Summer 2012 Issue - De La Salle Institute

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FAITH, SERVICE & COMMUNITY
TOLTON CENTER HONORED BY ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE
Across town from where Sheela helps Tolton’s Bee Branch students achieve their goals in
mathematics, student Hilaria Ochoa is one of the success stories in Tolton’s English as a Second
Language (ESL) program in the Little Village neighborhood.
Here is Hilaria’s story as written by Tolton ESL instructor Marie White:
“Hilaria was recently nominated for an achievement award, not only for her four consecutive
years of faithful attendance to her ESL classes, but for her love of learning and devotion to her
family. As a mother of four, Hilaria always put her children first. Hilaria comes to class no matter
what. She comes in extreme heat, walks in the rain and trudges through snow with her youngest
son, who is enrolled in Tolton's Early Childhood program.
“Hilaria and her son faithfully attend all five components of our program (ESL class, Early
Childhood, Parenting, Parent and Child Together Activities and Library Services) in addition to
attending almost all of the field trips. Additionally, her husband and four children attend these
excursions and are always involved in whatever activities we have planned for the field trips.
“Although Hilaria received a minimal education in her native country of Mexico, she does not
let this stop her. She has gone up three levels of English over the past four years. Many other
students would have been discouraged with this pace but she feels that she is learning English
at her pace and is pleased with what she has accomplished and with the English that she has
learned. She is now able to communicate with people in retail stores, ask questions at school for
her children, and, most of all, help her children with homework.
“Hilaria’s family is regularly seen at the local library and her peers depend on her for advice on
how to navigate the neighborhood and the school systems. She is often the first student to answer
correctly when questions are asked in class. Before, she used to be so shy that one would not
even know she was in the class. Now, she is an active participant. Four years ago, she would not
venture out of Little Village for fear she would get lost and not be able to find her way home.
Now, she ventures out and is not scared.
“We are so proud of Hilaria and honored to have her and her son in our Family Literacy program.”
Congratulations to everyone in the Tolton community!
Tolton English as a Second
Language Instructor Marie White
and Tolton ESL student Hilaria
Ochoa share a moment at the
Tolton fundraiser
STUDENT ARTWORK HELPS TO RAISE $4,000
On April 19, 2012, the Tolton
Center celebrated The Faces of
Tolton fundraiser held at Mi Tierra
Restaurant in Chicago’s Little
Village neighborhood. One of the
primary purposes for the fundraiser
was to celebrate Tolton’s 21 years
of existence.
Attendees spent the evening
enjoying Mexican hors d’oeuvres,
listening to the inspirational
words of The Interrupters’ Eddie
Bocanegra, a CeaseFire violence
interrupter, and learning more
about Tolton Center.
One of the most popular items in the
silent auction at the Tolton fundraiser
was some beautiful artwork created by
Tolton’s students.
In addition, students from Tolton’s
Early Childhood and Adult ESL
programs created amazingly beautiful
artwork that was raffled off at the event
with approximately $4,000 raised to
benefit the Tolton Center’s programs.
The staff and students would like
to thank everyone who came out to
support the Tolton Center on that
memorable evening. The staff and
students hope everyone enjoyed
the event and they look forward to
enjoying an evening with everyone
again in the fall.
Faith, Service & Community 13