| ¡Muchas Gracias! |
| A big thanks to everyone who donated to Casa San Jose on Giving Tuesday, November 30! With a $25,000 match from a private family foundation, we raised $67,100 to continue our daily work. We cannot thank you enough! As we move toward our year-end giving appeal, we need to raise $1 million by late spring to complete the purchase of our new building at 1600 Broadway Avenue. You can make an online gift to our Nuestra Casa Nueva campaign here, or request a Christmas appeal letter from Sister Karan, Finance and Development Director, at srkaren@casasanjose.org. |
| Future Entrepreneurs |
| The Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation recently collaborated with Casa San Jose to start a Young Entrepreneurship Club in Beechview for Hispanic students, grades 9 through 11. The club promotes an understanding of business principles and emphasizes the traits needed to open a business such as hard work, optimism and determination. |
| ESL Success |
| Through Casa San Jose, 48 adult students completed English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for beginners. Twenty-four students took classes in East Liberty and Beechview from September to December, 2021, while the other half attended to virtual lessons through our partnership with Duquesne University from October to December, 2021. Our thanks to our ESL volunteers and a big congratulations to our students for their hard work and success! |
| Holiday Fun |
| On Saturday, December 11, Casa San Jose hosted families for a holiday gathering to make decorations and ornaments for our Christmas tree. A special visitor from the North Pole made a surprise appearance and joined in on the fun! |
| Turkey Give-Away |
| Casa San Jose volunteers distributed 50 turkeys to families in Beaver and Washington Counties last month. The turkeys were provided by Pittsburgh Community Services Inc. Our thanks to our volunteers, Stephen, William and James who helped with the deliveries! |
| Real-Life Superheroes |
| Healthcare workers at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh donned superhero costumes and handed out capes and balloons during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for kids last month. Their good work resulted in 195 kids being vaccinated in one day! Staff and volunteers of Casa San Jose helped with interpretation, transportation and emotional support. Thank you to everyone who made a super effort in protecting our kids! |
| Supporting Mothers-To-Be When a baby is born, a mother is born |
| Our newest program, Born Together, provides expectant Latino mothers with the necessary tools to lessen anxiety and build confidence before and after giving birth. Classes are offered in nutrition, yoga exercises, what to expect in labor, and how to fill out a birth certificate. Participants receive groceries, diapers, and upon completion of the classes, a baby shower! The program began from the personal experiences of Monique Herrera, Casa San Jose’s Bilingual Navigator, who couldn’t find prenatal classes in Spanish while she was pregnant with her two daughters, now ages two and six. “The moms-to-be love the classes because they get to share their experiences and support one another,” says Monique. “They are not alone.” To find out more, email monique@casasanjose.org or call (412) 343-3111 |
| March on Harrisburg |
| Casa San Jose participated in a day of action in Harrisburg on December 14 to advocate for two important issues: state drivers licenses for all Pennsylvania residents, regardless of immigration status and in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented students. Led by coalitions from the Driving PA Forward Campaign and Tuition Equity Campaign, a combined 28 staff, allies and community members from the Pittsburgh area sent a message to legislators that immigrants are an important part of the commonwealth. To find out how you can help, contact Billy Reeves at billy@casasanjose.org. |