Our January monthly meeting is this coming Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Langley

Park Community Center. One of the major topics will be developing programs

for teenagers to keep them in school and out of trouble or low-end jobs.

Please come with your ideas, connections, and energies.

STAND: In line with the Action Langley Park emphasis on youth, the new

STAND organization, which among other things lobbies for better schooling,

is about to have its first county meeting. From ALP supporter Alison Sowers:

“The first county-wide STAND meeting will be at Suitland High School On

Saturday January 12th from 10:00-12:30.

ART IN THE COMMUNITY: Cristina Guidorizzi, an ALP supporter and arts

enthusiast, reports: “The Art in Community program was launched in early

Fall, 2000. The goal of the program is to provide art classes to elementary

and middle school students and their parents from the neighboring Langley

Park community and other surrounding areas. Its outreach component offers

information to parents and students on the academic, financial and

administrative aspects of entering college. The program offers students and

parents the possibility of learning more about their cultural heritage and

hopefully allows them to have even more pride in their country’s or their

parents’ countries’ art history. The themes throughout the year had a

component of Latin American art history, migration and rituals. We also

talked about their presence in society and how they can consciously choose

their actions and mold their future.

“A mentoring program for the children is now offered by University of

Maryland students. After the art classes, students spent an hour working in

oriented activities that allow them to think of themselves in the context of

their neighborhood, school and home. These activities are guided to increase

self-esteem and learn to work both individually and in groups. They will

also receive individual attention for homework and other matters they may

request.

“The amount of $2,800 is necessary to run the program per semester. This

amount covers the cost of two teachers, technician for running the kiln and

buying material, and material. The program was supported in the past by the

Pepsi Enhancement Fund, the Latin American Studies Center, University of

Maryland, and Action Langley Park. The Office of Multicultural Student

Education has been supporting the mentoring program. We will be happy to

place the name of the sponsor in our events, such as Langley Park Day, and

exhibits such as the one we had last year in the Parent’s Gallery at the

University of Maryland.”

If someone has an idea on how some of the support might be obtained, please

contact Christina at guido@wam.umd.edu or Bill Hanna at bhanna29@hotmail.com.