I really enjoyed visiting The Healing Center and I'm surprised that I haven't heard of it before. I really wish I had known about it because I typically donate clothing, etc to the Goodwill, but I'd much rather my things be given to those who need them for free. (And I have plenty of bridesmaid dresses wasting space in my closet that I'd love to pass along.)
One of the parts of The Healing Center that I enjoyed the most was the Kids Club. As a new mother, I know how important it is for me to have time to myself and even with my husband's help, I feel crazy and overwhelmed sometimes. A program like the Kids Club must be an enormous relief for some of the single parents within the Springdale Hispanic community.
I also found what Shaina said about the difference in the way the Hispanic or Latino community views the education system compared to the way that many other people view it to be very interesting. As a teacher, it can be extremely frustrating to have what appears to be an uninvolved parent, but it is very important to remember that some cultures view the teacher as the authority figure and handles all of the educational needs of a child.
When I was working on my TESOL degree, I remember talking about various cultures that see the teacher as the expert in education (how refreshing!) and view it as inappropriate to question what the teacher says. Schools and teachers need to continue to build community relations and partnerships to help facilitate the blending of the culture of schools in the US and the cultures of their students.
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