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El Programa Hispano - School-Based Services for Youth and Their Families

Services to Youth Include:

ALAS (Advancing Latino Academic Success): El Programa Hispano provides academic support, advocacy, skill building activities, mentoring, tutoring and recreation to Latino students attending schools in the Portland, Parkrose, David Douglas, Centennial, Gresham-Barlow and Reynolds school districts. The ALAS program emphasizes and promotes strengths, resiliency, and empowerment to help Latino youth and their families plan for their futures and achieve their educational dreams.

Contact Alison Dunfee, adunfee@catholiccharitiesoregon.org, 503-489-6801.

SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools: SUN Community Schools in Multnomah County are full-service neighborhood hubs where the schools and partners from the community come together to make sure children and families have what they need to be successful in school and in life. SUN Community Schools mobilize and strategically organize community resources to provide:

• education support and skill development for youth and adults
  enrichment and recreation activities
  family involvement and support
  social, health and mental health benefits
  family and community events
  

Read more at Multnomah County's SUN website.

Contact information at Catholic Charities' SUN schools:

Everett Barr, East Gresham Elementary, barr6@gresham.k12.or.us, 503-661-5022
Emily Goldberg, Hall Elementary, goldberg4@gresham.k12.or.us, 503-492-6726
Genie Gomez, Wilkes Elementary, vgomez@rsd7.net, 503-255-6133
Caris Rodriguez, Ron Russell Middle School, caris_rodriguez@ddouglas.k12.or.us,
503-256-6514
Christi Rivera, Fir Ridge Campus, christi_rivera@ddouglas.k12.or.us, 503-256-6530
Amanda Wolff, Floyd Light Middle School, amanda_wolff@ddouglas.k12.or.us,
503-256-6511.

Puentes (Bridges): El Programa Hispano collaborates with Multnomah County school districts, the City of Portland, and All Hands Raised to target academic priority Latino students to give them the support they need to start high school on the right track. Puentes students making the transition from middle to high school learn academic and life skills, develop positive and supportive relationships with school staff and peers, and connect with resources for postsecondary education and training during a four week summer program.

Contact Yessica Manuel, ymanuel@catholiccharitiesoregon.org, 503-489-6833.

Promotores de Educación (Education Promoters): El Programa Hispano recruits and trains Latino parent and student volunteers to serve as promotores de educación at their schools. Parents and students first participate in popular education workshops to develop their capacity and skills as community educators. Then they (1) conduct college access workshops, (2) disseminate information on high school success, how to attain a college education, and how to apply for financial aid and scholarships, (3) serve as liaisons between the Latino community and local high schools, and (4) lead visits to local colleges and universities.

Contact Sara García González, smarquez@catholiccharitiesoregon.org, 503-489-6843.

Plaza Comunitaria: The Plaza Comunitaria (Plaza) is an education program that enables Spanish-speaking adults to complete their education in a conveniently located learning center. Originally created by Mexico's National Institute for Adult Education (INEA), the curriculum of the Plaza is available to all Spanish-speaking adults who desire to further their education. Students are able to gain Spanish literacy skills, complete their primary and secondary education certificates, learn English, prepare for the GED, and improve computer literacy skills. The Plaza operates at Wilkes, Hall, East Gresham, Ron Russell, and Floyd Light SUN schools and at the El Programa Hispano office in Gresham.

Contact Laura Hernandez, hernandez139@gresham.k12.or.us, 503-661-5022 or
503-492-6726.