new class is it possible that I can take the course again? If it’s completely online I would love to take the course again.”
We are so thankful to be able to welcome students from all over the world now! Happy learning!
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Share this opportunity with friends and family!
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LaAmistad Awarded Grant from Dollar General Literacy Foundation to Support Adult Literacy
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The Dollar General Literacy Foundation recently awarded LaAmistad a $10,000.00 grant to support adult literacy.
This local grant is part of more than $8.6 million in grants awarded to more than 950 schools, nonprofits and organizations across the communities Dollar General serves. Funds will be used in support of LaAmistad's ESL program. Click the button to read more about local grants from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation!
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The Suzanne W. Schirber Scholarship Awardees Selected
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2020 recipient Gabriela (left) during her time in LaAmistad Afterschool
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Former LaAmistad Afterschool students
Gabriela Oliveros
and
Jesus Rojas
have been named
LaAmistad's 2020 Suzanne W. Schirber scholars
. Both recipients will be pursuing higher education this coming fall.
Established in loving memory of Suzanne W. Schirber, a former and dedicated LaAmistad volunteer. The scholarship will support incoming college freshman and/or current college LaAmistad students in pursuit of higher education.
Thank you to all of our 2020 applicants. LaAmistad looks forward to continuing to offer this opportunity to students for years to come.
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2020 Census Participation More Important Than Ever
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For months LaAmistad has been encouraging the participation of the families it serves in the 2020 Census.
It is now more critical than ever before that the Latino community be accurately represented in the data. Federal resource allocations, like the one designed to ease the economic impact of COVID-19, will be based on the collected data for the next ten years.
We must not forget that, even during this time of crisis, participation in the 2020 Census carries profound longterm implications for the students and families we serve. Click below for the latest information from The United States Census Bureau.
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Success Spotlight:
LaAmistad Completes First Ever Online Anímate Summer Academy
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The summer slide doesn't take a year off, and neither did LaAmistad's Anímate Summer Academy.
Unable to gather in person, staff and volunteers made use of all the resources at their disposal to put on a fun, educational, engaging camp experience for LaAmistad's summer students.
"
Soccer in the Streets taught virtual soccer lessons twice a week
," said Camp Director Katie Carlson. "Students worked on footwork, agility and speed in their homes. All students were given a soccer ball to use for lessons."
Online field trips were incorporated as well
, taking students on virtual tours of some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces our world has to offer.
Alongside high-quality academic support from dedicated educators and volunteers, students made the absolute most of
Anímate 2020!
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