SAVE THE DATE!! NOVEMBER 9!!
ACLAMO FAMILY CENTERS
INVITES YOU TO A NIGHT OF EXTRAORDINARY CULINARY ART AND CELEBRATION
"TAPAS AND WINE TASTING GALA EVENT"
Join ACLAMO's Board of Directors and acclaimed Cuba Libre chef Guillermo Pernot and other distinguished chefs in a night of extraordinary cuisine and fellowship. We will celebrate the thousands of individuals that ACLAMO is able to support because of the donations of time and money from its friends.
It will be a night of tasting incredible food and wine from celebrated Philadelphia area chefs and vineyards, a time to meet old friends, make new ones and enjoy Latin music and dancing. More details soon!
Sponsor this event and feature your business or organization. Attend and continue supporting the vital work of ACLAMO Family Centers.
With the sponsorship of 
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| Oscar and Alvin concentrate
on their engineering experiment. |
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ACLAMO´S 2015 SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM
REALLY ADDS UP
Staff + Volunteers + Presenters = Excitement
VETERAN STAFF MEMBERS
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(left to right) Rosario, Linda, Steve, Nadine, Marla and Esther
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ACLAMO's regular team of teachers is organizing and leading Summer Bridge, which runs from June 29 to August 6. A total of 121 students in grades kindergarten through ninth grade are participating. Classes are being held in Stewart Middle School, thanks to the support of Principal Martina Walls.
SHORT TERM EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS
 30 workers from 8 colleges and high schools are a key part of Summer Bridge. They add their talents to the veteran teaching staff and also learn valuable lessons in education and community service. It is a "win-win" experience for everyone.
In the photo, Micala Hotra-Schuert, a sophomore at Bryn Mawr College, helps Director Marla Benssy organize books.
Volunteers have come from as far away as North Carolina, where a church sent a group of volunteers for a week of work, coordinated through Eastern University.
SPECIAL PROGRAM PRESENTERS
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Summer Bridge students are enjoying entertaining experiences in a variety of academic areas - many related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
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Sarah Zolynski, a Dow Chemical Ambassador, helps students with an experiment.
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Dana tests the law of gravity.
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| Dr. Bubbles (Dick Close) shows Brendan
a new meaning for "blowing a bubble". |
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Cool ice cream on a hot July day.
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Dow chemist Javier Rosado
shares his career path with a
class of junior high students.
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To carry out its mission, ACLAMO Family Centers partners with many companies, government agencies and educational institutions. One such partnership brings Bryn Mawr College, Ursinus College and ACLAMO together to mentor and educate middle and high school students.
READ MORE in an article published in July by Bryn Mawr College.
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LEARN MORE ... GET INVOLVED
 If a reader wishes to learn more about ACLAMO and/or get more involved supporting ACLAMO, here are three suggestions:
1. Follow us on Facebook ... and be sure to "like" ACLAMO. FACEBOOK
2. Volunteer to help us. Most of the programs we offer are supported with the help of volunteers. Therefore we greatly appreciate and value those who become part of our ACLAMO'S circle of volunteers and interns. VOLUNTEER
3. Consider becoming an Amigo de ACLAMO by making a monthly donation. Even a modest $20 monthly donation becomes a significant part of the dependable income ACLAMO needs to keep our services strong. AMIGOS DE ACLAMO
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STRENGTHENING COMPUTER EDUCATION
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Three of ACLAMO´s valued community partners played a crucial role in allowing major advancement in the computer education provided to students: |
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John Mahlman, technician with
Edu-Tech, upgrades equipment.
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First, a generous grant from COMCAST allowed ACLAMO's "Digital Connections" to integrate technology and provide age appropriate digital literacy instruction in each of its three education programs for children and adults. With this funding we were able to contract with Edu-Tech Academic Solutions to significantly upgrade ACLAMO's computer center, including additional equipment, firewall protection, enhanced internet connectivity, in addition to support services to assist teachers with integrating technology into the classroom.
Second, the donation of ten computers by DMD Systems Recovery increased the number of students able to use the computer lab. This donation was obtained by Laney Durland, an ACLAMO teacher.
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Bud Rizer works with students using one of the computers donated by the
National Cristina Foundation.
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Third, the donation of eight laptop computers by the National Cristina Foundation, facilitated by Bud Rizer, allowed ACLAMO to conduct computer based learning at locations other than just in its main classroom building.
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FOR JOSE MARIA BERMUDEZ,
LIFE IS A MARATHON FULL OF SURPRISES
When Dow Chemical Company's DCM Business Director Jose Maria Bermudez spoke to the students in ACLAMO´s Summer Bridge Program, he told them that the world is changing so quickly that the jobs they will have when they leave college will likely be different from those in existence today.
Bermudez told the students that a person needs to be looking at life as a marathon race in which one must constantly seek challenges and be expecting change. "When you feel comfortable and think that you know all you need for your job," he said, "that should be a warning light for you. Start looking for a new challenge!"
Jose Maria knows what he is talking about. Born in Puebla, Mexico, he discovered in middle school that he loved mathematics and science. In order to use mathematics to solve real life problems, he chose to study engineering. Upon graduation from college, he was hired by Rohm and Haas Co. in Mexico and began a journey that took him for the next 20 years to work in a variety of roles in manufacturing, human resources, sales and business management in Mexico and Latin America.
After the acquisition of Rohm and Haas by Dow Chemical, Jose Maria had the opportunity to become General Manager of the company in the North Region of Latin America and was based in Mexico City. That position he considers to be one of the most exciting responsibilities he has had. Three years ago he received the opportunity to lead one of the most innovative units in Dow serving the industry of coatings and construction in North America. He moved to Philadelphia with his wife and three sons.
Jose Maria´s reference to life as a marathon is not just an analogy. Each year, he selects one marathon race that he will run. "I am full of energy," he smiles. "I love to train and then put everything into a long race."
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| Jose Maria stands with student Manny
and fellow Dow presenter Javier Rosado. |
Service to others has always been a part of Jose Maria´s life. In Mexico, he was Chair
of the Board of United Way. Upon moving to Philadelphia, he has identified ACLAMO as one way to continue to serve others. "I share ACLAMO´s commitment to education and to strengthening the Latino community," Jose Maria explains. "I am enthusiastic about ACLAMO and its plans to expand to serve even more people."
Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo, ACLAMO´s new executive director, met Jose Maria for the first time when he spoke at Summer Bridge. "I am impressed by Jose Maria's energy and success," she commented. "It will be great to work with him."
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Un rinconcito
para nosotros
No puedo creer que ha pasado un mes desde que empecé a trabajar en ACLAMO. Todo el mundo ha sido muy receptivo conmigo, la gente me ha apoyado y ayudado a entender mi nuevo papel como director ejecutivo de ACLAMO. Estoy muy agradecida por todos los correos, los mensajes, y las sonrisas que recibo todos los días.
He aprendido que tengo la suerte de trabajar con un personal y una mesa directiva muy comprometida con nuestra misión. Gracias a las fundaciones, al gobierno local y estatal por seguir apoyándonos y creer en nosotros. Este mes el personal ha trabajado muy duro en los programas de verano en Norristown y Pottstown.
Gracias en especial a nuestros amigos voluntarios de DOW y otras organizaciones que han venido a enseñar a los niños sobre tecnología, ciencias, matemáticas e ingeniería. Nuestro personal ha seguido ofreciendo apoyo a las familias en el área de servicio social y HIAS sigue ofreciendo sus servicios de consultoría de inmigración en nuestras oficinas de Norristown. Además y con mucho éxito se llevó a cabo el programa ADELANTE que BRYN MAWR College organiza para nuestros estudiantes de la escuela media. Hemos recibido muchas visitas de amigos que apoyan a ACLAMO de diferentes formas.
Estamos muy orgullosos de compartir con ustedes que con apoyo de COMCAST, la Fundación Nacional Cristina y otros amigos pudimos modernizar nuestro salón de computadoras en Norristown y crear un laboratorio pequeño de computadoras en Pottstown. ¡ACLAMO sigue adelante!
¡Gracias por el apoyo y nos vemos pronto!
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ACLAMO Family Centers celebrates its 38th year of providing Latino and low income residents of Montgomery County and surrounding areas with improved access and programs in education, health and social services to foster academic excellence, self-sufficiency and economic success.
ACLAMO stands for Accíon Comunal Latinoamericana de Montgomery County, or Latin American Community Action of Montgomery County. ACLAMO is derived from the Spanish word aclamar, which means "to acclaim."
ACLAMO Family Centers ACLAMO Family Centers
512 W. Marshall Street 515 Walnut Street
Norristown, PA 19401 Pottstown, PA 19464
610-277-2570 610-970-2134
aclamo.org
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