Redlands Christian Migrant Association
For information contact:
Elida Gomez
RCMA Indian River Area Coorinator
(772) 571-9015
58 HISPANIC GRADATES IN INDIAN RIVER BEGAN AS RCMA KIDS
All 10 honors graduates attended RCMA’s Fellsmere Center
FELLSMERE, FL – July 6, 2007 -- Nearly 60 of this year’s graduates from
Sebastian River High School received a solid educational foundation as preschoolers at
the Redlands Christian Migrant Association,
which operates four child care centers serving
approximately 325 children of migrant and rural
low-income families in Indian River County.
Statewide, RCMA provides child care and early
education for more than 7,000 children.
“We’re extremely proud that so many of
this year’s graduates started their public school
careers at our centers,” said Elida Gomez,
RCMA’s Indian River area coordinator.
“Estimates of farmworker youth who drop out of
school range from 45% to 80%. These 58
students and their parents are to be congratulated for their commitment to education.”
All 10 Hispanic students who graduated with honors attended RCMA’s Fellsmere
Child Development Center. “I am so pleased to see that we made a difference,” said Ms.
Gomez, who was one of three Hispanic high school graduates from the Fellsmere area in
1987.
Based in Immokalee, RCMA provides infants through 5 year olds with the
essential building blocks for their education, including development of social, motor and
literacy skills, age-appropriate play, and good health practices. Because so many of the
children don’t speak English at home, they also receive extra help in developing their
English-language skills, so they’re bilingual by the time they reach kindergarten. Older
children attend after-school programs that provide homework help, tutoring and
recreational opportunities. Literacy training, English classes and computer labs are
available for adults, too.
Mennonite Church volunteers founded RCMA in 1965 in the Redlands farming
area of southern Miami-Dade County, to provide a safe nurturing environment for
children while their parents harvested the crops. RCMA opened its first center in Indian
River County in 1988. The organization’s mission, simply stated, is to “open doors to
opportunities” for children of migrant and rural low-income families.
A nonprofit, non-sectarian 501(c)3 organization, RCMA is funded by local, state
and federal grants, as well as the generosity of businesses, individuals, the United Way
and other organizations. Support in Indian River County is especially strong, thanks to
generous individuals, volunteers and foundations. For more information, see
www.rcma.org or call Elida Gomez at (772) 571-9015.
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Caption: Children at RCMA’s Fellsmere Child Development Center enjoy snack time
recently.