Salsa & Connect at the ELP Spring Social!

Mentors  Volunteers  Youth Advocates

Connect  Salsa  Laugh  Learn 

at our 2011 Spring Social!

$15 suggested donation

Dressy attire

Saturday May 7  7pm to 12am

The Camden Roosevelt

2101 16th Street NW

Washington DC

Salsa lessons  Appetizers  Drinks  Raffle

Directions

ADDRESS:
2101 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

The Camden Roosevelt is located on 16th Street between V and W Streets, NW, just south of Meridian Hill Park and near the U Street Corridor. At the front entrance, dial "000" and ask for the Edu-Futuro/ELP fundraiser. The party room is to the left after entering.

BY BUS:
S buses (S2 and S4) stop on 16th right in front of the building. The route runs from Federal Triangle/McPherson Square to/from Silver Spring.

BY METRO:
The building is about 4 blocks from the U Street (Yellow/Green) metro station, and about a 15 minute walk from Dupont Circle (New Hampshire Avenue).

BY CAR:
There is no free parking available at the building; cars parked in the building's driveway will be towed. There may, however, be free street parking in the area but given that it is a Saturday night, parking options may be limited. There is valet service in the building. If you would like to valet your car, please contact Eric Peter (ericpeterdc@gmail.com) by Friday, May 6 for more information.

Details

Edu-Futuro’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is a leadership development and college preparation program for Latino high school students in the Arlington - DC metro area. Students participate in activities to increase their leadership and communication skills, self-confidence, and prepare for college. ELP matches students with young Latino professional mentors who act as role models, providing valuable advice in areas such as study skills, goal setting, and career planning. Students also visit universities and participate in community service projects.

       

Established in 2006, ELP reaches more than 50 students each year and, since its inception, has awarded more than 50 scholarships to under-resourced, college bound students. We seek to raise funds to continue offering scholarships to promising ELP graduates and to expand ELP for more students. 

Empowered Father: Fernando Lopez

Fernando Lopez has been involved with Edu-Futuro (Educación Para Nuestro Futuro) for about four years now since 2007. When asked what inspires him to continue getting involved with our organization and continue volunteering, Fernando says that he wants his kids to get in touch with the Bolivian community here in the area because they were both born in the United States and it would be beneficial for them to be exposed to their culture. He believes that the Escuela Bolivia Program gives them the opportunity to do so. Fernando would also like to set an example and help his children realize that they too can give back to the community after seeing him do it. Fernando believes it is all about teaching through example, and we thank him for being such an example within our organization of how great a father's role can be if the initiative is taken. We asked Fernando some additional questions concerning his role as a father. 

Fernando Lopez with his wife and children receiving his Fatherhood Award at our Annual Gala Event.

• As a father, how do you balance work, volunteering, and time with your family?

My wife and I rely heavily on email because of work. So we just got used to the calendar tool that comes with our email. Everything we do is scheduled in our calendars, that's for all family activities during the week and some on the weekends. Volunteering happens after 8-9pm and only after the kids are sleeping. Family time is meal time, we try to spend dinner together every day with the exception of Thursdays because I have to be somewhere for a side project at 6:30PM. Friday night is movie night, we just get some popcorn, some chips and watch a movie new or old. My kids are growing up loving The Three Stooges, Thundercats and El Chavo del Ocho.

• Do you have any advice to other fathers on the importance of participating in their children’s
education?

Find the time, even if it is 20-30 minutes a day. Never push them to learn what they don't want to learn. If it is not fun for them they'll reject it and all your efforts will go to waste. Find creative ways to teach them the basics and also on how to connect things together, they'll figure out the rest. Kids like to discover things on their own, makes them feel independent and important, as such provide a path but don't provide all the answers. Internet is your friend, teach them to be inquisitive, if you don't know the answer then admit you don't know and find the answer along with them, whether by checking the Internet, reading a dictionary or going to a library.

Empowered Father: Augusto Wayar

“Of course one of the big lessons of becoming a father is that you no longer see yourself as the sole protagonist of your movie: you are now just one of the cast part of the ensemble” 

-National Fatherhood Initiative Handbook, (p.114)

Sr. Augusto Wayar con sus hijas y Sra. Sonia Wayar

Augusto has been involved with our organization ever since its founding and we are proud to share his experience as a father. Here is our interview with him. Thanks Augusto for sharing your inspirational story! 

El Sr. Augusto Wayar ha estado involucrado con nuestra organization desde su fundación como Escuela Bolivia. Queremos agradecerle a Augusto Wayar por compartir su experience como padre. Su historia es realmente inspiradora. 

Our executive Director, Mrs. Eneida Alcalde, has told us that you are a very involved father and that you and your family are all very involved with our work and the children that we help. What inspires you to continue helping the community in such a dedicated manner?

The vocation that I have as en educator has allowed me to involve myself with Escuela Bolivia since its founding. When the organization was started I was invited to become part of this wonderful organization, as well as involving my wife and two daughters who have been volunteering as well for 3 or 4 years. 

Afterwards, I started working as a math teacher and since then have been working as Principal. In the beginning it was founded to welcome Bolivian students and their families with the idea of teaching them Spanish to remember their culture. We all support this philosophy and are supported by people like Dr. Smith, our ex-Ambassador and School Board Member Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez and Principal Cintia Johnson. We have all shaped Edu-Futuro into an organization that welcomes all children. It is important for them to integrate themselves and learn of the opportunities that exist in our world. Being bilingual offers many opportunities in this country, and it is not only Latin American students that are taking advantage of the opportunities bilingualism provides for their futures. This is what motivates me to keep involving myself with the Escuela Bolivia Program. 

Being a working father how do you manage to balance your home and family with work schedules?

I have to admit that I am privileged as a father because when there is a vocation to aid the community then it becomes much easier to balance the two. After I am done with my work hours I dedicate the rest of my time to my family. This works well because my wife and daughters have also adapted this lifestyle.

Do you have anything to say to other fathers about the importance of involving yourself in your children's education? 


Naturally I would like to let other fathers know, speaking as both a father and member of our organization, that they should involve themselves with the initiatives that we support in order to learn more about the Latin American culture. What they will learn through the programs can then be shared with their children, who will one day be our leaders, in hopefully giving them better living situations.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

I would just like to emphasize that for anyone willing to participate in and support the education of their children--our doors are open for all of them to get involved, our sentiments are also open for their involvement.

***********

Nuestro Directora Ejecutiva, la Sra. Eneida Alcalde, ha compartido que usted es un padre muy involucrado y que de hecho, usted y su familia están muy dedicados a nuestro trabajo y a los hijos que ayudamos. ¿Que lo inspira a seguir ayudando a la comunidad en esta manera extraordinaria?

La vocación que tengo como educador me ha permitido interesarme desde sus inicios en Escuela Bolivia. Cuando se estableció escuela Bolivia fui invitado para ser parte de esta bonita organización, lo mismo de toda mi familia mi esposa y mis dos hijas. Hemos estado como voluntarios por 3 o 4 años.

Después me he desempeñado como profesor de matemáticas y desde entonces he trabajado como subdirector de Escuela Bolivia. Al principio la escuela se creo para coger estudiantes Bolivianos y de padres Bolivianos, como el afán de querer enseñarles el Español para hacerlos recordar el Español. Todos pensamos en ese filosofía gracias a la ayuda no solo personal sino de mucha gente como el Dr. Smith, nuestro ex embajador Marcelo Pérez Monasterio y la Dra. Emma Violand-Sanchez, naturalmente aparte de otras personas como Cintia Johnson. Juntos hemos formado Edu-Futuro para esforzarnos a ayudar a todos los niños ya no solo Bolivianos sino de cualquier nacionalidad para que se integren a nuestro escuela y puedan conseguir o obtener una llave para su futuro. Entiendo que el ser bilingüe en este país naturalmente agrega una mayoría de oportunidades de triunfo a nuestros niños, ya no solo latinos sino norteamericanos que se están formando en el programa Escuela Bolivia. Este es la motivación que sigamos integrados al programa de Escuela Bolivia.

Siendo un padre de hogar, como mantienes el equilibrio entre el trabajo y el tiempo con tu familia?

Tengo que decir que soy un padre privilegiado por que es fácil cuando hay vocación de servicio a la comunidad que consiste de horas que puedan permitir dedicarnos a nuestros dos campos, es decir a mi familia y a la educación. Una ves que concluyo mis actividades de trabajo lo que hago es compartir mi tiempo con mi familia; funciona bien por que mis hijas y mi esposa también se han acomodado a este estilo de vida.

Tienes algún consejo para otros padres sobre la importancia de participar en la educación de sus hijos?

Naturalmente que si no solo como padre pero como docente y como director de Escuela Bolivia quiero invocar que los padres de familia que recurran a nuestra organización, la conocida como refugio cultural, para que aprendan las raíces de la cultura de los países que hablan español. Y así descubrir un mundo de maravillosas realidades y que con seguridad servirán para nuestros niños de hoy día, ciudadanos de mañana, mejores oportunidades de vida económica y vida social.

¿Algo más que quisiera compartir con nosotros?

Quiero invitar a todos quienes queren poner un granito de arena para la educación de nuestros niños, y decirles que como las puertas están abiertas para todos ellos, nuestros sentimientos también están abiertos.

Empowered Father: Ricardo Montero

Ricardo Montero, with his wife, holding his award during our gala on March 25th, 2011. 

This week we are profiling another one of our esteemed fathers recently honored at our Celebrating Families: Fathers Matter gala event. Mr. Ricardo Montero is an example of just how dramatic an impact father's can have when they involve themselves with their children's education. Ricardo has been involved with EDUcación Para Nuestro FUTURO for over a year. He gives credit to his wife for finding out about Escuela Bolivia and encouraging him to attend. He started with PARTICIPA and later joined a PESA session. He immediately realized the value of the programs and the impact it could have on his family life. PARTICIPA helped him understand the education system better. PESA helped him feel like a better father. Together, it all helped him realize his potential in taking initiative as a father. He is currently a facilitator in training for future PESA sessions and we are proud of his continued involvement with our organization. 

It is examples like that of Ricardo Montero that show us how small initiatives in our community can make a difference nationwide, setting a precedent for the aspects of children's education that father's are being held responsible for nationwide. it is important to highlight father's efforts like that of Mr. Montero to fight the cultural precedents in society which have perpetuated a belief in the replaceability of fathers in our homes. As leaders like Mr. Montero exemplify, there is no value to the impact father's can make in our community if they have the proper support system, like partnering their efforts with programs that organizations like EDUcación Para Nuestro FUTURO help sponsor. 

The National Fatherhood Initiative is right in that, “One of the more important developments in American society in recent years has been the growth of awareness of the importance of responsible fatherhood to the well-being and proper development of children and to the health of the society as a whole.”

*Father Facts™ 5 summarizes important research findings and trends concerning the negative consequences of father absence, the positive impact of father involvement, and the current demographics of American family structure.

When asked as to what inspires him to continue giving back to your community in this extraordinary way, Ricardo answered this with one word, superación. Like all parents he wants better things for his kids. He has struggled so much to make sense of how the education system works in the US, so he wants to help make this information more easily accessible to other parents. He wants Latino students to excel. He believes that the future is in their hands. Ricardo says, what motivates me most is my desire to wake parents up and encourage them to get involved in their child’s education.

As a father, how do you balance work as well as family time. To fight this issue, Ricardo combines family time with school activities. The Garden Day community service project was a perfect example of how he made a few hours go a long way. He and his wife were fixing the up the grounds of Campbell School where his middle son attends and where he serves as a PTA member. It turns out that his eldest son was also there volunteering as an ELP student. This interweaving of family time with serving the community has become a common practice for his family. When their schedules become too hectic and he needs to work late, he divides up responsibilities with his wife. She may attend certain school meetings on his behalf so that they stay in the loop. There are times when Ricardo finds that he needs to make tough decisions. For example, to help out during Garden Day, he gave up a few hours of paid work. He doesn’t always have the liberty to do this (particularly when work is scarce), but this time he weighed the benefits of working versus spending a morning giving back to Campbell alongside his family. Today, he felt that spending time with his family helping his community was where he needed to be. Ricardo Allows us to see that a little bit really goes a long way if the willingness is there. 

When asked if he has any advice for other father's in getting involved with their children's education, Ricardo explains, that there is a saying in spanish.., "papa involucrado en la educación de un hijo tiene un hijo exitoso.’ The best thing we can do for our kids is to encourage them to go to school. Working hard and giving them money is not enough because that can be taken away at any time. Educating our children is the best way we can prepare them, especially in the US because everything is so competitive here. A degree is necessary to be successful. The best thing we can do is to make sure they are focused on the goal of graduating college. Parents can sometimes become so focused on working to provide for their families that they miss out on supporting their children’s education. Parents need to be there front and center with their kids schooling.

Mr. Montero believes that when parents don’t understand the education system, they stay away or they assume that it’s the same as back in their home countries. If parents are not informed and involved, they won’t be able to do support their children’s education. For example, many parents are told that in middle school or high school is when parents should start keeping close tabs on grades. This isn’t true. Parent involvement is important starting in the elementary grades. Parents need to ask for help. We often fail to advocate for our kids. Not knowing the language is an real obstacle but it shouldn’t be a reason to stay away. We need to advocate for our students AND our students need to see us speaking up for them, challenging teachers, administrators. When students see parents advocating for their education, they will be inspired to advocate for themselves.

We are thankful to Mr. Ricardo Montero for sharing his enlightening words through this interview. We hope that his efforts inspire fathers in our community to follow his example and further involve themselves in their children's education. 

Our Empowered Fathers: José Vásquez

Aquí le presentamos la historia de uno de nuestros padres más extraordinarios. Son padres como José Vásquez que nos dan la esperanza que nuestros esfuerzos están teniendo resultados dentro de la comunidad. 

"Para mi se ha echo súper difícil combinar mi trabajo mis estudios y mi familia y las acciones extracurriculares. Normalmente me levanto a los 3:30  estoy trabajando en Baltimore esta lejos pero no hay de otra. Trabajo de 5 AM a 1 PM luego viajo de regreso para hacer mis trabajos propios o mis tareas mientras se llega la hora de ir a clases  mis clases normales son de 5:30 a 9:10 luego regreso a mi casa para seguir con mis tareas hablar con mi familia para acostarme hora normal a las 11:00 si es que no llego a la 12. ¿Como resisto? No lo se. Solo se que lo tengo que hacer y que pronto terminare mi estudios secundarios.

Creo que mi cuerpo se ha acostumbrado aunque talvez vez mas tarde me lo cobre.  pero tengo en mente que esto es lo mejor para poder sacar adelante a mi familia. sábado normalmente trabajo pero si tengo alguna reunión del Latino Network o el Dream Project voy a ellas. el domingo normalmente trato de dedicarlo a mi familia y jugar fútbol pero es difícil por que siempre hay trabajo o tareas que hacer. Luego a comenzar otra vez la rutina. A veces quisiera que durara mas el día , así tener mas tiempo para hacer las cosas. También a veces quisiera descansar un poquito mas. Sin embargo, al final mis hijas son mi mayor consuelo para cualquier problema.

Quisiera contarle toda mi historia para que me pudiera entender , nada mas hoy, mañana y pasado trabajare en un trabajo por lo menos 12 horas seguidas si ganare un poco de dinero extra pero sacrifico otras cosas como dedicarle tiempo a mis trabajos y mi familia pero no tengo opción. El trabajo esta escaso para nosotros y hay que aprovechar toda oportunidad que se pueda. Se que podré  ponerme al día en la siguiente semana aunque ya se acercan muchas fechas de entrega.

Gracias por  el honor que me hacen". 

2011 Gala "Celebrating Families: Fathers Matter"

Educación Para Nuestro Futuro founded by Escuela Bolivia is proud to share that our 2011 annual gala event, "Celebrating Families: Fathers Matter" was a great success. We had an overwhelming amount of support from the community, sponsors, donors, and all our supporters. We would like to thank everyone for their hard work in making the event such a success. 

Our theme this year was father's roles in the upbringing of children in our community. The National Fatherhood Initiative states in its fatherhood information handbook that, “The economic consequences of a parent’s absence are often accompanied by psychological consequences, which include higher than average levels of youth suicide, low intellectual and education performance, and higher than average rates of mental illness, violence and drug use." These, amongst other important reasons, explain why it is so important to acknowledge those fathers within our families that are making a difference for the future of their children and shaping the way father's roles are perceived within our community.  

This year we honored some of our most inspirational stories; fathers who have set a precedent with the interest they have shown in their children's education. We are proud to have recognized Fernando López, Ricardo Montero, José Vasquez, and Augusto Wayar as this year's honorees. In the coming weeks, we'll be updating this blog with each of their unique and powerful stories.

We would also like to thank all our sponsors, donors, and silent auction participants that helped us raise funds for our education and leadership development programs. The community depends on the support of people like you and we appreciate all of your contributions. We would especially like to thank this years' corporate sponsors, the Arlington Community Federal Credit Union and the Comcast Corporation for their generosity. As always, ¡Mil gracias to everyone for all your support!

Silent Auction Donors

Anonymous, Barnes & Noble, Build-A-Bear Workshop,  Pablo Feliciano, Ludmilla, Mexicali Blues, The Patriot Center, and Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez. 

and Special Thanks to

Mr. José Carlos Flores, Ms. Amelia Aiello, Group Ruphay, Mi Herencia Mexicana, NRECA Conference Center, Ritmo DMV Latin Dance Group, and Superb Cuisines.