(Alliance E-news Service) — Starr Commonwealth School Goes Global
Montcalm School for Boys, a program of Alliance member Starr Commonwealth with headquarters in Albion, Mich., received certification to allow international students to enroll at the school. In the past, an international student would have to interrupt his program every six months and travel to his home country to renew his Visa. The “I-20” federal certification will allow such students to remain at Montcalm School for as long as they are receiving care.
The school began applying for the certification, which is a major undertaking, last October.
“This is a really big day for us at Montcalm School,” says Patti Hiatt, dean of students. She says that the school has received handfuls of international inquires from countries such as Taiwan, Panama, and those of Western Europe. But, without I-20 credentials, parents and educational consultants were at al loss.
Montcalm School for Boys offers a year-round, residential education program for troubled boys ages 12-18. Montcalm School for Girls offers the same program for girls. Currently, three international students are enrolled at Montcalm School for Boys, which requires that students be English-speaking even though English need not be the student’s primary language.
La Casa de Esperanza Receives Grants, Gifts
Alliance member La Casa de Esperanza in Waukesha, Wis., celebrated the receipt of several grants and gifts during the last few months.
For one, the organization recently met the requirements of a $20,000 challenge grant from the Terri and Verne Holoubek Family Foundation. The funds will be used to purchase one of three 30-passenger school busses that are needed to meet the growing demands of La Casa’s before- and after-school program.
Late last year, La Casa de Esperanza also benefited from a delivery of more than 6,000 pounds of food valued at $10,614. The gift from Roundy’s Foundation was delivered along with a $4,000 check that will benefit the organization’s child care meal program.
Finally, also in 2007, La Casa received funds from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human to purchase a vehicle for a mobile HIV outreach program. The vehicle has been purchased and will be outfitted with file cabinets, office furniture, literature holders, and a medical area. The mobile HIV outreach vehicle will be dispatched to serve people in high-risk locations by handing out literature, promoting safe sex practices, and performing confidential HIV testing.
Grant Allows NESDCAP to Assist Community Organizations
Alliance member Northeast South Dakota Community Action Program (NESDCAP) in Sisseton, S.D., was awarded a $234,634 grant from the Rural Community Development Initiative. The grant will allow the organization to provide technical and financial assistance to three area organizations: two economic development organizations as well as the Town of Roslyn, S.D.
With an ultimate goal to expand economic development and boost rural economies, NESCAP will provide each organization with financial and technical assistance. The financial assistance will allow each organization to provide new and expanded services in its community by building capacity in housing, community facilities, and community and economic development programs.
Technical assistance will include several components. Among these are programs aimed at starting or growing businesses or entrepreneurs, assisting in essential community facilities projects, improving organizational and leadership capacity, and providing resources to assist in the development or exploration of renewable energy systems.
Each community will create goals and plans to specifically benefit their area. For example, the Town of Roslyn will focus on tourism, economic development, a marketing plan, and the preparation of a community strategic plan.  |
