Taste & Tango Event Raises Most $ in Mi Casa History

On Saturday, January 21, Mi Casa held a fundraising event unlike any other in the agency’s history. Mi Casa teamed up with Pat Miller, The Gabby Gourmet, to present an unforgettable evening of Argentine wine, food and entertainment.

More than 150 people came to the Warwick Denver Hotel to enjoy the event, which featured a live and silent auction, as well as a four-course meal with wine pairings and live tango dancers.

Chef Hosea Rosenberg of Boulder, winner of Bravo TV’s Season Five Top Chef, created the courses, and Alamos Winery offered the complementary libations.

Joanne Davidson of The Denver Post did a great write-up in yesterday’s Sunday edition; check it out here: http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_19829364

The event raised nearly $50,000 to support Mi Casa’s mission of economic success for Latino families – more than any other event in Mi Casa’s history!

We are so grateful to our many friends who bought tickets, bid on silent and live auction items, or made a donation to Mi Casa during the live ask at the event. We could not have had such a successful fundraising event without you!

Stay tuned for details for the 2013 Taste & Tango event!

Community Learning Exchange Advances Partnership on Lake Campus

This month, leadership from Mi Casa’s Youth & Family Development programs traveled to Texas to attend a Community Learning Exchange event to support community-building efforts among the three co-located schools on the Lake Middle School Campus.

Mi Casa’s Cody Buchanan (far right) and Karen Fox Elwell attended the event, along with Ryan Kockler (second from right), Principal of West Denver Prep – Lake Campus, and Ronaldo Ortiz (far left), Assistant Principal of Lake International School.

Community Learning Exchange (CLE) events are funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. CLE views communities and people as the most effective instructors and texts for learning and brings together community change agents to share actions, practices, ideas and outcomes with each other. They are held three times a year in communities across the country. The knowledge gained at the CLE events has been essential in Mi Casa’s efforts to build community between the three schools and many partners currently operating on the Lake Middle School Campus.

Lake is a turnaround school and home to a unique model including a charter school co-located with two public schools (one of which is being phased out). As a result, developing a shared vision for the Lake Campus and community has been a challenge. As one of the few organizations that serves students and families from each of the three co-located schools schools, Mi Casa is in a unique position to drive this work. Attending the recent CLE event in Texas with members of the administration from schools on the Lake Campus was a great opportunity to create a shared vision of community for the children and families at Lake.

The CLE experience in Texas was a great step forward in the efforts to build a shared community on the Lake Campus. In addition to strengthening the relationships with school leadership that are the basis of partnership, the conference offered an opportunity to create a shared vision for the Lake Community. The structure of the event allowed for open discussion of challenges and conflict in a safe way, and when the conference concluded the Lake team left with a vision for future collaboration and an action plan to get there.

Once back in Denver, Mi Casa staff and leadership from the co-located schools on the Lake Campus held the first of regularly scheduled “Shared Campus” meetings. The first meeting was highly productive and the group addressed several issues that have affected collaboration on the Lake Campus. Though much work remains to be done, there is consensus that to serve Lake families with high-quality educational and extracurricular activities, all the organizations operating on the campus must commit to strengthening and advancing collaborative efforts.

Mi Casa has learned a great deal from its years of work with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Leadership for Community Change project, which includes CLE events.

Here are a few of the guiding principles supported by Kellogg and implemented around the country to create positive social change:

Collective Leadership: Collective leadership relies on the strength of relationships with an emphasis on inclusion. Collective leadership is possible when the members of a group, motivated by a common purpose, build respectful relationships with each other and co-construct their shared purpose and work.

Gracious Space: Developing collective leadership for community change requires the capacity to build effective partnerships that operate from a place of caring, connection, and purpose. In order to cultivate these relationships, we need safe, supportive space where trust can grow. Gracious Space provides a container for deepening relationships and having challenging conversations.

Racial Equity: Anyone involved in work that seeks to make communities healthier, more just and inclusive is aware of the effects of racism. Many institutions do not serve people of color well or have been unable to undo the lingering effects of past practices. Carrying out social change in communities requires that we address racial equity.

Youth Engagement: Youth are commonly viewed by adults as future leaders. But some take a different view, believing that youth have important gifts and perspectives to offer now to improve our communities. Adults who partner with youth to work together on critical issues of communities can achieve greater progress.

Learn more about Mi Casa's work at www.MiCasaResourceCenter.org

Celebrating the Success of Mi Casa's Case Management Program

The Mi Casa Neighborhood Center, located at Lake Middle School in northwest Denver, offers afterschool enrichment programs, including case management for kids who need extra support to succeed in school and make positive choices.

Recently, the families involved in Mi Casa’s case management program got together for a holiday party, organized by Mi Casa’sYouth Advocates Lauren Brown and Jereme Snidar. Thanks to a partnership with the Denver Police Department, Lauren and Jereme saw to it that each of the 20 families received Christmas presents for every child in the family, as well as a big bad of food to make the holiday meal even more special. In addition to enjoying a delicious and healthy meal provided by Revolution Foods, the families decorated holiday cards for kids who had to spend Christmas at Children’s Hospital.

Mi Casa collected feedback from families on the impact that the case management program has had in their child’s life. The comments were incredibly positive, proving that the case management program – and the afterschool enrichment programs at Mi Casa – is having a measurable impact in the lives of youth in our community.

Here is a sample of results from the survey:

• 92% of parents strongly agree that the Mi Casa case management program is helpful to their child and valuable to them as a parent
• 100% of parents agree or strongly agree that their child has shown improvement at home and at school due to participation in Mi Casa’s case management program
• 100% of parents strongly agree that Mi Casa’s Youth Advocates are friendly, responsive, and approachable; respectful of them and their children; and highly trustworthy

Mi Casa also asked parents to comment specifically on how the case management program at Mi Casa has impacted their child. One parent said she now sees her son thinking before he acts. Another parent noted that social interactions with his child have improved, which makes working together easier. One mom said due to the influence of her children’s advocate, she now has better communication with her daughters; they can talk about problems and resolve them without fighting. Another parent said her daughter’s GPA has improved, and she sees her being more interactive with her teachers and counselors. And finally, one parent observed that his son is not only able to communicate better with adults, but is more able to control his anger.

Each case managed youth at Mi Casa is paired with a Youth Advocate that meets with the child several times a week, attends classes with her/him, and develops a relationship with their family through monthly home visits.

Mi Casa’s successful case management model relies on these key strategies for youth success:

• Assess needs of youth and families and develop/implement a plan to meet the needs
• Develop plans to reduce risk factors at home, including helping adults access training, services and therapy
• Provide high-quality afterschool/summer enrichment programs for youth
• Connect youth to tutoring and homework assistance; attend class with students for extra support.
• Provide meaningful incentives for participation, reaching goals, and showing improvement
• Facilitate positive relationships between law enforcement and youth; advocate for youth involved in the court system
  

The Lake Middle School campus is home to three distinct but co-located schools. Administrators from all three of these schools have expressed their appreciation of the support and guidance Mi Casa’s case management program provides individual students and the entire school community.

Keep the Lights On After School!

Do you remember how important afterschool programs were to you as a child?

For many children, afterschool programs focused on sports, arts and crafts, technology, leadership, performing arts, and academic support are an essential extension to the school day – and the school year.

And at a time when budget shortfalls at every level of government are threatening the availability of quality afterschool programs, it’s time to fight for continued and increased investment in out-of-school enrichment for Denver’s kids!

Research shows that the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. are the most dangerous for youth, and afterschool programs provide a much needed safe and enriching place to go after school for thousands of children who would otherwise go home to empty houses and no supervision.

The importance of quality afterschool programs, which keep the school lights on long after the school day ends, is in the spotlight this week as Denver prepares to celebrate National Lights On After School Day on Thursday, October 20.

Mi Casa provides comprehensive afterschool programming for 500 students annually on the Lake Middle School campus in northwest Denver, now home to three separate but co-located schools. And on Monday, Mi Casa’s Director of Youth & Family Development Programs, Karen Fox Elwell, took a group of Lake students to the City Council meeting to make sure Denver’s city leaders understand the importance of quality afterschool programming.

“I am one of over 175 youth service providers from over 60 organizations throughout the greater Denver area providing essential out-of-school time programming to over 25,000 youth each year,” Karen told the City Council members.

Then she turned it over to three youth from the Mi Casa Neighborhood Center afterschool program. Students Isaac, Miguel and Maya spoke candidly to the City Council members about the impact afterschool programs have on them and their families. Miguel spoke of the new things he learned in Mi Casa’s afterschool program.

Maya had her remarks written down: “Hello City Council. I am very happy to be here. I think that it is good to have afterschool programs because it gives kids a chance to hang out and do your homework, play, do projects, and even break dancing. It helps our families because we have somewhere to go after school.”

City Councilman Paul Lopez then read a proclamation out loud at the meeting celebrating Denver’s afterschool programs and affirming the City’s commitment to supporting working families by keeping kids safe and engaged in the afterschool hours. Councilman Lopez then visited briefly with the Mi Casa students and congratulated them.

The events leading up to National Lights On After School Day continue throughout the week and culminate with a celebration to decorate the City and County Building with handmade luminaria bags crafted by children in Denver afterschool programs.

For the Mi Casa students who got to address the City Council, Karen said, it was an unforgettable experience. “It was a thrill for these students to see government in action and have the opportunity to address the City Council on issues that are important to them.”

Strong Start to the School Year!

The new school year has gotten off to a great start, and considering strong improvement in student achievement in northwest Denver middle schools, the year promises to get even better!

Mi Casa operates comprehensive afterschool programs for students who attend the three co-located schools on the Lake International School campus in northwest Denver. And we are delighted to report that according to the latest CSAP standardized test results, schools in northwest Denver, including Lake, are leading the charge in terms of improvements in student achievement.

Last year at this time, sixth-graders in northwest Denver posted CSAP scores of 39% proficient or better in reading, 34% in math and 26% in writing. This year, among sixth-graders in the new schools in northwest Denver – including the schools on the Lake campus – those scores rose to 45% in reading, 45% in math and 43% in writing. WOW!

The credit for these extremely impressive gains in student achievement is well-deserved by the hardworking teachers, administrators, students and families in northwest Denver, and we tip our hats to your incredible accomplishments!

But we would be remiss to not toot our own horn (just a bit) for the role Mi Casa’s wonderful Youth and Family Development programs played in supporting students’ success at Lake. Studies have indicated that while education is a critical pathway out of poverty for students, the school day is not sufficient to provide youth with tools they need to be successful. In short, a coordinated effort is required to address the holistic needs of youth and families, and an integral part of this work is providing quality afterschool programs – like those offered through Mi Casa – that offer enrichment during out-of-school time.

To show you what we mean, here are a few of the 2010-11 outcomes from Mi Casa’s youth and family programs:

• 544 youth served in out-of-school time programs
• Core participants (who attend programs 30+ days per year) increased to 156
• 22 youth and their families received intensive case management services
• 62% of case-managed youth increased their GPA and 100% advanced to the next grade
  
• 17 youth successfully completed the rigorous Digital Connectors technology and career exploration program
• Digital Connectors students performed 700 hours of community service to bridge the digital divide in our community
  

Among Mi Casa’s 156 core youth participants:

• 60% increased their GPA over the course of the school year
• 97% advanced to next grade level
  
• 66% achieved 90% or better school-day attendance throughout the year
• 78% decreased or maintained zero suspensions during the school year

Free Help for Job Seekers at the Career Center

Posted by Martha Tesfalidet, Mi Casa Intern

As friends of Mi Casa, you have gotten a glimpse of Mi Casa’s many programs – including career training, business development, and programs for youth and families.

Another great program Mi Casa offers that you might not be familiar with is the Career Center, a free resource for job-seekers where they can work one-on-one with a career coach to improve their resume, prepare for interviews, and hunt for opportunities online. The Career Center is located at Mi Casa’s main location at 360 Acoma Street and is utilized by our many program participants, as well as their friends and family and other members of the community. In keeping with Mi Casa’s mission to advance the economic and educational success of families, we provide individualized assistance to anyone wanting help with their job search and application process.

After setting an appointment with one of Mi Casa’s Career Coaches, job-seekers are then asked what they would like to gain from the one-on-one sessions. Many participants opt for assistance with resume revision or creation and often utilize the Career Coach to help them apply for jobs during the meeting. While Mi Casa cannot guarantee job placements, we do all we can to ensure Career Center clients have all the tools they need to be successful during the job search.

An added plus is that all services provided in the Career Center are free of charge!

Call 303-573-1302 and find out how easy it is to get individualized help with your job search from Career Coaches at Mi Casa!

Mi Casa Leaders Attend NCLR Conference, Hear Obama Speak

Mi Casa’s Executive Director and Program Directors spent the weekend in Washington, D.C. at the annual National Council of La Raza (NCLR) conference, which featured President Obama as the keynote speaker yesterday.
Picture: Director of Career Development, Karen Stran (left), Director of Youth and Family Development, Karen Fox (center), and Executive Director, Christine Marquez-Hudson, show off the wristbands that served as their tickets to hear the President speak.

The NCLR Annual Conference represents the largest gathering of the nation’s most influential individuals, organizations, institutions, and companies working with the Hispanic community. The NCLR Annual Conference provides a forum for people in the business of social change to learn about ongoing and emerging issues in the Hispanic community, connect with community leaders, and generate partnerships with Hispanic community-based organizations.

Mi Casa leaders attended a full weekend of conferences including these seminars:

• 2011 Legislative Update: How Will Congress Make a Difference in the Latino Community?
• Finding Their Voice: Empowering Latino Youth through Service Learning
• Parents Supporting Children: A Model for Engaging Latino Parents in Education
• Bridge to a Better Tomorrow: Strengthening Workforce Integrated Training Programs
• The Business of Developing the Future Workforce: A Model for Entrepreneurship, Cultural Diversity, and Increased Earning Potential
  

Additionally, Karen Fox was on a panel to offer insight during a seminar titled, Dollars and Sense: Sustaining Learning and Enrichment Beyond School Hours.

When President Obama took the stage, he addressed the issue of immigration and the growing concern within Latino communities that comprehensive reform has now fallen to the bottom of the President’s list of priorities. Yet, the audience was invigorated to hear this strong promise from Obama regarding his intention to reform the nation’s immigration system:

“We need a movement that bridges party lines, that unites business and labor and faith communities and law enforcement communities, and all who know that America cannot continue operating with a broken immigration system. And I will be there every step of the way.”