Southwest Key Programs, Pleasant Hill, CA – Hosts 2 VIP’s

We recently had two very high profile visitors come to our program; and one very, very high profile visitor almost come to our program!  I am not sure whether I should mention about the one that we missed or the one we had.  I guess, I will begin with the one that we missed, which was royalty…Do you believe it?  Yeah, it is true…a princess of Sweden was supposed to visit our program, but due to last minute change of schedule she took the pass on us… ;-(.

The visits that happened, though not Royalty, were as good as royalty.  None other than the Director of ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement), Mr. Eskander Negash visited our program on a Sunday morning. He toured our facility; spoke with the staff; clients and the Program Director.  He gave a very encouraging and down-to-earth talk to the clients.  He told them to dream big; and take advantage of all the good things they are getting from the program.

A very hard working guy, he could not stay for lunch and rushed off to visit another program.  Well, all the clients and staff were touched by his sincerity and simplicity.  Sure, he was impressed with us, and we too think that ORR is in good hands.

It so happened that Mr. Negash told his boss about our program, and we had a call from our Project Officer to notify us about the visit of the new Principal Undersecretary in Health and Human Services, Mr. David Hansell.  On the one hand we were thrilled that we are being chosen as one of the two programs in the whole of USA that Mr. Hansell was going to visit; and on the other hand, we were also not sure what to expect.  I didn’t have to fear, because my bosses came to our aid.

So, on Thursday, October 15, 2009 Alexia, Connie, and I picked up Mr. Hansell from the BART station.  Till recently, the Commissioner of Social Services in New York, as well as a lawyer, Mr. Hansell was very interested to know about the kind of work that we do.  He asked us many questions; sat with the clients and actually admired their courage to come to this country.  He too was very appreciative of what we do and urged us to do more for these children.  His visit lasted close to three hours and we were told he too was very impressed with the diversity of the clients we serve; the dedication of our staff; and the goal of Southwest Key Programs.

Unfortunately, for privacy reasons, we have no pictures to share….except for our staff at Halloween…enjoy below

Seby K. Sebastian, M.A.,

Program Director

Veteran’s Day, Honoring Those Who Serve

Southwest Key Casa Esperanza celebrated their first Veteran’s Day Function by recognizing those staff currently employed who served a branch of the military.

Four members were recognized and presented with US Flags and a poem by members of our student council.  The president of the student council read the significance of Veteran’s Day Celebration, but the most touching moment came when one of the residents recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  Keep in mind these are residents whose language is Spanish, yet with such clarity he was able to lead his peers and those in the audience without error or hesitation.

He then finished by stating that “even though he was leaving the following day, his stay at the facility and the opportunity to have participated in this ceremony will forever be a lasting memory in his heart and mind.  One couldn’t have asked for a more fitting honor.  Freedom was symbolized by this child’s appreciation of this great nation and those that protect it.

Isabel Rodriguez, Brownsville Program Director

East Austin College Prep Academy, Open House Video

We just held our 1st ever open house for our East Austin College Prep Academy.

90 people showed up to talk to the teachers, staff and students and see the middle school and facilities for themselves. The event was hosted by Southwest Key Programs and the Mexican Consulate. Many thanks to everyone who attended and our partners at AMD including Allyson Peerman, Ward Tisdale and Karin Dicks for your fabulous support!

Here’s a short video are about the evening with comments from a couple of guests, Jackie rogers and Jerry Ronquillo.

College Prep Academy Open House – it’s a Wrap

We held our 1st ever open house for our East Austin College Prep Academy last night.

90 people showed up to talk to the teachers, staff and students and see the middle school and facilities for themselves. The event was hosted by Southwest Key Programs and the Mexican Consulate. Many thanks to everyone who attended and our partners at AMD including Allyson Peerman, Ward Tisdale and Karin Dicks for your fabulous support!

Here’s a few pictures from last night, more pix and a video are on their way.

Film screening @ Resistencia this Friday Nov 6, 7pm

One of our favorite book stores in town is Resistencia, located at 1801-A, South First Street in Austin.

This Friday, November 6 at 7pm, they are hosting CineResistencia and present ¡No Marcharan! : a documentary film screening & photo exhibit of The Day the Klan Marched (Sol Rojo Productions)

Original uncut documentary of the day the Ku Klux Klan marched to the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas on February 19, 1983.   Includes footage of the Brown Berets call to action and the Austin City Council meeting vote giving the KKK permission to march.

The documentary also shows the violent response of the Austin Police Department to the engaging yet peaceful counter Anti-Klan march organized by a concerned black and brown citizens and organizations and their white allies.  Along with documentary screening, photos of the KKK march and the Anti-Klan march taken by Gilberto Rivera will be on exhibit.

A discussion immediately following the screening will include participants in the counter march and the producers of the documentary, Jane and Gilberto Rivera of Sol Rojo Productions.

A SALMONROJO PRODUCTION.

Open House Thursday Nov 5, 4.30-7pm

Please join us for an open house here, Thursday Nov 5,  at the Southwest Keys Campus and tour the just opened East Austin College Prep Academy (EACPA), located at 6002 Jain Lane, Austin, TX 78721. Stay for 5 minutes or 2.5 hours.

The EACPA is a charter middle school for East Austin youth managed by Southwest Key Programs. Tired of waiting for East Austin schools to improve,  SWK took the initiative and opened the charter school, enrolling 90 sixth graders in August.

The students at EACPA follow an innovative, award-winning curriculum based on the YES College Prep model in Houston, a model ranked among the top 100 schools in America by U.S. News & World Report. Students receive a strong foundation in math, science and technology, while enjoying a balanced program that encourages the arts and community service.

This is your opportunity to see for yourself the difference a quality education makes to support the community on the East Side which has been neglected for so long.

Light snacks and refreshments will be served.
Thank you for taking a look.

Senator hopes his book dispels misconceptions about Latinos

Read any good books lately?

Came across this from Juan Castillo’s blog Somos, on Statesman.com.

According to Elizabeth Llorente, who wrote in The Record, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey,  still encounters people who were surprised he could speak English well, despite his high-profile leadership in Congress.

As he rose to prominence, the New York-born Democrat encountered people who were surprised he could speak English well, that he was not Mexican and that he could speak masterfully about topics other than immigration, welfare and Hispanics.

And so Menendez decided to heed the advice friends and colleagues have given him over many years and write a book, “Growing American Roots: Why Our Nation Will Thrive As Our Largest Minority Flourishes,” that aims to clear misconceptions.

Menendez says the book aims to clear misconceptions.

“I wrote the book not as a memoir; that may come later,” Menendez says. “ I look at the Glenn Becks and Lou Dobbses of the world, and how they and others would have the nation believe that we Latinos all just crossed the border yesterday. There are people who want to make Latinos scapegoats, such as what happened with the Irish when you had signs saying the Irish need not apply for certain jobs, and the terrible names that Italians were called.”

He was also asked;

“Q. In your book you say Latinos must bear responsibility in chipping away at the misunderstanding of their population, and dealing with the community’s challenges.

A. We’re partly to blame for the misunderstandings. We frown on boasting, on pointing out our accomplishments. If we don’t provide understanding and insight into our community, others will characterize us andfill that void. We also have a high dropout rate. Latinos also must go to PTA meetings, get to know the teachers, contribute, but also make demands when schools aren’t performing well. And Latinos who have succeeded need to mentor, to be role models, and reinvest in their communities.”

Sounds like an interesting read to me.

Fore the Kids Golf Classic, 2009

We held our Fore the Kids Golf Classic FUNDRAISER
Monday, October 19, 2009, Grey Rock Golf Club.

It was organized by Southwest Key Programs and benefited the East Austin College Prep Academy, Austin Toros, and A Glimmer of Hope Foundation.

Austin-area golfers were out in full swing to support this great cause. great golfing, fabulous goodie bags, gourmet barbeque dinner, cocktails and a spectacular live auction followed at 6:00 pm.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the East Austin College Prep Academy, a charter middle school on the east side that successfully prepares all students regardless of economic background, for a rigorous high school curriculum, graduation, and ultimately success in college and career.

Here’s a short video and few more pictures below from the day, more can be found here on our Flickr site.

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, Grey Rock golf club and all the golfers and staff who ensured a great day was had by all in support of education in East Austin!

New Kitchen helps Culinary & Life Skills

We wanted to share these pictures with you as in August, one of our programs Casita Del Valle, moved to a new home and are lucky enough to have multiple kitchens, one of which is used to offer the children in the shelter cooking classes.

The children follow a 6 week curriculum that teaches them everything from hygiene in food preparation, nutrition, and, of course, the preparation of different meals. The final project for the class will be for them to prepare a big meal for the clients and staff.  They love using the kitchen, and we’re happy that we are able to spark a new interest and perhaps passion with food, that may lead to bigger and better things in life.

Here’s a few of pictures with the kids hard at work, and enjoying themselves learning new skills in the kitchen. Thanks for looking!

Adriana Saenz,

Program Director, LCCA

Southwest Key Program – Casita Del Valle

(Please note, as minors, faces have been blurred to protect their identity.)

Southwest Key Awarded Workforce Delivery Contract in Cameron County!

Congratulations go out to the Southwest Key Workforce, LLC and our SWK Rio Grande familia.

Southwest Key recently received a contract from Workforce Solutions Cameron to become the operator of the workforce delivery system in Cameron County, Texas.  Southwest Key Workforce will operate all three (3) major components of the Workforce Center Systems Management including the: 1) Workforce Centers, 2) Youth Services, and the 3) Business Services Unit.

SWK Workforce will incorporate a variety of innovative workforce development activities to support Cameron County job seekers, employers, and business.

Special thanks to everyone who participated in the preparation of this extensive proposal. This was definitely an agency-wide team effort!