Intercambio News!
Updated June 4th, 2007
• It's official...we are the new owners of 4735 Walnut St Suite B!
The purchase on April 3rd of the 3200 square foot corner condo increases our
ability to train more volunteers, save staff travel time, provide
better resources for students, host intercultural more frequently, and
provide long-term cost-savings that allow us to focus resources on the
program instead of on rent. We have raised $540,000 of our $706,000 goal, so we
are still seeking financial support for the campaign. The
faster we can pay off the loan the more we can continue to focus
on our exciting projects. For more information, please e–mail: Lee Shainis. Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort in some way!!
• Potential expansion to NW Denver is looking more encouraging every day. The first NW Denver Intercambio Advisory Board meeting was held May 30th at Rocky Mountain SER, where we will pilot some classes this summer starting June 18th. We conducted our first outreach effort in the 35th and Pecos neighborhood on June 3rd and many immigrants expressed interest. We also recently submitted a 3-year grant for replication funding from the Greenfield Foundation. Please contact Shawn for more information or if you are interested in getting involved.
• We are very excited to be working more with schools to link
immigrant and non–immigrant parents together through our
Intercambio and Schools Together program. The focus is still on
volunteers teaching English and fostering cultural exchange, but the
volunteers are teaching the parents of their children’s
classmates, and there is additional emphasis on school–related
topics. We are presently piloting this program at Community Montessori
in Boulder, Loma Linda Elementary and Central Elementary in Longmont.
• The new Longmont office has proven highly effective, as
we’ve increased from 90 students in 2005 to 240 current active
students in Longmont. Thank you to all the volunteers, interns,
students and staff in Longmont for making it happen!
• The new curriculum and textbooks are developing nicely thanks to
all of those who are helping with ideas, graphic design and editing. We
plan to have final drafts of 6 levels of books complete and customized
for home or group classes by December. Your input is very and ideas are
welcome.
• Intercambio received the YWCA’s Champion of Diversity award on Saturday March 10th. We feel very honored to receive this award from such a wonderful organization!
Articles
Adding to cultural exchange (pdf)
Eben G. Fine Park cleanup! (pdf)
Intercambio celebrates diversity (pdf)
Giving to our community (pdf)
ESL nonprofit group expands in Longmont (pdf)