May 2020
In this issue: LaAmistad in the news, APS meal deliveries resume, ESL update, Families give thanks, 2020 Census, Scholarship Deadline Approaching
LaAmistad Leading the Way in Support of Working Mothers During Outbreak
LaAmistad's Community Engagement Director, Nina Reid, joined Noticias 34 Atlanta this month to discuss how COVID-19 is affecting the working mothers of our community, and what LaAmistad is doing to help. CLICK HERE to watch the full video, and consider making a gift in support of LaAmistad's working mothers!
APS Turns to LaAmistad for North Atlanta Cluster Summer Food Distribution Plan
Atlanta Public Schools is extending its school meal distribution program. Some of the most sorely missed resources when schools shut down in March were the meals students ordinarily receive while at school. Many APS families depend on school meals, and their absence was felt throughout the district. In the remaining months of the school year, APS distributed nearly 160,000 meals to families each Monday.

Recognizing the need, APS is continuing meal distribution in early summer.

"After a break for Memorial Day week, the program will resume for three Mondays in June (1st, 8th, and 15th) with five-day meal packs for children prepared by us and delivered by key partners."

Deliveries to ESOL communities in the Grady and North Atlanta clusters will be carried out by LaAmistad.

"While the student meal distribution from our ESOL team also concluded today, our designated ESOL communities in the Grady and North Atlanta clusters will receive the student meals for three Mondays in June from LaAmistad, one of our generous partners."

LaAmistad is thrilled that APS is extending its support of families into the summer, and proud to be such an integral part of this important initiative. Click the button below to read more from Atlanta Public Schools.
LaAmistad ESL Virtual Classroom Going Strong: Upcoming Offerings and Class Updates
LaAmistad's ESL Virtual Classroom uses the latest technology to keep students connected
These unprecedented times continue to be hard for so many. Here at LaAmistad, we continue to recognize and address the needs of our students and their families. One of the many needs of our students and families during this time is the need to continue English classes. Many of our students and families rely on English classes to sustain success and to advance in their academic, workforce, and life enrichment activities. 

LaAmistad’s ESL staff was up for this challenge and answered the call!
We are proud to share details about this session’s ESL Virtual Classrooms and put a spotlight on one of our star students!

Levels: We are currently offering classes for all levels of English proficiency. We have Basic, Level 1, Level 2, and advanced Levels 3 and 4.Enjoy some photos of our Basic, Level 1, and Level 4 online classes!

Dates: Our sessions run very similar to that of our in-person English classes. Sessions last for 10-11 weeks leaving room for extra testing time or time to review the curriculum before students move on to the next level. The current session will end on June 25th and the summer session is scheduled to start in July. Official dates to come!

Cost: You can sign up to take English classes online by paying a small registration fee of $30. If a textbook is needed along with your registration, the cost is $70.

Student experience: Claudia, who is in our Basic level class says, “I am happy. I am learning a lot. My teacher is excellent and I have never enjoyed English classes as much as I am now. What makes me the happiest is that it is virtual. It is difficult for me to do face-to-face classes because I have 9-year-old twins and an 11-month-old baby.” 

Claudia has been doing very well in class and her ongoing successes speak to the overall mission of LaAmistad and what we stand for. Register today!
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Students and Families Expressing Gratitude for Support with Handwritten Messages
In what would have been the final weeks of LaAmistad Afterschool, things still look quite different than they have in years past. End of year parties, student award presentations, and family fun typically make this time of year one of our favorites. A lot has changed from last year to this year, and LaAmistad families are now faced with a brand new set of challenges, in addition to the ones they were already facing.

In response, LaAmistad's community of givers rose to the occasion and provided one of the most significant outpourings of support our students and families have ever received. We are so proud that LaAmistad's community is one that springs into action during times of crisis. Our gratitude for your contributions is immeasurable.

Your generosity has not gone unnoticed. Click the button below to see some of the notes we've received!
The Suzanne W. Schirber Scholarship: Deadline May 31st
2019 recipients Jose and Alondra
A scholarship fund established in loving memory of Suzanne W. Schirber, a former and dedicated LaAmistad volunteer. The scholarship supports incoming college freshman and current college LaAmistad students in pursuit of higher education.

Are you or a loved one a former LaAmistad Afterschool student? You may qualify to receive funds for school through LaAmistad's Suzanne W. Schirber Scholarship!

All eligible students are encouraged to apply. Students are eligible to win twice.

If you need any assistance when completing the application, please contact scholarship@laamistadinc.org .
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2020 Census Participation More Important Than Ever
For months LaAmistad has been encouraging the participation of the families it serves in the 2020 Census. In light of recent events, it is 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.
Success Spotlight: Students Receive Their End-of-Year Awards!
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