AVANCE, Inc. Ranked Eighth by Hispanic Business Magazine
Last month AVANCE, Inc. was recognized for its impact on the community by the Hispanic Business Magazine, which ranked the national AVANCE organization eighth on its list of top Hispanic nonprofits. This honor confirms once again the quality of the AVANCE-Dallas program.
AVANCE-Dallas Board Chair Tamara Marinkovic says she is “proud of this recognition. The success of AVANCE lies in the success of our parent and child graduates who have enhanced their education making our community better through their own contributions.”
AVANCE, Inc. president and CEO Sylvia G. Garcia says this about the award: “Although we’re a newcomer to the list, it’s no surprise to me that we rank among the best organizations in the United States. We have an evidence-based research model in our Parent-Child Education Program and we have remained true to the organization’s core philosophy of preparing young children for school success by educating and involving their parents. AVANCE’s uniqueness lies in the great leadership of staff, many of whom are graduates of the program, and community volunteers. Partners and donors recognize this commitment to the mission, the strong business model, effective program model and efficient service delivery.”
Indeed, we couldn’t be what we are without you, our supporters. Thank you for playing your part in making AVANCE-Dallas an organization that makes a real impact on our community!
AVANCE-Dallas is proud to announce that 327 parents and 408 children are graduating from our program this year!
Our Pleasant Grove Born Learning sites held the first graduation on May 31 at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, featuring Jesse Gonzales from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas as the speaker. Five more ceremonies will take place this Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7, at Gabe P. Allen Charter School and John F. Kennedy Learning Center. Speakers from the community include Dallas City Councilwoman Pauline Modrano, UNIVISION Radio personality Claudia Torescano, and Dallas ISD School Board Member Edwin Flores.
We are particularly grateful for Dr. Anne Vincent, Principal at Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, who will speak at the graduation ceremony for our West Dallas students. Dr. Vincent will be honored for her support of AVANCE-Dallas for more than eleven years. Lorenzo was the first AVANCE-Dallas site, and unfortunately the program can no longer be housed at that site due to space constraints. But we are tremendously grateful for the years of strong partnership we’ve enjoyed with Dr. Anne Vincent and Lorenzo de Zavala.
Most of all, we’re very proud of each parent and child who worked hard this year and progressed in education. These families have achieved much throughout the year and have advanced their families toward lifelong success!
Our Pleasant Grove Born Learning sites held the first graduation on May 31 at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, featuring Jesse Gonzales from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas as the speaker. Five more ceremonies will take place this Friday and Saturday, June 6 and 7, at Gabe P. Allen Charter School and John F. Kennedy Learning Center. Speakers from the community include Dallas City Councilwoman Pauline Modrano, UNIVISION Radio personality Claudia Torescano, and Dallas ISD School Board Member Edwin Flores.
We are particularly grateful for Dr. Anne Vincent, Principal at Lorenzo de Zavala Elementary School, who will speak at the graduation ceremony for our West Dallas students. Dr. Vincent will be honored for her support of AVANCE-Dallas for more than eleven years. Lorenzo was the first AVANCE-Dallas site, and unfortunately the program can no longer be housed at that site due to space constraints. But we are tremendously grateful for the years of strong partnership we’ve enjoyed with Dr. Anne Vincent and Lorenzo de Zavala.
Most of all, we’re very proud of each parent and child who worked hard this year and progressed in education. These families have achieved much throughout the year and have advanced their families toward lifelong success!
Maria’s Challenge: “My son wants to be only with me”
One day in September 2007, Claudia Arango, Program Coordinator for the AVANCE-Dallas Born Learning Program, and Lisa Oglesby Rocha, AVANCE-Dallas Executive Director, noticed a mother dropping her older son off at Annie Webb Blanton Elementary School, home to our Born Learning site. She had a younger boy with her, and immediately, Claudia and Lisa were thinking the same thing: She’s at the perfect family stage for AVANCE-Dallas.
Claudia and Lisa went over and met Maria, and told her all about the AVANCE-Dallas program. Maria responded, “I don’t know if I can come because Xavier is too attached to me and he wants to be only with me.” Claudia explained how important it is to meet a child’s social needs and that in AVANCE-Dallas classes, children learn to share with other children and develop sociability and independence.
Maria decided to give AVANCE-Dallas a try. The first few Tuesdays, Xavier cried when she dropped him off in the early childhood class. But over time, he adapted to the program and began to appreciate the social interaction.
This spring Maria told Claudia how happy she was because Xavier didn’t cry anymore when she left him in the classroom. He never used to play with other children, but now he plays with cousins and neighbors. Maria’s extended family has also commented on the positive change they’ve noticed in her son. AVANCE-Dallas is preparing Xavier for a successful experience when he gets to school and is preparing moms like Maria to promote their child’s development.
Claudia and Lisa went over and met Maria, and told her all about the AVANCE-Dallas program. Maria responded, “I don’t know if I can come because Xavier is too attached to me and he wants to be only with me.” Claudia explained how important it is to meet a child’s social needs and that in AVANCE-Dallas classes, children learn to share with other children and develop sociability and independence.
Maria decided to give AVANCE-Dallas a try. The first few Tuesdays, Xavier cried when she dropped him off in the early childhood class. But over time, he adapted to the program and began to appreciate the social interaction.
This spring Maria told Claudia how happy she was because Xavier didn’t cry anymore when she left him in the classroom. He never used to play with other children, but now he plays with cousins and neighbors. Maria’s extended family has also commented on the positive change they’ve noticed in her son. AVANCE-Dallas is preparing Xavier for a successful experience when he gets to school and is preparing moms like Maria to promote their child’s development.
When Moms Help Moms
When the mothers at an AVANCE-Dallas program site found out about one mom’s tough history, they came together as a community to honor her and help her heal emotional scars.
Among Irma’s many tragedies and difficulties, one of the most painful was that she never had her Quinceañera, a special Mexican celebration and rite of passage for girls on their fifteenth birthday. She has carried regret with her to this day.
When the other moms in the program learned that Irma had missed out on this important rite, they threw her an elaborate party to make her feel honored like a young woman does on her Quinceañera. They told her she was an important guest and they gave her the seat of honor behind the cake. The moms got together and gave her a beautiful gown. They provided an entire meal, and the mothers dressed up in traditional Quinceañera roles to make her feel proud and honored.
The event was very emotional, not only for Irma, but also for the other moms, who experienced the true joy of giving and saw how much their gift meant to Irma. The AVANCE-Dallas prog-
ram makes a differ-
ence not only in the educational outcomes of children and the participatory level of parents, but in the community’s strength as a whole. It teaches families the crucial value of giving, which will build up our community for years to come.
Among Irma’s many tragedies and difficulties, one of the most painful was that she never had her Quinceañera, a special Mexican celebration and rite of passage for girls on their fifteenth birthday. She has carried regret with her to this day.
When the other moms in the program learned that Irma had missed out on this important rite, they threw her an elaborate party to make her feel honored like a young woman does on her Quinceañera. They told her she was an important guest and they gave her the seat of honor behind the cake. The moms got together and gave her a beautiful gown. They provided an entire meal, and the mothers dressed up in traditional Quinceañera roles to make her feel proud and honored.
The event was very emotional, not only for Irma, but also for the other moms, who experienced the true joy of giving and saw how much their gift meant to Irma. The AVANCE-Dallas prog-ram makes a differ-
ence not only in the educational outcomes of children and the participatory level of parents, but in the community’s strength as a whole. It teaches families the crucial value of giving, which will build up our community for years to come.
