SAN JUAN — The warehouse where her husband worked was sold in March, and with three children and no source of income, Martha Edith Cedillo worried about budgeting for school uniforms.

“It’s a tough time for my family,” the 32-year-old said in Spanish. “Luckily, this place is going to help us with the school shirts.”

Cedillo was referring to the new Avance Colonias Early Head Start Center in San Juan, which opened a month ago and had a ribbon-cutting celebration Wednesday.

Made possible through a partnership with the federally funded Early Head Start Program, the city of San Juan and Avance Inc., the center will provide free, home-based education for families with children ages 3 and younger and for pregnant women.

Avance, derived from the Spanish word meaning “to advance,” is a San Antonio-based nonprofit organization that has provided education and family support services to predominantly Hispanic families in low-income communities since 1973.

 Its niche, however, is not only to teach the child; it is to educate the entire family, and not just about school. Each participant will be assigned a home visitor who will assist the family.

Cedillo, for example, needed food, so the center provided her with information about Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, a resource with which she was unfamiliar. Cedillo said she received assistance from the food bank Tuesday.

“There are a lot of people out there who tell you different things, but with (the home visitors) you feel like you have someone who can help you and that you can trust in,” she said.

Richard J. Noriega, a former Texas state lawmaker and former candidate for the U.S. Senate, is now Avance’s CEO and president. He said the center’s location was no mistake.

“We targeted Hidalgo County in large part because we wanted to serve the most vulnerable families possible,” Noriega said.

The county is one of the poorest regions in the nation with an estimated 34 percent poverty rate. That rate is more than three times the national rate and twice the state’s rate. Even more alarming to Avance, 80 percent of the county’s children live in poverty.

Avance’s Parent-Child Education Program, however, lost $45,000 in funding after Gov. Rick Perry announced a spending freeze, Noriega said.

“It’s unfortunate because this is the one critical area that you don’t cut,” he said, adding that the program’s return on investment is $6-8 for every $1 the state puts forward for early childhood development. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

The facility reached its capacity of 70 participants in less than a month, and there is already a waiting list.

Overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Early Head Start is a community-based program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. Its mission is to promote healthy prenatal outcomes for pregnant women, enhance the development of very young children and promote healthy family functioning.

EL PASO – (August 10, 2010) – In an awards ceremony, AVANCE mother, Rocio Barajas received her Adult Learner of the Year Award from Literacy Texas at their annual conference on August 9 in Austin, Texas.

“We are so proud of how far Rocio has come in just two years with our program, and we thank Literacy Texas for recognizing her accomplishments,” said Nydia P. Correa, Executive Director, AVANCE-El Paso.  “With Literacy Texas’ acknowledgment of our services, it shows that our program is truly having an impact on hundreds of El Paso families each year.  Our adult literacy and parenting classes helped more than 650 parents like Rocio this past year alone.  We look forward to continuing to serve the El Paso community as we prepare to kick off the new program year in just a couple weeks.”

Literacy Texas is the statewide coalition for Texas, connecting and equipping literacy programs through resources, training, networking and advocacy. Their mission is to build capacity for established and emerging literacy coalitions, community-based organizations and adult education programs to improve literacy levels in Texas.

Presenting Barajas with her award was Texas Literacy President Gloria Moritz

 A brief excerpt from Rocio’s award winning story:

When first arriving at the AVANCE program, Rocio did not understand or speak any English.  A model student, she attended classes daily and had perfect attendance.  After one year in the classroom, Rocio would have been able to complete her GED in Spanish; however, with the encouragement of her teacher, she studied to take the test in English.  Just last month, she enthusiastically reported that she passed her tests and now has her GED.

At the AVANCE program, most of our students walk through our doors without speaking English.  There are also several who study to take the GED, but there are only a few that are dedicated enough to learn and test in a new language.  By passing the GED in English, Rocio is now on her way to pursue her dreams of becoming a nurse.  She recently enrolled in the local community college to begin her basics and has received a scholarship from a local foundation.

Rocio has a commitment for her learning, but she was devoted to ensuring her fellow students excelled as well.  She served as a cheerleader for her colleagues and encouraged them to push themselves to do better.  The attendance of many of the students was due in part to Rocio’s support.  Rocio’s caring personality has not only helped those in her class, but the Even Start program at the school as a whole. 

Not only was Rocio a huge help in the classroom, but she agreed to assist the AVANCE program by volunteering her time and going out into the community to teach others about the impact the program is having on neighborhoods all over the region.  In speaking to crowd of over 300 people, they were brought to tears when they heard how Rocio and her family fled a violent stricken home and found themselves in a local shelter.  It was when Rocio enrolled her children in school that she learned about the AVANCE program and the benefits it could bring to her youngest child, herself, and her family as a whole.

AVANCE Inc. President & CEO Rick Noriega, Rocio Barajas, Literacy Texas President Gloria Moritz and Literacy Texas Director Debbie Johnson, AVANCE – El Paso Exec. Director Nydia Correa

Thomas specifically oversees the English as Second Language and GED programs. Currently, AVANCE – Dallas’ Adult Literacy program is expanding, adding additional sites and class levels to better serve participants. Last year the classes were opened to graduates of the chapter program where they saw their greatest numbers to date. Congratulations Anne on your contributions to AVANCE and your election to the TALAE Board.

Since 1968, TALAE has been targeting four areas for Texas Literacy Educators: Leadership, Professional Growth, the promotion of Adult Education and Linkage to other organizations interested in Literacy. For more information on TALEA, visit their website www-tcall.tamu.edu/talae/.

Contact: Melissa Mireles, Media Relations 210-230-9663 MMireles.nat@avance.org

El Paso’s AVANCE receives $6,500 from the UPS Foundation towards financial literacy education

EL PASO, TX – (July 29, 2010) – The UPS Foundation announced AVANCE-El Paso’s award for $6,500 to support the financial literacy component of its adult literacy classes.

“With the financial assistance of the UPS Foundation, AVANCE is able to educate low-income Hispanic families about making the right choices when it comes to their finances,” said Nydia P. Correa, Executive Director, AVANCE-El Paso.  “We are proud to call UPS a partner in our efforts to educate families in our region.”

With many families struggling during these tough economic times, it is important to provide educational avenues to get them on the right track.  Funding from the UPS Foundation will help cover the costs incurred with delivering the financial literacy curriculum to adult participants. 

While AVANCE-El Paso administers the AVANCE Parent-Child Education curriculum at 17 school sites, funding restrictions allow for only 11 of these sites to offer ESL (English as Second Language) classes and merely six sites to offer GED classes. The organization needs additional support from others, like UPS to continue changing the lives of low-income, at-risk families.

For several years now, local UPS employees have contributed greatly to the program through a number of volunteer efforts.  In particular, employees have strengthened AVANCE’s efforts at the Robert F. Kennedy Pre-K site by contributing to a number of literacy activities, such as: 

• Participating in “conversation circles” with ESL students to help in aiding their progress towards developing English speaking skills
• Assisting and tutoring adult ESL and GED students in the five GED subject areas of reading, writing, math, social studies and science.  Tutoring is done both on an individual and group basis
• Presenting to students about possible career paths available to them as well as special topics related to the volunteers’ area of expertise
• Reading to children one to four years of age in the child center as well as engaging children in arts and crafts, puzzles, and other educational activities.

 For more information,  please contact AVANCE – El Paso ‘s Taylor Moreno, Assistant Executive Director at 915-204-2246

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SAN ANTONIO – (July 26, 2010) – AVANCE, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Dean Aguillen as chairman of the national board of directors. Aguillen will represent a strong team dedicated to providing early childhood and parenting education to low-income, at-risk Hispanic communities throughout the U.S.

“We are delighted to have Dean Aguillen as our national board chairman. It is through our board’s distinguished work and deep commitment that AVANCE ensures its success to better serve families across the nation. We congratulate Mr. Aguillen and anticipate his great service to the organization” said AVANCE, Inc. President & CEO, Rick Noriega.”

 Aguillen, a Senior Vice President of Ogilvy Government Relations was named one of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics” in the U.S. by Hispanic Business Magazine in 2007. Prior to joining Ogilvy, he served as a senior advisor and director of member services in the office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi for 10 years. He has been a member of the AVANCE, Inc. National Board of Directors and its executive committee for the past two years.

 “It is truly an honor to have been elected this year’s chairman of the national board of directors of AVANCE, Inc. Over the last year, AVANCE has experienced many positive changes on its quest to become the national model for parent-child education. I am humbled to be in this position at this critical time in our organization’s history,” said Aguillen.

Since 1973, AVANCE has been committed to providing innovative education and family support services to predominately Hispanic families in underprivileged communities. Dedicated to promoting school readiness and supporting family engagement AVANCE proudly serves as a national model and best practice of early childhood education for parents, teachers, the scientific community and general public.

 (Photo Courtesy of Ogilvy Government Relations) 

What:  “2010 NCLR Annual Conference and National Latino Family Expo”           

The 2010 NCLR Annual Conference  and National Latino Family Expo is heading to the Alamo City.  As a proud member of the host committee, AVANCE, Inc. welcomes the distinguished organization and invites all AVANCE participants and supporters to take part in the festivities.

Where:  Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and Grand Hyatt San Antonio

200 E. Market St. San Antonio, Texas  

When:  Saturday, July 10-13                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 National Family Expo – Sat. & Sun. 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. & Mon. 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Expo is free and open to the public!  For more information, please visit the NCLR website: www.nclr.org.

Contact:  Melissa Mireles, Media Relations Associate 

AVANCE, Inc. — (210) 230-9663                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            MMireles.nat@avance.org

Independence Day, celebrated on the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. But who will be responsible for the future of our independence?

Latinos are the fastest growing population in the United States and by the year 2050, nearly one in three Americans will be of Hispanic origin.

Just in the 2008-2009 Texas school year, 51% of kindergarteners and 65.4% of pre-kindergarteners were Hispanic, the demographic with the highest state dropout rate. These statistics foretell the future.

“More than half of Hispanic and approximately 46 percent of African American ninth-graders leave the system before they reach 12th grade,” according to a 2005 Texas Supreme Court ruling on public school finance. We hear different studies everyday that at least half of all Latino students will not complete high school.

These facts have obvious negative economic and national security implications. We will need these students to lead government, business and to populate our Armed Forces.

According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, America loses more than $26 billion in federal and state income taxes each year from 23 million dropouts.

Seventy-five percent of young Americans are unqualified to join the military, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The three primary reasons being inadequate education, criminality and physical unfitness.

Public policy isn’t what is said but rather what actually occurs. Public policy in Texas and this country therefore is that we allow half of our children to fail, and apparently that’s okay.

What do we do? Almost every education challenge has been solved somewhere in America. Do we have the political will to do something? Do we have the same kind of will to save an American generation as our forefathers had in seeking independence?

I am committing my public service to something that works—early childhood education.

The best time to influence a child’s intellectual development occurs during the first five years when the brain is under intense development.

For 37 years we at AVANCE have been doing an intensive parent-child model that addresses this in predominately Hispanic communities— a program built on the mother as the first teacher and home as the first classroom.

Dallas ISD tracked AVANCE children and demonstrated a 95%high school graduation rate. In El Paso, AVANCE graduates consistently outperform district and state averages on third grade TAKS tests.

Nobel laureate economist James Heckman estimates, for every dollar we fail to invest in early childhood education, we will be forced to pay up to $8 in other social needs. Heckman stresses that early intervention reduces crime, grade repetition and special education costs. It also promotes high school graduation, college attendance, prevents teenage births, and raises test scores.

Though financial consequences are obvious and tangible, this call to action is about our investment in national security.

Most understand the importance of education in the success of America’s economic engines—the need for educated workers, the importance of continued innovation driving our prosperity —but we fail to recognize its impact on national security. The future safety of our nation depends on it.

Rick Noriega is President and Chief Executive Officer of the national non-profit organization, AVANCE, Inc. This community-based organization focuses on offering early childhood education, parenting and comprehensive family services to predominantly Hispanic families.

Noriega has proudly served in the National Guard and Army Reserves since 1980 and now is a Colonel in the Texas Army National Guard. He served in Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom, as commander of the Kabul Military Training Center for Afghan forces. Noriega also served as Laredo Sector Commander during Operation Jumpstart in 2006. He recently relinquished command of the 1-141 Infantry Battalion (First Texas), 72nd BDE, 36th IN DIV.

Upon his return from Afghanistan in 2005, Noriega was appointed by Houston Mayor Bill White as Incident Commander of the city’s Hurricane Katrina relief efforts at the George R. Brown Convention Center. His leadership was crucial in transforming the Convention Center into a virtual city that cared for nearly 30,000 evacuees, and then was dismantled within a month.

Noriega is a Houston native with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College and earned a certificate in Advanced International Affairs from the Bush School of Government at Texas A & M University.

Since 1990, AmeriCorps has offered opportunities for all adults to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups, such as AVANCE, Inc. Through volunteering, AmeriCorp members are eligible to earn academic scholarships towards attending college or graduate school and paying student loans.

Contact: Melissa Mireles, Media Relations 210-230-9663 MMireles.nat@avance.org

AVANCE – Waco’s Even Start program receives acclaim from Texas LEARNS and McLennan Community College

WACO, TX – (June 24, 2010) – Though AVANCE – Waco’s Even Start program has only been operating for one year, the education community is taking notice. Texas LEARNS, an organization that provides nondiscretionary grant management functions, program assistance and other statewide support services to Texas Adult Education and Family Literacy Providers has commended the Even Start program for an impressive first year performance.

“You had an outstanding first year. It is unusual for first year programs to implement the program to the degree that you have done so. Congratulations to all of you. Nice work,” writes Elizabeth B. Thompson, Assistant Director and State Even Start and Family Literacy Coordinator of Texas LEARNS.

Texas LEARNS is not the only one with eyes on AVANCE Waco. McLennan Community College’s Adult Education Local Advisory Committee has awarded the Even Start program for “Highest Average Hourly Attendance” of students. The community college provides the program’s Adult Basic Education Instructors.

“The AVANCE – Waco Chapter proudly accepted this recognition for outstanding services. The Waco Chapter and the McLennan Community College, Adult Basic Education Program have been collaborating for the past eight years. Our success can be attributed to the dedication and commitment of both staff,” said Kretcha M. Roldan-Rodriguez, Executive Director of AVANCE – Waco.

In addition to Waco, AVANCE also provides Even Start services in its El Paso chapter.

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