Cambridge and SomervilleHistory:Somerville was the second community to receive the Raising A Reader MA program. Heloísa Micheletti Alvarez joined the Raising A Reader MA team in July, 2008. She has been giving ongoing support to the sites we are currently serving in these areas, focusing on sustaining older relationships and forming new ones. In addition, Heloísa has served as an ambassador for Early Literacy, representing Raising A Reader MA in many early childhood groups and communities, bringing our message to several media channels, and taking a leadership role in innovative early childhood initiatives. Cambridge and Somerville News SomerPromise, February 2011 Since Winter 2009, Raising A Reader MA has been a strong partner in SomerPromise, a city-run initiative to provide comprehensive services for children living in the Mystic Housing Project in Somerville. Raising A Reader MA, namely program coordinator Heloísa Alvarez, has been elected to be one of two the non-profit representative on the SomerPromise Advisory Board. In this role, she (will) help shape SomerPromise policies, monitor its operations and provide recommendations on grant-making. In addition, a project presented by Raising A Reader MA called “Raising Mystic Readers” has been accepted by the SomerPromise Early Childhood working group and has inspired this overall initiative. In this project, all families with children ages 0 through 5, in the Mystic area, will have the opportunity to participate in Raising A Reader MA trainings and story times, including the opportunity to rotate the red bags. Early Childhood Advisory Board Committee, Winter 2011 Enthusiasm for the “Raising Mystic Reader” project has been great. The ECAC (Early Childhood Advisory Board of Somerville) invited Raising A Reader MA to present the “Raising Mystic Readers” project at an ECAC meeting, and proposed an early literacy city wide campaigned (“One city, one story: I Went Walking in Somerville”) modeled after “Raising Mystic Readers” outreach component
Upcoming and Past Events – Somerville and Cambridge: One City, One Story: I went Walking in Somerville, May 7, 2011 Raising A Reader MA is part of the steering committee that is planning a city wide celebration of reading: “One City, One Story: I went Walking in Somerville”. Join us on Saturday, May 7th, at the Somerville High School Atrium, from 2-3pm, for read alouds conducted in many languages by community helpers and friends. After the read alouds, follow the Storywalk™ trail to the Growing Center. There will be activities for the family from 3-5pm at the Growing Center. Raising A Reader’s Heloísa Alvarez guest speakerLiteracy Camapaign Poster 2011 at Harvard University On April 25, 2011, Heloísa Micheletti Alvarez spoke as part of the Harvard University and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies Lemann Fellow Seminar Series. Somerville Community Workshop on Interactive Reading, April 16, 2011 Educators and Raising A Reader MA families from diverse program partners will meet at the Somerville Public Library on Saturday, April 16th, for a afternoon of interactive reading. Caretakers will be exposed to techniques of interactive reading, and will take home special books to share with their children. 100 Best Communities for young Children, January 29, 2011 Somerville celebrated the third year of being nominated “One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States” with a community event on Saturday, January 29th from 1:00-3:00 pm in the Somerville High School Atrium. This year the Mayor’s office decided to celebrate Raising A Reader MA as one of the community resources that make it possible for Somerville to achieve its goals for young people. Check Us Out in the Media… We want all families to succeed in their mission! Therefore we go where they are and speak their language. Check out some of our media appearances: - Raising Families TV Show, channels 13, 15 and 16 [2009 and 2011] - Informativo Latino (channel 3) [2009] Read More About Our Program’s Outcomes: |
Somerville celebrated its 3rd year as “One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States” with “Celebrating Somerville – I am raising a reader, and so can you” in January, 2011 Who we serve: Public School: Somerville Public Preschool (Michael Capuano Early Childhood Center and West Somerville Neighborhood School) Childcare Centers: CAAS Head Start, CEOC Preschool, Elizabeth Peabody House (EPH Preschool and EPH Infant Toddler Center), Open Center for Children, Somerville YMCA Preschool Home Visiting: Cambridge-Somerville Early Intervention and Early Intervention Partnership Program. Family Childcare Providers – 2010/2011 Cohort: Arminda Panameno, Maria Elena Guerra and Olga Jorge. Others: Somerville Family & Community Connections, C.O.P.E. (Co-Operative Parenting Education) |
Public School: Somerville Public Preschool (Michael Capuano Early Childhood Center and West Somerville Neighborhood School)
Childcare centers: CAAS Head Start, CEOC Preschool, Elizabeth Peabody House (EPH Preschool and EPH Infant Toddler Center), Open Center for Children, Somerville YMCA Preschool
Home visiting: Cambridge-Somerville Early Intervention and Early Intervention Partnership Program.
Family Childcare Providers – 2010/2011 Cohort: Arminda Panameno, Maria Elena Guerra and Olga Jorge.
Others: Somerville Family & Community Connections, C.O.P.E. (Co-Operative Parenting Education)
Who we serve:
Public School: Somerville Public Preschool (Michael Capuano Early Childhood Center and West Somerville Neighborhood School)
Childcare centers: CAAS Head Start, CEOC Preschool, Elizabeth Peabody House (EPH Preschool and EPH Infant Toddler Center), Open Center for Children, Somerville YMCA Preschool
Home visiting: Cambridge-Somerville Early Intervention and Early Intervention Partnership Program.
Family Childcare Providers – 2010/2011 Cohort: Arminda Panameno, Maria Elena Guerra and Olga Jorge.
Others: Somerville Family & Community Connections, C.O.P.E. (Co-Operative Parenting Education)