Weekly Media Roundup - February 20, 2013

An afterschool program is making a difference in the lives of Latino students and families in Atlanta. LaAmistad differs from traditional afterschool programs because it provides classes and workshops for parents. “In addition to English as a second language classes, there are also workshops on finance, health, nutrition and parenting,” CNN.com reports. “Parents learn everything from balancing a checkbook to how to cook healthy meals on a limited budget.” LaAmistad says that parents are more comfortable in social settings and more invested in their child’s education thanks to the skills they learn in the program.

 

State Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D-Essex) represents New Jersey’s 28th Legislative District and wrote a column on gun violence for the Star-Ledger. He writes: “If we have a gun violence problem in this country — and I believe we do — the answer isn’t as easy as limiting access to guns… we have to look at the socio-economic issues that drive urban residents to crime. We have to look at the failings of our education system to give students the resources to compete. We have to look at the failings of government to provide an alternative to life on the street for potential gang recruits. We need to invest in after-school programs that teach kids they can be more than just a statistic, if they put their minds and hearts behind the notion of pulling themselves out of poverty and into success…. There are no simple answers. But if we get enough diverse voices involved, we stand a better chance at coming up with a comprehensive plan to make New Jersey safer for everyone.”

 

An afterschool program that started in 2010 for 65 third graders at Otay and Lauderbach elementary schools in Chula Vista, has expanded to schools, providing more than 250 third graders with 90 minutes of music instruction a week as part of their curriculum. Last week business and community leaders were treated to a concert from 15 fourth and fifth grade musicians in the Community Opus Project. The students played Schubert’s “The Trout,” segued into Strauss’ “The Blue Danube,” and concluded with “Clocks” by Coldplay.

 

“Through a volunteer community service program called Bucknell Buddies, a group of Bucknell University students visit the TIES II afterschool programs at Milton Area elementary and middle schools four times a week,” to tutor students in reading and math and provide homework help, The Daily Item reports. Organizers say the mentoring program has made a huge impact on students’ lives, they talk about college and there’s been an overall improvement in grades and morale.