PRESIDENT’S CORNER

by Raúl A. Martínez, President & CEO

Un saludo cordial!

This issue of “The ASPIRANTE” is a year-end dedication and thank you to all whom have labored and love ASPIRA.  It is a special edition to commemorate the accomplishments of years past and to welcome a new era.

To all the volunteers, especially the Board members who have served ASPIRA, a very special thank you and recognition to Victoria Hernandez, immediate past Chair, Miriam Lorenzo, for her many years of service to our community, Honorable Nancy Perez and Carmen Ayala from Palm Beach, Yvonne Lopez from Broward, and Pedro Martinez-Fraga. Gracias!

As ASPIRA of Florida, Inc. enters its 21 years of service, we approach the 21^st Century with a renewed spirit of work. The needs of youth and the advocacy for greater access of post-secondary opportunities are the driving forces behind ASPIRA’s mission.

This past year saw the maturity of our Charter School in North Miami, the continued success of ASPIRA South Charter, the opening of the Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter in Wynwood, and the stabilization of our YLD Outreach services throughout the South Florida Region.

The challenges before the Board and staff are to continue to provide quality programs and services through the development of our facilities. The ASPIRA programs are significant to those youth and young adults who access our buildings for charter school education, counseling, tutoring, community service projects, basic adult education, GED and ESOL programs. In addition, the ASPIRA Community Technology Centers (computerized learning labs), located in each of the three locations in Miami Dade County, provide a hi-tech environment for the learning and teaching process impacting students, parents and staff.

On behalf of everyone, Felicidades!

NEWS & EVENTS

v    Christmas came early for ASPIRA as we were blessed with a new school at the start of the school year.  On August 27, 2001, the ASPIRA Eugenio Maria De Hostos Leadership Charter School opened its doors to serve 6-8 grade students and their families who live in Miami. In November, the Cultural Awareness Club planned and hosted a beautiful multi-cultural day of festivities which included traditional dances from various countries and a special honorary visit by Miami-Dade firefighters as a tribute to those lost on September 11^th. With funding from the Alliance for Human Services, the ASPIRA Wynwood and the Beaches YLD Program began this year with the expansion of the Stay in School Program into Booker T. Washington Senior and the Neighborhood Empowerment Program in Wynwood.  The new Leadership Club at the Charter School and the innovative Entrepreneurship initiative for youth are very successful.  Recently, students celebrated a Multicultural Fair at the Roberto Clemente Park.

v   ASPIRA South Leadership Charter School in South Dade began this year with a new principal, Mr. Kevin Moore.  On September 26^th, we hosted our annual Mexican Heritage Fiesta featuring an appearance and autograph signing by Ana Marie Canseco of Despierta America. Our students turned out early on a rain-soaked Saturday morning to help plant trees and do other landscaping work for Regis House. In November, ASPIRA South’s YLD (Youth Leadership Development) Program celebrated Puerto Rican Day with eclectic and beautiful dances, songs and poems.  The event featured a guest speaker, Maria Celeste, host of Primer Impacto-Univision (see pictures below).  Also, the YLD Program continues to do a wonderful job with the Dr. Antonia Pantoja Adult Education Center, which serves as a night school for parents and other

Aspirantes from ASPIRA South perform a cultural dance for Puerto Rican Day.

Raul Martinez, ASPIRA President, Maria Celeste, Host of Primer Imapcto, & Teresa Albizu, new ASPIRA of Florida Board of Directors Chair.

v   Our first school, the ASPIRA Youth Leadership Charter School in North Miami, continues to increase the academic barometer. Reading scores went from 268, up 30 points to 298, which is higher than the District score of 272 and the state score of 295.  Also, writing scores for 8^th graders went from 3.2 to 3.7, matching the state score and surpassing the District.  A wonderful example of the school’s writing program can be found on the cover page of this newsletter. Some of our students have been published in A Celebration of Young Poets. The ASPIRA North YLD Program continues its wonderful work with the Talent Search Program, which encourages students to stay in school and guides them through college entrance exams, and the admission & application process.

v    The ASPIRA Broward YLD Program started the year off with their Third Annual Summer Olympics. In 2002, they will be one of ASPIRA’s busiest offices when they kick-off their Young Latinas Conference, Muchachos Summit, the Family Forum, and the state-wide college trip. With United Way funding, ASPIRA Broward is emphasizing character education in the development of youth leaders. Recently, the staff moved to the Miramar Civic Center.

v   The ASPIRA Palm Beach YLD Program is off to an exciting start.  Aspirantes volunteered to clean up the Lantana Wildlife Habitat and participated in a cleanup at ASPIRA’s “Adopt-A-Highway” site at the exit and entrance ramps of I-95 and Forest Hill Boulevard.  The Aspirantes have been working on a Violence Prevention program.  Parent involvement is growing in Palm Beach with increasing attendance and participation in ASPIRA’s Bi-weekly Parent Meetings.  The meetings serve to educate parents on a broad range of topics, all geared toward raising a healthier child.

COMING on APRIL 13, 2002

ASPIRA’s 21^ST ANNIVERSARY GALA