Joyce Preschool
The MHBA is partnering with Joyce Preschool to increase access to preschool education by funding scholarships for low-income Latino students.
In the fall of 2009, the Minnesota Hispanic Bar Association Board of Directors voted to officially form an ongoing partnership with Joyce Preschool. As part of this partnership, the two organizations jointly launched a campaign for the MHBA /Joyce Preschool Scholarship Fund in order to ensure that low-income Latino children have access to quality preschool education.
The kick-off event for the partnership was a “Barristers’ Breakfast” held at Joyce Preschool on November 11, 2009, raising more than $2,000 specifically for the MHBA Scholarship Fund. Our goal is to raise $3,700 annually, which will support a child’s tuition at Joyce Bilingual Preschool for his or her entire two years with the program.
Peter M. Reyes, Jr., former MHBA President and current Vice-President of the Hispanic National Bar Association, addressed the audience at the Barristers’ Breakfast on the importance of diversity within the legal profession. In order to have diversity in the legal profession there must be diversity among students entering law school. This means we need students from various minority communities succeeding in college. One can’t get into college without a high school diploma. In our community of Minneapolis, too many Latino children are not graduating from high school – and the reason they are not graduating from high school is that they don’t have adequate basic skills in reading, writing and math. Unfortunately, most Latino children (approximately 76% in Minneapolis) are not prepared when they enter kindergarten, and for the majority of them, education is an uphill, losing battle from there on out.
On the other hand, studies show that children who receive quality early childhood education are much less likely to be held back in school or need special education. These children are more likely to be literate by the third grade, to complete high school, to remain free from crime, to get a good job, and to support a family. Supporting a student for two years of early education at Joyce Preschool means supporting diversity in the professions and strengthening our community, one preschool student at a time.
Please consider making a contribution to the MHBA/Joyce Preschool Scholarship Fund. (linked to http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Minnesota-Hispanic-Bar-Association-Mhba-Scholarship-Fund)
For more information about Joyce Preschool, click here. (linked to http://www.joycepreschool.org/ )
To view a short video about Joyce Preschool from a WCCO story, click here. (linked to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKqzwv2DH_E)
