News, updates, and August in-home tutoring hours

Greetings, everyone!

Is August really almost over? Where did my summer go? I think I forgot to have fun. I hope you were more successful at that than I was.

Just a quick reminder that at the end of this week, it will be time to report your in-home tutoring time and activities for August.

Click here to go to the reporting link.

The unmasked link will be at the end of this message. Also, these monthly emails are cross-posted and therefore archived at www.cresltutors.blogspot.com. You might want to bookmark that site if you're among the 30 or so people who never receive my monthly reminder email with the reporting link.

I'm out of the office!

My in-laws are visiting from the East Coast, so I've been out of the office and will return on September 3. If you've been unable to reach me, that's why.

Citizenship resources

I've had numerous requests for information about preparing for the citizenship test. It's never too soon to start helping your student prepare for this test and interview, and you can work a little bit of civics and citizenship prep into every lesson. The good news is, everything you need is online and it's free. Using the provided lessons and resources, you can break down the information to focus on vocabulary, dictation/writing exercises, and speaking/listening proficiency.

The naturalization process has several components, starting with the N400 application. The citizenship interview includes questions specific to the answers that the applicant provided on the form. This form should be completed by an immigration lawyer or a trained professional. Several local organizations provide support for this, including Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Colorado African Organization, Asia Pacific Development Center, the Denver Public Library, and Lutheran Family Services.

In addition to the many study resources on the website (including the infamous 100 Questions that must be memorized), there are several videos available that give an idea of what to expect in the interview. You can find one of those here.

For those students seeking to take a citizenship class, options abound in the Denver area. Most classes cost about $40, but some are free, including those offered by the Denver Public Library. Check the links above for more information. Classes are also offered at Community College of Aurora and several other locations.

Telling our story

Please don't forget that I'm collecting your stories to feature on our Facebook page. What I need is a photo of you and your student, along with a short story about your personal experience and what makes the program worthwhile for you. You can read two examples here and here (If you don't use Facebook, you'll see a series of pop-ups on-screen asking you to log in or sign up. Ignore those and just click on the "No thanks" option).

Instagram

Several folks have asked why we don't have an Instagram for this program. Well, most of our students don't want to be featured that way. If you enjoy Instagram, here are some accounts you might find interesting:

www.instagram.com/alittlesomethingdenver/

www.instagram.com/lfsrockymountains

www.instagram.com/theirc

www.instagram.com/refugees

www.instagram.com/projectworthmore

www.instagram.com/africancommunitycenter

www.instagram.com/unwomen

More training

I'm trying to put together an inservice training and tutor meet-and-greet for the morning of September 28. The tentative topics are reading/writing strategies and assessment. If I'm able to get my colleagues to agree to present, we'll do this. Otherwise, the session will be shorter and will include a meet-and-greet with tutors then sharing out some of their favorite or most successful teaching ideas. More on this later!

September free days in Denver

• Denver Botanic Gardens (York St.) September 3
• Denver Art Museum September 7
• Denver Museum of Nature and Science September 29

A fun fundraiser

Project Worthmore is hosting its annual Our Neighbors, Ourselves art show event on September 13 at the Hangar at Stanley in Aurora. This is a juried art gallery featuring dozens of visual artists, a silent auction, live music from Tom Hagerman of DeVotchKa and his band, Grande Orquesta Navarre, plus DJ sets by Jonny DeStefano & Christy Thacker.

Early Bird ticket sales end on August 30th and tickets will increase to $60.

If you are a visual artist or photographer who creates on themes related to refugees or the concepts of home, identity, loss, community, connection, or similar, you can submit/donate your work (it must be for sale) up until the end of August. More details on this event can be found here: https://projectworthmore.org/events/ourneighbors

 

That's all for this month. I hope you all enjoy a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend.

Here is the full link to the reporting survey.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeWQrEyTanw1JJCzGk-ofZ7l0aAzqQZDdEcXi0u0lWXsO3NIA/viewform

July hours are due plus August updates

Happy Colorado Day, everyone! Our beautiful state has its 143rd birthday today. I hope you get to do something fun and state-specific to mark the occasion. If you're downtown or headed that way, History Colorado is having a block party today!

As the calendar page has turned and it's now August, it's time to report your tutoring time and activity for JULY. Click here to go to the reporting survey.

If ever you want to refer back to one of these monthly updates but you can't find it in your email, bookmark this site: http://cresltutors.blogspot.com/

I've been cross-posting these monthly missives there for prosperity and for access by all whose email platforms send my messages into the junk mail folder or just somewhere into the ether, never to be read.

News and Updates:

I had a program review meeting with the people from the state refugee office last week. Overall, they're quite impressed with the work all of you are doing. They really didn't understand how complex this program is--and how thorough we are in trying to support the in-home students. The state folks were especially impressed with how detailed your monthly reporting is and the level of investment we all make in each individual in-home student. Thanks for being such superstars! Your efforts really shone brightly when they were explained to our funder. Kudos!

Personal update

I'm deep in the throes of a recurrence of shingles. Please be patient as the best treatment for this is rest so my attendance at work is expected to be spotty for a couple of weeks. I have a good supply of L-lysine on medication on hand, but resting the body and nervous system are what I was primarily prescribed. And in case you didn't know--yes, shingles can come back (in my case, multiple times).

Vacation, sort of

My in-laws will be visiting the last week of this month and I'll be off from work that entire week. As a result, you will likely get the August reporting survey a day or two late, possibly as late as September 3.

Colorado Public Radio

Did you catch us on the radio last week? Our work in the English program at Emily Griffith Technical College was featured on CPR twice in July. The story was originally intended to be part of a digital, online-only series, but the material was so compelling, the editors decided to go ahead and produce an on-air story. The digital (website) story is longer and a little different than the audio version; you can access both here. To hear the audio (and me), click the orange "listen now" button at the top right of the screen.

RTD discount program

RTD has launched a new discounted fare program for low-income area residents. Click for an excellent explainer from CPR. The process to apply is complicated, though. If you feel comfortable helping your student with this, please give it a try. Refugees who qualify can also ask their case manager for help, but if they aren't receiving services anymore, they may have trouble getting in for an appointment. The staff at the Denver Public Library can also lend a hand. More information is here.

Paraprofessional pathways class

If your student is interested in working as a paraprofessional classroom aide, Spring Institute is offering a preparation class. Students will learn workplace skills, understand US school culture, prepare for the ACT WorkKeys test, build a resume,and prepare for interviews. This class is only open to those with refugee, asylee, or SIV status living in the US for five years or less. The class is free and meets for 12 weeks. See the attached flyer for more details and registration information.

English classes around town

There are many options available for students who would like to transition out of in-home tutoring and into a classroom for English instruction. Many of these options are free or almost free, and some are funded through the same channels that provide free classes at Emily Griffith. Most locations are currently enrolling adult students for the fall term. If you would like information about classes to share with your student, please let me know. It will be most helpful if you remind me what neighborhood your student lives in so I can send the most relevant information. Classes begin later in August and are offered by Spring Institute, Adams County Schools, Focus Points, Learning Source, Project Worthmore, Littleton Library, Community College of Aurora, Jeffco Adult Ed, and more.  Some are also offering citizenship preparation classes and GED prep. Emily Griffith has free English class options both in the morning and afternoon.

Lifeskills and more at Village Exchange Center

The Village Exchange Center is a shared community space serving primarily immigrants and refugees with a broad range of activities and supports. Coming up this month are free computer and financial literacy classes. VEC is located on the corner of Havana St. and 16th Ave. in Aurora. There are two flyers attached to this message with more information.

Want to sort some beads?

Shingles or not, this Saturday I'll be working on a project at the A Little Something studio. We need more volunteers to get through this overwhelming task. No special skills are required, just patience and a good eye for color. A sense of humor helps. We'll be in the basement of the Village Exchange Center. Please come and help if you have time, feel willing, and this kind of task doesn't make you crazy. Click here for all of the details.

Taste of the Middle East

If sorting beads doesn't sound like the most thrilling way to spend this Saturday, then you might want to head over to the Taste of the Middle East festival in Centennial. All of the details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/events/801100653624578/

(When the Facebook pop-up comes on, just click "no thanks" and it will go away.)

Taste of Ethiopia

If the Middle East isn't to your taste, well, head on out to the Taste of Ethiopia Festival. This event is also on Saturday, August 3. Did you know that more than 30,000 Ethiopians live in the Denver area? This cultural event is spectacular and well attended. More information is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/15555-e-53rd-ave-denver-co-80239/taste-of-ethiopia-festival-2019/2317738308258193/

(When the Facebook pop-up comes on, just click "no thanks" and it will go away.)

African Festival

If you're not all festivaled out, there's even more to taste. The end of August brings the Colorado Taste of Africa Festival.

​I think that's it for this month. Please don't forget to report your hours!!​

Here is the unmasked link for reporting:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxKw23ZjdHmtY7MuwdpXwQq5TaiHKRdvFdhBk5h3pg33u5eg/viewform