My college informational series is almost here! It starts Sept. 8 and runs the 15th, 22nd and 29th. It is presented by UCAN, UCC and the local Boys & Girls Club. Today we had a blurb in the News-Review under: "So you know...". I hope it goes well. We are providing free food. An iPod will be raffled off to someone who attends all 4 sessions.
Soon I will be starting on planning the Day of Sharing and the Homeless Count. On Monday, our AmeriCorps person starts. It's been insanely busy!
Another Vista and I have been trying to fund raise backpacks to donate to low-income and homeless children in the area. After going through the area's school supply lists, we decided to take a trip to a local one-stop shopping place, as a low-income family would to shop for supplies. We chose one list and shopped for a kindergartner, third grader and fifth grader. It came to a total of over $95 and that was being semi-efficient. In addition, you could not get all the supplies at the one store, so we had to go to another store because they required a specific brand of red pens. If you saw these lists, you would find them just, as ridiculous as we did. A ream of copy paper for a kindergartner? 16 glue sticks for ONE kindergartner...and Elmer's glue? Why are the 24 box of crayons cheaper than the 16, but the class requires no more than 16? We tried to write an editorial, but it didn't get published. Oh well. At least we will be fighting poverty with passion by educating middle & high school students and parents about college and other post-secondary opportunities.
The local community college financial aid officer will be presenting about funding college in the first session. We also have other presentations by the school's Education Talent Search, TOP/SSS program and College Now, as well as by the recruiter (a partner in the program) will present about community college. The school will also be sending presenters from various departments about their certificate and apprenticeship programs. An admissions officer from the University of Oregon will be tabling on behalf of the Oregon University System. Sarah, the AmeriCorps program director at UCAN, will be presenting about AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps NC3. We also have pamphlets from National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and Outward Bound. I think it should be a great program!! Now, I just hope people show up!
Sorry about the delay in postings. I am so busy, so I come home and don't want to type a bunch! :)
Keep up the good work! Don't be too discouraged if you don't have immediate success, and remember that any information/encouragement you can provide even to 1 person can change their life and enable them to go to college!
ReplyDelete