How do we measure summertime at Centro? By the Canna Lilies, of course! They are taller than we are so summertime must be in full swing.
Time is definitely flying. If you can believe it, we are just a little over halfway through our 3rd Grandes Sueños en Pequeñas Empresas (GSPE) cycle!
Here's what folks are saying:
"The GSPE team has provided us with so much valuable information. I've learned to build a business from zero and I have started thinking like an entrepreneur." - Paola
"I have loved the dynamic of the classes and have learned a ton!" - Fanny
"This course has been excellent. We aren't born knowing everything that's needed for a business, no matter how badly we want to be entrepreneurs. We need some fundamentals to guide us in running a sustainable, successful business. I have learned a lot!" - Januaria
A shout out to our top-notch GSPE team as they work to grow East Tennessee's ecosystem of Latino entrepreneurs and business leaders!
Speaking of hard work, allow us a moment to brag on one of our most enthusiastic and dedicated students:
This is Olga Rivas de Guarda. She took both ESL and HiSET courses (at the same time!) and earned her GED equivalent in just one month. ¡Felicidades, Olga!
While we’re on the subject of adult education, can we share a few numbers with you?
In the past year, Centro’s ESL programs have provided 6,970 instructional hours to 497 students of English. Also, more than 100 ESL students have chosen to continue with their learning via our two-month summer Zoom class. We are so very proud of this group!
We have a lot going on this summer, but here are a couple of things to remember:
On July 21st, we will be hosting our biggest health fair yet, with back-to-school physicals and vaccines, primary care appointments, free mammograms, blood pressure and glucose checks, giveaways, and much more!
Then on August 3rd at 6pm, we're hosting Polyphony Marimba at Centro. This touring group is making a special, unscheduled stop in Tennessee to serenade us—come check it out!
And finally, have you met the amazing Marlene Cervantes yet? We recently sat down with our new Financial Education Coordinator to get answers to our burning questions!
What is your goal with this work? My main goal is to help people live a healthy financial life. Numbers can be scary, but they are not our enemies. Many people have high anxiety because of a bad relationship with numbers.
Why finances?
I spent 13 years as an accountant, and I’m so excited to be back in that world! I love numbers, and they are how I express myself best. I also love working with people, I really want to see my community thriving, and personal finances are a great first step toward a better life.
What are you most excited about when you wake up in the morning? Helping people. My husband is a teacher too so he gets it. Sometimes you feel frustrated or sad because things are not going your way, and then you see that someone has changed their mind because of something you said or taught them—that’s the best feeling. It’s what gets me up the next day to start again.
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With every donation to Centro, you are expanding access, breaking barriers, and nourishing hope.
