APRENDE CON AMIGOS PRESCHOOL NEEDS YOUR HELP.
Hola Families, Friends, and Community Members,
Aprende Con Amigos (ACA) is a very special, Spanish immersion pre-school, located in Portland, Oregon. Aprende has been forced to close due to the COVID 19 pandemic, and we need to save it! The preschool employs 20 women who are trained early childhood educators and immigrated to the U.S., from Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia.
The preschool has 98 children between 3-5 years old that are enrolled to learn Spanish and receive a kind, caring, and compassionate early childhood education informed by a variety of philosophies. Children "Learn with Friends" by being immersed in the Spanish language throughout the school day. Aprende not only supports our children, but also makes our communities stronger, healthier, and more resilient by investing in young children, teaching from a bilingual and cross cultural platform, and providing high quality jobs to first generation immigrant women in our community. Aprende is a gem of a school and exactly the type of small business Portland cannot afford to lose because of Covid-19. But that is what may happen if they don't get more financial support.
THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT NOW.
Aprende’s director, Stacey Dunbar, is a hard-working single mom of two, who has dedicated her life to the field of education over the past 20 years. She started Aprende con Amigos in 2009 and is honored to serve her community with kindness and compassion. She also recently started a nonprofit (ASPEN Comunidad Foundation) that works to better serve and bring fairness and equity to families in Portland, in part by providing scholarships for native Spanish speaking children to attend Aprende. To learn more about ASPEN Comunidad Foundation and the greater Aspen Center concept: https://www.aspencenterpdx.com
To combat COVID-19 financial hardships, Stacey recently applied for four different grants or loans. Unfortunately, she did not receive any of them. And although her doors may be closed, rent is still due. If preschool closures continue into June, her business is in jeopardy.
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
We know that everyone is hurting right now. It is an uncertain time, and everyone's lives have been turned upside down. It is also an opportunity to recognize the type of communities and cities we want there for us when we do finally re-enter. Believe us, Aprende Con Amigos is the type of small business that we want in our city. It is making the world a better place by helping our children feel loved, cared for, and appreciated while becoming bilingual in a supportive educational environment.
