LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC

EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES (ECS) - LACC PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM THAT MEETS THE HIGHEST ACADEMIC STANDARD TO 181 CHILDREN AGES SIX-WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OLD FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MOSTLY LATINO BACKGROUND LIVING IN URBAN COMMUNITIES. OF THOSE 181 CHILDREN, 27 WERE ENROLLED IN EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, AND 60 CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN THE STATE FUNDED EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION (SFECE) PROGRAM. LACC STRIVES TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND NEIGHBORHOOD BASED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN A SAFE, SECURE AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR PHYSICAL, SOCIAL- EMOTIONAL, COGNITIVE AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN. OUT OF THE 181 CHILDREN, 8 CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIAGNOSED DISABILITY WERE SERVED. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 90% OF THE PRE-K STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED KINDERGARTEN READINESS BASED ON TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD ASSESSMENTS SYSTEM. ALL PARENTS SURVEYED WERE SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE INFANTS AND TODDLERS SPEND THEIR DAY IN A SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION ENVIRONMENT. PRE-K STUDENTS TRANSITION TO A DUAL LANGUAGE MODEL SCHOOL WITH BOTH SPANISH AND ENGLISH USED AS THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION. THE CHILDREN LEARN THROUGH PLAY AND EXPLORATION USING THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM. PRESCHOOLERS INVESTIGATE VARIOUS SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES TOPICS WHILE BUILDING THEIR SKILLS IN LANGUAGE, LITERACY, MATH AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. ECS IS ALSO IMPLEMENTING THE CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE PROGRAM TO ASSIST CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING THEIR SELF-REGULATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. NUTRITIONAL SERVICES WERE A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE HEALTH OFFERINGS OF ECS. DURING 2023, A TOTAL OF 23,168 MEALS WERE SERVED. DURING THAT YEAR, 26,000 WERE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES FOR TUITION RELIEF THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND SLIDING FEE DISCOUNTS. ON APRIL 21, 2023, LACC, CELEBRATED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE WITH THE OPENING OF ITS NEW INFANT AND TODDLER CENTER, LOCATED AT 402 N. VAN BUREN ST. IN WILMINGTON, DELAWARE WITH A CAPACITY OF 108 CHILD CARE SLOTS.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT: THE HOURS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY ARE CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 - 12. LACC PROVIDES A YEAR-ROUND QUALITY BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, COMMUNITY CENTER LEARNING HUB, YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER, AND A SUMMER-CAMP IN A SAFE AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW, EAT HEALTHY MEALS, AS WELL AS RECEIVE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING DANCE, ARTS, JOURNALISM AND ATHLETICS. IT SERVED 210 CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK, AND 156 CHILDREN IN SUMMER CAMP. THE PROGRAM ENHANCES THE CHILDREN'S KNOWLEDGE OF STEM AND HELPS THEM UNDERSTAND THE POSSIBILITIES OF WORKING IN STEM-RELATED CAREERS. THIS IS DONE THROUGH ANNUAL LEGO MINDSTORM TEAMS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCIENCE AND ART-BASED PARTNERS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARTS AND THROUGH THE READING IS FUNDAMENTAL PROGRAM. THE INTEGRATION OF THE ARTS INTO THE STEM PROGRAMMING SHOWS STUDENTS THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ART, DESIGN, AND ENGINEERING. DURING 2023, 21,000 WERE PROVIDED TO FAMILIES FOR TUITION RELIEF THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS IN BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER CAMP. THE EVENING ENRICHMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK HELP AND ASSISTANCE WITH COLLEGE, JOB, AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS AND THEIR LIVES, INCLUDING ATHLETICS, THE ARTS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, AND STEM. THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDE YOUTH WITH CAREER AWARENESS, JOB SHADOWING, INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THE HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR AT-RISK STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL, MAKE UP CREDITS, AND BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE AND GRADUATE. A TOTAL OF 34 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. THE MINERVA MARRERO HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (MMSHP) RECOGNIZES HIGH- ACHIEVING STUDENTS STATEWIDE AND INSPIRES PRIDE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY. MMSHP ENCOURAGES FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN PURSUIT OF GREATER OPPORTUNITIES. DURING 2024,THE MMSHP PROGRAM AWARDED 25,000 OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FOR THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION. THE YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER SERVES STUDENTS AGES 12-18. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE HELP WITH HOMEWORK AND WITH COLLEGE, JOB, AND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS. THEY ALSO RECEIVE MENTORS AND PARTICIPATE IN ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) ACTIVITIES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM, ART,COOKING, COSMETOLOGY, BASKETBALL, OTHER SPORTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES. IT SERVED 26 STUDENTS DURING 2023. THE YOUTH PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFERED A PROGRAM WITH ACTIVITIES TO MEET THE STUDENTS' UNIQUE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS. IT SERVED 38 STUDENTS DURING THE YEAR.