Spring 2008 Newsletter · Issue 31
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A Note to Parents from the student group Para La Familia
Dear Wesleyan University Parents,
The student group Para La Familia (For the Family) would like to tell you little about who we are and how successful our programs have been at Wesleyan:
Our Mission
Para La Familia provides resources and support systems for Spanish-speaking parents of Wesleyan University students. We recognize the need to create a space in the university for those parents who feel most comfortable communicating in Spanish. We aspire to accomplish this goal by developing programs and initiatives that diminish the language and cultural barriers, a need that is strongly expressed by students and parents.
Although our events are student-run, we collaborate with a variety of individuals and offices within the University, including the Office of Parent Programs & Development
Para La Familia will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or class.
Our Beliefs
- We believe that family involvement positively affects student retention, achievement, and quality of student life.
- We believe that our events serve the university’s efforts to increase and maintain diversity within the student body.
- Such efforts will create a stronger relationship between parents, the university, and students, birthing further benefits for all parties.
Our Goals
- Develop Spanish language events that break the cultural barriers for Spanish-speaking families.
- Work with faculty, staff and administration to promote linguistic awareness.
- Create a relationship between Latino student families and the university that will encourage parental involvement and aid families in supporting their children.
*Adopted from the Para La Familia website: http://www.wesleyan.edu/wsa/paralafamilia
Family Weekend/ “Fin de Semana Familiar”
Every Fall, Para La Familia hosts a family weekend with every event being in Spanish or both English and Spanish. Our hope for this yearly weekend of activities is that Spanish-speaking families of current Wesleyan students can get to know the Wesleyan community better while also building strong relationships within the Spanish-speaking community as well. The entire weekend is cost free: we offer free shuttles from New Haven to campus, free meals, and free hotel rooms for those who really need them. By challenging language and economic barriers, we hope that our programs allow families that might have previously been held back by these limitations to fully interact with the Wesleyan community and become more involved with their student(s)’ life at Wesleyan. Since the creation of the group in 2004, we have come a long way. Each year our Fall and Spring events (the latter which targets prospective students and their families) bring in more and more people. Just this last Fall (2007) we had about 130 people total attend our weekend. This includes not only the families and student whose families could not make it but many Wesleyan community members including President Roth and his family who attended our dinner and many Wesleyan staff and administrators who also showed their support. We received very positive comments and feedback from these families and were very gratified that the community as a whole had such a wonderful time socializing, eating great food, and for some…dancing the night away!
Our next Fin De Semana Familiar is expected to take place on the weekend of November 15th or 22nd so please keep an eye out for the final date. If you would like to learn more about this organization, our events, and/or how you can help, please feel free to contact us at wesparalafamilia@gmail.com or take a look at our website which will be continually updated: http://www.wesleyan.edu/wsa/paralafamilia.
We hope to see (or hear from) you soon,
Katherine Rodriguez, ’09
Para La Familia Secretary