The 2024-25 Program Year is Underway
Busesito students showing off their artwork, October 2024
A new program year is underway, with lots of exciting developments driven by families and community. A few highlights include:
- El Busesito Preschool – Driving through New Castle, you may see one of our Busesito Preschool buses filled with children and teachers learning and growing together. This new location is part of our planned expansion into western Garfield County, driven by our 2021 Listening Tour and outlined in our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan.
- Parent Mentor – This year, the team is piloting an expanded leadership model, with a lead Parent Mentor volunteer in each school. This opens up opportunities for longtime Parent Mentors to utilize their expertise to mentor newer volunteers and take on more responsibility in their roles in the schools.
- Alma – We are excited to soon launch the second round of our Alma Peer Support Groups. These groups were designed in direct response to participant requests, where mothers who had participated in the program wanted time with other women who had similar experiences. The support groups are virtual for now, and are a space for women to meet weekly to gather, share stories, and support one another in their healing journeys.
Exchanging Ideas at Ascend at the Aspen Institute’s ThinkXChange
Kenia Pinela (left) and Karla Reyes, October 2024
We are pleased to share that the Valley Settlement team participated with Ascend at the Aspen Institute in their Ascend ThinkXChange for the second year. Karla Reyes, Manager of El Busesito Preschool, and Kenia Pinela, Director of Programs and Innovation, joined other 2Gen leaders from across the country in a four-day gathering to share ideas and explore diverse approaches to working with children and families. Kenia and Karla led a workshop focused on the role of collaborative leadership in community-based work and presented on Valley Settlement’s approach to working with families to co-create culturally responsive programs.
We’re Hiring!
Staff members Yessica Lasso (left) and Patricia Juarez at the SANA Health Fair in Carbondale, October 2024
Valley Settlement is growing and we are looking for dedicated individuals to join our fun and diverse team. We offer a competitive benefits package, including an employer-sponsored health plan, a simple IRA, a generous paid time off plan, and more! Click here to learn more and apply (job descriptions in English and Spanish), or share with someone you know who would be a great fit!
Did You Know?
Every year, before programs begin, Valley Settlement program staff engage in various training sessions to bring new ideas and perspectives to our work. This year, we included a full-day training in the field – literally! Staff gathered outside for a day of hands-on activities with trainers from the ECHO team (Early Childhood Health Outdoors) at the National Wildlife Foundation. Teachers and home educators integrated learning and outdoor play, experiencing firsthand the outdoor learning activities that will be implemented in our early childhood programs this year.
Valley Settlement’s mission is to listen to Latina families, and together create opportunities for early childhood and adult education, connection, and growth, so children and families can thrive.
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