News from CUMAC
CUMAC's programming has always been in response to community need, and while usually that has meant adding or expanding programs, sometimes that means the opposite. Recently we have found the need again shifting in Paterson. As community schools are growing stronger, there are more options for afterschool enrichment (beyond merely test prep) for our youth. Increasingly, parents are opting to have their kids stay in school rather than navigate the challenges of street violence and transportation to get them to off-site after school programs. Accordingly, fewer kids have made their way to our Tutoring & Literacy Center prompting us to make the difficult to decision to make this school year TLC's last.
Read the full announcement here.
Read the full announcement here.
TLC's ImpactAt a time when few after school options existed, the Tutoring & Literacy Center provided students in some of our area's poorest performing school districts with the support and resources they so desperately needed. Many lives were changed by the TLC and we will always remember the impact it had on our community. In honor of the program we’ll be sharing favorite memories from our staff, volunteers and students. We invite you to contribute by leaving comments on our blog or sending photos to info@cumacecho.org.
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Reflecting on the TLC
"My time at TLC has been one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever been part of. Working with the students, learning from their daily struggles and their personalities has been a wonderful and rewarding experience. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to aid this group of students. They made me proud everyday for their great courage to step up and face the world around them. I will miss them greatly and forever remember the goals we achieved, the tests we conquered, impossible math problems we solved, the games we played, and the respect and trust we were able to build. Most of all, I will remember everything each one of them taught me and I wish them nothing but the best in their lives. I hope that they will always remember what a formidable potential they all possess."
With gratitude,
Lina Jaramillo, TLC Director
With gratitude,
Lina Jaramillo, TLC Director
For more on TLC, check out CUMAC's blog.
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Believing that a quality education is essential to an individual’s ability to rise out of poverty, CUMAC, in conjunction with the Southwest Paterson Cooperative Parish of the United Methodist Church, has run an informal after-school program for neighborhood children for over a decade. In September 2008, the program became an accredited program known as the Tutoring and Literacy Center (TLC). In its inaugural year as a fully-licensed after school program, CUMAC’s TLC touched the lives of 20 gifted, caring youth. Since then, over 100 students have attended the program. With the support of staff and volunteers, the TLC provided each student with a chance to complete homework, augment their academic pursuits, and socialize in a safe environment. Extracurricular activities such as art, music or games helped round out the day. Most importantly, TLC is an extended family, nurturing its participants throughout the school year toward progress and success.