First Things First graduates prepared for the next step

“When I got here, I couldn’t say a word, not even my name or ‘thank you’. Now I can do everything and I know how to read and write” said K Lu Moo, a student in the First Things First Family Learning Center, which celebrated the graduation of 12 refugee adult students this past Monday. Of these, 7 graduated to Mid-City Adult Education Center while the other 5 graduated from the beginner to intermediate level.    The graduating students were from Burma, Somalia, and Uzbekistan.  Click here to see photos of the graduation. 

First Things First offers classes in English, literacy, and basic life skills for parents while helping children build vital skills to prepare them for kindergarten. Children in the preschool program participate in active, fun, hands-on learning activities designed to build cognitive, social, language, and motor skills. The adult program covers topics such as career development planning, job readiness, financial literacy, health, parenting, and basic communication skills. 

Over the past year, a total of 56 adult students have exited the program: 50% are continuing their education at the community college, and the other 50% have either obtained employment or had a family member obtain full-time employment.    Enrollment has more than doubled over the past two years: since September, 90 adults and 39 children have attended the program, and the wait list continues to grow. 

Volunteer opportunities for the program are available on an on-going basis.   If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Catrina.Price@Rescue.org.

For more information about the First Things First Family Learning Center, contact Colleen Krause at Colleen.Krause@theIRC.org or 619 641 7510 x242.

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