ACE News
Transforming Dreams into Reality
July 2, 2012
After a year of hard work, the participants of the PALS (Parent Advocates for Literacy) program came together on Friday, May 25th, to celebrate the completion of their service with ACE. The PALS program trains tutors to work with pre-K students in small groups on literacy skills at the Lucy Read Pre-K Demonstration School in North Austin.
The celebration began with ACE Director Dr. Mary Ellen Isaacs welcoming everyone. The theme of the night was "dreams becoming achievable goals." Teresa Palomo Acosta, a former ACE tutor and current mentor, and Jair Alveo, the husband of one of the PALS, gave speeches about the theme of transforming dreams into realities.
It was clear that the PALS program helped the tutors realize their dreams by giving them the opportunity to learn English and to develop professionally. Upon completing their service with ACE, the PALS will receive an education award they can use toward college classes.
For many of the PALS (who were all women), this was the first ceremony that celebrated them. Their families were there to support them, taking pictures and giving them flowers to commemorate their time with ACE. The support their families and ACE have provided them will help move them closer to achieving their own dreams.
As Jair Alveo said in his speech, there are "so many excuses, so many opportunities, . . . grab the opportunities."
The women of PALS are grabbing life's opportunities and, as a result, they are enriching their lives, the lives of their families, and the children they teach.
By Alexis Mouledoux, ACE full-time tutor