CAPE Parent’s Voices Unite at Telpochcalli School with Chicago Tribune
On Thursday, October 10th Chicago Tribune journalist Ikram Mohamed met parents of CAPE students at Telpochcalli School in Little Village. Read Ikram’s article here. Telpochcalli is one of CAPE’s longest-standing partner Chicago Public Schools, and one at risk of losing CAPE’s after school program due to state-wide funding mismanagement.
Ikram’s visit to Telpochcalli school was an opportunity to hear parent’s voices directly. Parents expressed the benefits of the CAPE after school program in their students and families, as well as how the disruption in program funds have had rippling effects in their lives.
A former CAPE teacher, Maria Camarillo spoke about the murals that she recently completed with students in collaboration with teaching artist Flor Flores. Also a former student of Telpochcalli, Maria has contributed to the evolution of murals at the school over many years.
A long ceiling mural led by CAPE teaching artist William Estrada and students is yet unfinished, demonstrating the necessity of continuing art programs that bring intergenerational communities together. Such sentiments were confirmed by other teachers at Telpochcalli including Marisol Ceron and Rocio Lugo, who spoke about the value of CAPE programs in their students as well as themselves.
Unable to join the meeting, parent Carla Lents email us to share her story:
“I have had two children participate in CAPE at Telpochcalli over the past 7 years. After school programs clearly help parents who have to work hours beyond the school day, but they provide much more than this simple service. CAPE has been an integral part [of] my children’s experience at the school. Many friendships were made and deepened as kids spent time together after school. Those friendships really make my children motivated and excited to come to school day after day. Also, it seemed like the extended period of time to work allows kids to get more deeply focused on a project, and that’s a skill that is hard to develop these days. For so many reasons, we need programs like these to enrich the school experience.”
Stay tuned for more information on this story as it unfolds, and join the fight in addressing the vital necessity of after school programs in communities that need it the most.
