Friday, February 18, 2011

Family Night at Mi Casa Neighborhood Center

Posted by Katie Ehrlich, Mi Casa Intern

Mi Casa Neighborhood Center at Lake Middle School hosted its biannual Family Night on Wednesday, February 16. Family Night is all about giving the kids a chance to showcase what they’ve been up to in the afterschool hours at Mi Casa. It also gives parents a chance to access neighborhood resources including health services offered by Denver Health, career and business training offered by Mi Casa Resource Center on Acoma Street, and Bright Beginnings for parent readiness. But the best part about Family Night is just spending time playing, eating, and enjoying the company of family.

Mi Casa afterschoolers familiar with the Family Night events were teeming with excitement for the evening's festivities to begin. Through the support of a Target donation, we kicked the night off with a resource fair and activities for families including advice from health and financial companies, a photo-booth, paper flower making, and cookie decorating. Then everyone took their share of the enchiladas, rice, and salad provided by Revolution Foods, an organization dedicated to bringing healthy foods to school lunch tables.

Then it was time for the afterschool clubs to present their talents: Shake It Up club sang songs about life, love and social justice. Attack of the Robot club showed off their Wi-Fi powered robot (it can move back and forth, in a full circle, and bob its head up and down!). Fresh club showed off the break-dancing moves they learn every Monday. Each performance was followed by student awards to encourage the amazing attitudes and positive work we have seen in our participants throughout the year. Finally, it was a clean-up party in which everybody from staff to parents to kids helped out!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Strengthening Families Program Helps Kids and Parents Bond

Posted by Katie Ehrlich, Mi Casa Intern

Mi Casa’s Youth & Family Development department just launched a new program called “Strengthening Families” in partnership with the Denver Office of Drug Strategy. Each Thursday evening (6-8:30 p.m.) through March 24 parents and children ages 10 to 14 can come to Mi Casa for workshops on cultivating and maintaining strong family bonds.

Through Strengthening Families, Mi Casa aims to help prevent teen substance abuse and other behavioral problems, strengthen parenting skills, and build strength in families. In the past, this program has helped with typical adolescent problems like aggression, substance abuse, and peer pressure, while it has helped parents and legal guardians to create and maintain healthy relationships with youth under their care.

The program is limited to 13 families and consists of two parts. For the first hour, youth and parents meet separately to discuss themes and learn skills specific to their role. During the second hour, families practice the skills they learned, play games, and do collaborative projects.

Mi Casa’s first Strengthening Families event went great, and several families of children from our afterschool program participated. The kids made cardboard posters mapping out what they want to be when they grow up and what is important to them for a successful life. The kids also learned what their parents wanted to be when they were young. Mi Casa is excited to be a part of strengthening family connections over the next six weeks.

Call the Mi Casa Neighborhood Center for more information on the Strengthening Families program – 303-571-1881.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Turning Passion for Design into a Thriving Small Business


Gabriela Martinez studied fashion design at the Universidad Regional del Norte in Chihuahua, Mexico. By the age of 22, Gabriela operated a modest boutique in Chihuahua where she sold hand-sewn clothing from fabrics imported from Los Angeles and New York.

In 2001 Gabriela moved to the United States to take her fashion design dreams to the next level. Her English was very limited when she arrived in Denver, and Gabriela spent most of her time sewing patterns and sketching designs in her apartment. Gabriela read about Mi Casa’s Éxito Para Negocios (Business Success) entrepreneurial training program in the newspaper and she enrolled - as much to make friends as to learn about business ownership in her new country. Through Mi Casa, Gabriela made valuable contacts and learned information that not only made her feel more at home in her new city, but also helped Gabriela convert her business aspirations into a brick-and-mortar business – Gabriela Designs Denver – with a steadily growing clientele.

“Mi Casa helped me grow my business and I continue to turn to Mi Casa for counseling and advice,” she says. “Mi Casa helped me see that my market was actually much larger than I originally thought.” Gabriela realized that her largest constituency – upscale shoppers who appreciate fine, handcrafted clothing – was located close to downtown, so she recently moved her business to 321 West 11th Ave. “I found my niche with customers who are looking for unique designs and people who value handmade fashion.”

From bridal gowns to dramatic shawls to leather handbags, Gabriela prides herself on high-quality materials and unique designs for men and women. Gabriela also creates patterns and prototypes for other fashion designers, in addition to doing alterations and filling custom orders. For her handbags, Gabriela works with interior designers to collect scraps of fabric, which she uses in her one-of-a-kind creations.

Gabriela saved up to invest in second hand industrial sewing machines so that she can work with any kind of fabric. Gabriela also has a quilting machine, which enables her to work with interior designers to produce pillows, drapes and other home furnishings.

Gabriela joined local fashion associations including Fashion Denver and Fashion Group International, which quickly recognized Gabriela’s talent and invited her to participate in fashion shows. The 2010 Fashion Fest featured 18 local Denver fashion designers, and Gabriela, the only Latina competitor, nabbed the first prize with her sophisticated black evening gown with intricate beadwork, sheer sleeves and an attached scarf.

“I think my success has come from the passion behind my business plan,” Gabriela says. “My advice to other entrepreneurs is to follow your passion and don’t let anyone or anything take you off course. If we don’t risk anything, we won’t ever get there.”

Gabriela, 36, wants to begin a women’s sewing group at Mi Casa to introduce more people to the craft that has been her passion since she was a teenager. Her long-term goal is to distribute her line of clothing and accessories nationwide. And one day, Gabriela hopes to grow her business to the points that she can hire women to bring her designs to life. In the meantime, Gabriela likes the idea of sharing her craft with other women in need of a boost.

“I truly believe that in times of great distress the act of creating something with your own hands is good therapy and a positive way to rise above bad situations.”