MIAMI DADE COLLEGE AWARDED $300,000 IN GRANTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPROVE ADULT LITERACY SKILLS IN THE IMPORTANT COMMUNITIES OF OPA LOCKA AND LIBERTY CITY
MIAMI, October 15, 2007 – The Department of Education has awarded Miami Dade College North Campus two Literacy Education for Households grants totaling $300,000 to help parents obtain their Florida high school diplomas and improve their English language skills in the Opa Locka and Liberty City communities.
The focus of the project will be to help adults become literate and learn English, obtain a high school diploma and become employed so they can be self-sufficient. The program will offer ESOL courses, GED classes, advice for advancing in the work place, and parenting skills.
Children who attend the program with their parents will receive tutoring to help improve their reading, writing and math skills, which will aid them in preparing for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). Through field trips and creative interactive activities, families have fun and learn together. This year, families will participate in the Miami Book Fair International and the North Campus Children’s Holiday as well as visiting museums and historical sites.
“The program empowers parents to be part of their children’s education and empowers children to be the best students they can possible be,” said Barbara Alfonso, chair of Community Education at North Campus.
The program will be offered at 12 sites, most of which are in the Opa Locka and Liberty City areas. The classes are free and open to the public. The locations are as follows:
Broadmoor Baptist Church, 3101 N.W. 93 St.
Dessalines Haitian American Center, 8325 N.E. Second Ave.
Nanay Senior Center, 659 N.E. 125 St.
Miami Lakes Library, 6699 Windmill Gate Rd.
New Birth Baptist Church, 2300 N.W. 135 St.
Portrait of Empowerment, 780 Fisherman St.
South Dade Labor Camp, 13600 S.W. 312 St.
Branches Outreach Ministry, 119 S.W. Fifth Ave.
Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 1745 N.W. 79 St.
Poinciana Park Elementary, 6745 N.W. 23 Ave.
Haitian American Senior Center, 5080 Biscayne Blvd.
Catholic Charities, 6985 N.W. Second Ave.
For more information about the program contact the Literacy for Households coordinator, Cesar Zapata at: 305-237-8071.
For more information, call: Barbara Alfonso (305) 237-1118.
Media contacts: Manolo Barco, 305-237-3081, mbarco@mdc.edu; Beverly C. Rodrigues, MDC director of media relations, 305-237-3949, brodrigu@mdc.edu or Juan Mendieta, MDC director of communications, 305-237-7611. Other MDC news releases are available on the web at <www.mdc.edu>.