June 15, 2009 Program Update

For the week ending June 12, 2009, LGI had 1,573 clients enrolled in all classes and events. In the last month, we had 160 new GED enrollments.  Here are the 2009 cumulative enrollment for our GED preparation sites:

•   15   more people got the news that they passed the exam since our May 13 Update.
•   61 people are waiting for their test results.
•   7   people need to retake one or more sections of the exam.
  

% 1st Time Pass = 92% (115/125)

These are the enrollments for other classes and services:

LGI Interview on Economic Outlook with Phil Damico airs on WNIT Channel 34 on July 3, 2009 at 8:30 pm

Look for us on WNIT's Economic Outlook with Phil Damico.  The program will air on Channel 34 on Friday, July 3rd, at 8:30 pm.  You can also catch it on Sunday, July 5th, at 12:30 pm, and on Monday, July 6th, at 5:30 pm.  We appreciate Phil's invitation to talk about LGI's GED program.

A "big thank-you" to Patrick Sims, one of our GED grads, who took part in our interview with Phil.  Patrick still hold the record for "fastest GED completer" in 2009.

Las Estrellas del Ano 2009 Latino Community Service Awards

On October 10, 2009, the Learning Generation Initiative (LGI) will hold the second annual Las Estrellas del Año 2009 Latino Community Service Awards ceremony at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Ft. Wayne.  We will honor outstanding service to and by the Latino community in northern Indiana in seven award areas.  We will also present an award for “Latino of the Year.”  Each award winner will receive a $500 cash prize, with an additional $500 going to the “Latino of the Year.” 

We would appreciate any nominations you might wish to make or any suggestions you might have for contacts to recruit nominations.  There is no fee to make a nomination and we will accept nominations from any person or organization in northern Indiana.  Click here for the nomination form.  Please feel free to pass it on to others if you would like.  Nominations will be accepted through August 31, 2009.

The Las Estrellas program will include a reception for award nominees and a dinner and dance from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM.  Tickets are $50 each.  A table purchase of eight tickets for $400 will include an ad in our event program, along with signage at the event.  We expect about 600 attendees, drawing from the La Porte area through South Bend, Elkhart, and Goshen, and the Ft. Wayne area.

Call us toll free at 866-898-3908 to reserve your tickets today.

LGI's First Forum for Rural Indiana's Latino Leaders

Our first Forum for Rural Indiana's Latino Leaders was held at the University of Notre Dame on Saturday on May 2nd at the Hesburgh Center.  Presenters from ND's Institute for Latino Studies provided a wealth of information for the 20 current and future leaders from all disciplines that attended the event.  This forum was made possible through a grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).  

We thank Allert Brown-Gort, Juan Carlos Guzman, Karen Richman, and John Koval for their very interesting and informative discussions of topics ranging from the demographics of the Latino community to issues in education, health, and culture, as well as the impact of changes in work and the economy on the Latino community.  A special thanks goes out to Juan Carlos for organizing the event.

2009 Press Releases

LGI and LaGrange County Library Open New GED Preparation Site in Topeka

Topeka, IN, June 24, 2009.  Click here to read press release.

Pictured left to right:  Mandi Leer, LGI Site Coordinator, Donna Pearson, Work One, Beth Sherman, Director of the LaGrange County Chamber of Commerce, Mary Hooley, LaGrange County Library Director, Dave Myers, Instructor, Kathy Royer, LGI Program Manager, Lisa Walenceus, LGI Executive Director, and Deb Ehret, Bethel College, Elkhart Campus.

The Learning Generation Initiative and Middlebury Community Library Open New GED Preparation and Test Site

Middlebury, IN, February 7, 2009.  Click here to read the press release.

Pictured left to right:  Jim Connor, Superintendent, Middlebury Community Schools, Mike Yoder, Elkhart County Commissioner, Terry Reinheimer, Director, Middlebury Community Library, Lisa Walenceus, Executive Director, Learning Generation Initiative, and Sam Pohl, Executive Director, Middlebury Chamber of Commerce

The Learning Generation Initiative Announces Las Estrellas del Año 2009 Latino Community Service Awards Ceremony

Fort Wayne, IN, January 20, 2009.  Click here to read the press release.

Pictured left to right:  Sylvia Rosales, 2008 Business Award, Rick Robles, 2008 Law Award, Tom Henry, Mayor of Ft. Wayne, Lisa Walenceus, Executive Director, Learning Generation Initiative, and Rosa Wheeler, 2008 Leadership Award.

Tools & Opportunities

	Jun 25, 2009 Topeka GED Launch
	May 25, 2009 - Jul 29, 2009 Spanish GED 6-Month Accelerated Spanish GED preparation
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