From the Groan Department, this press release pretty much speaks for itself….
New workshop series provides farm workers with variety of life skills
The Migrant Education Program (MEP), which is administered by the San Diego County Office of Education, will be presenting a series of free workshops, in Spanish, introducing skills on everyday living and educational opportunities in the community for farm workers. The first workshop in the two-part pilot series will be held Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Farm Bureau office, 1670 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido. The second workshop will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, also at the Farm Bureau office. Depending on the response to this initial workshop series, additional workshops will be offered in 2007 and at different North San Diego County locations.
The complete workshop series teaches practical and relevant skills to fit the needs and interests of migrant farm workers in San Diego County. They include, among other things, advice on banking and money management, buying a car, renting an apartment or purchasing a home, the benefits of learning the English language, and the importance of migrant children attending school. At the Nov. 21 workshop, the topic will be Goal Setting, and the Nov. 27 topic will be Banking and Money Management. Each workshop includes role-playing activities so attendees can rehearse various scenarios and develop confidence in conducting everyday transactions in their community. After each workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with a community representative for further information on the subject. The MEP can also tailor a workshop to the specific needs of its students and welcomes such requests when made in advance.
The MEP is a federally funded program, authorized through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 designed to provide supplementary educational and support services to identified migrant students. Farm workers who are under 22 years old or have children between the ages of 3-21 are the target audience for these workshops, and attendees may also qualify for additional MEP benefits, which may include school supplies and other services free of charge.
Refreshments will be served at these free workshops. Anyone interested in attending this class or who has employees who would benefit by attending should make a reservation by calling Farm Bureau at (760) 745-3023 by Nov. 17, 2006.