At La Alianza Multicultural Center at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, Educational Planner Christine Hernandez, of Idaho State University's TRiO Program, will provide information to help low-income, first-generation students apply to and pay for college. TRiO is a federally funded program that provides students with a variety of support services including advising, counseling (academic, personal, financial and career) and tutoring. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation.
La Alianza's many offerings include a weekly Intercambio Café where those learning or who speak English and Spanish can come together to practice. The theme for the Intercambio at noon and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 will be holiday traditions.
"We will discuss this topic and practice Spanish and English with native speakers," Executive Director Millie Gaitan-Gonzales said. "Also we will do a dramatization of a traditional Hispanic custom, Las Posadas, from 6 to 7 p.m., complete with traditional food and ponche. We will have traditional food and piñatas for the children. ''
Las Posadas is a pre-Christmas celebration that started in Mexico and is celebrated throughout Latin America. It symbolizes the trials that Joseph and Mary endured just before the birth of Baby Jesus.
Intercambio Café participants are invited to come in one hour earlier and stay to practice conversation skills in Spanish or English.
For more information call 578-5049, or LaAlianzaIdaho.org.