Intercambio's Blog

Interview with Lee

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting the Blog for Intercambio de Comunidades. 

This entry is all about our Co-founder and Executive Director, Lee Shainis. Intercambio has been assisting immigrants with classes specializing in various life situations for ten years now. 

Lee has developed What Every Immigrant Needs to Know, a powerful guide with over 170 topics of helpful tid-bits about how to survive and flourish in a country that speaks a different language than your own.  The list is extensive and includes everything from getting a credit card to how insurance works in the United States to how to fill out medical forms.

Intercambio's mission is to assisst with the integration of immigrants into our society and helping them contribute like any other resident.  The organization has over four hundred volunteers a year that assist with the teaching of these specific real life situations and how these immigrants should go about them and feel comfortable doing so.  Many of these teachers go into the homes of these students to teach while others teach in more of a classroom setting. 

Intercambio is always looking for those to offer a helping hand in the teaching process and if you would like to get involved please contact Intercambio by visiting www.intercambioweb.org/volunteer.php. 

Enjoy the video interview at http://vimeo.com/15206055

 

 

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Interview and blog post by guest blogger, Robert Oseth, a CU student

Intercambio is Working Out!

One of the many opportunities that the Intercambio de Communidades non-profit organization offers is aerobics classes. It might seem out of place for an organization that is mainly geared towards helping immigrants survive in a foreign place to offer aerobics classes. When I asked Lee, co-founder of Intercambio, what were his reasons for offering these classes, he responded that he had three: “It’s super fun, it builds community and is great exercise.”

And it’s true. I had never been to an aerobics class before, but if this is what all aerobics classes are like, I’ve been missing out. The energy was incredible. I had so much fun trying to replicate both Lee and Shawn’s moves and I could tell everyone else did too. Letty, a community member, says she enjoys attending these classes because of the environment and the exercise. 

The classes are approximately one and a half hours long, and have about 30 minutes built into them for breaks with the remaining time broken up into three sessions of aerobics. These three sessions consist of lively dancing to just about every kind of different genre of music, played in both Spanish and English.

The classes are led by the co-founders of Intercambio, Lee and Shawn, who by the way are amazing dancers. The class I attended on October 9^th consisted of about 16 or 17 adults but attendance varies from week to week. The attendees are mixed within the Intercambio organization. Some are students, others are volunteer teachers and, of course, there are the founders.

The aerobics classes are offered at both the Boulder office at 11:30 on Saturday mornings and in the Longmont  YMCA on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 6:30pm.

 

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This post was written by a guest blogger, Adilene Guadalupe Tarin, a CU Student.

“What Every Immigrant Needs To Know" Guide

Intercambio de Comunidades' mission is to provide a solid cultural foundation and an extensive system of support for immigrants attempting to become successful citizens in a new society.  One  example of this support system is our “What Every Immigrant Needs To Know” guide, covering virtually every aspect of life that an immigrant will encounter. 

Many of us are aware of the basic challenges immigrants face in a foreign world like language barriers and cultural differences. This guide offers advice on handling these challenges in 170 topics including:

• How to apply for jobs and appropriate workplace behavior
• How to enroll their children in schools
• How to respond when encountered by police
• Politics, shopping, financial advice
• And everything in between

When discussing the guide with Intercambio’s Executive Director, Lee Shainis, in an interview recently posted Shainis explains, “In the past, no one has given them something like this and said, ‘Hey, here is some stuff you need to know.’  Usually it’s just good luck and hopefully you figure it out." 

Shainis goes on to explain how this comprehensive coverage of how to succeed in a new culture and society not only provide immigrants with an abundance of knowledge they would usually never receive, but also greatly benefits the neighborhoods and citizens who these immigrants come in contact with.  Without this immediate firsthand knowledge, the transition into new societies could come with much greater friction, applying stress to everyone involved. 

Although this guide is directly intended for immigrants and the building of their cultural knowledge, it is also valuable to volunteers and community members.  Immigrants will always be a part of our life in America and this guide provides some brief insight into the overwhelming influx of change and adjustment they must make.  Looking at the different topics the pamphlet covers  may reveal some subjects that you have some expertise in and would like to pass on the participants in the program. 

With over one thousand participants a year coming through the Intercambio program, the importance of sharing our knowledge and cultural traditions becomes even more necessary. These immigrants play major roles in our everyday lives and ensuring that this information is available to all will produce a much smoother and hospitable transition for all.

For more information on the “What Every Immigrant Needs To Know" guide and how to purchase a copy, visit:

www.LivingInTheUS.org

 

Intercambio's Book Club

A recent addition to the many entertaining and educational services Intercambio de Comunidades provides its students is the first ever Intercambio book club.  The book club meets once a month, always on the first Monday, and is an attempt to not only help those who want to improve upon their reading and conversation skills, but also provide a comfortable and friendly atmosphere to gather with friends and socialize. 

Book club meetings are led by Rachel who, when describing the meetings remarked, “We just want to provide an enjoyable and relaxed learning environment where no one has to worry about not understanding content or having trouble with words, because everyone is there to help everyone.”  Book club meetings are not limited to just students, however, and volunteers are highly encouraged to attend and see what it is all about. 

The book list is comprised of novels with varying themes, settings, and genres, ensuring there is a book that entertains anyone’s fancy.  Although the reading is mainly geared towards students with an Intercambio learning level of six or seven, everyone is permitted to attend the meetings and contribute what they feel comfortable with.  The meetings are set up in a conversational group setting where discussion can cover virtually any topic.  Students and teachers discuss topics including the general overall plot, underlying themes of the book, how the book relates to home old and new, and of course issues with words, ideas, and situations that are not so intuitive.

When coming to the Intercambio Book Club you will be greeted with a warm and friendly welcome, along with some great discussion.  Although this discussion is mainly geared towards helping the students learn and practice their reading and conversation skills, the book club always provides a perfect opportunity to get out of the daily grind and enjoy seeing fellow friends, students, and volunteers.  For more information, contact Rachel (rachel@intercambioweb.org)

    

 

“La Fiesta” of the Year is this Saturday!

The time of the year has arrived; time to grab your dancing shoes and head to Intercambio’s “La Fiesta”.  On Saturday, October 23, 7PM-1AM you can join in the festivities held at Boulder Elks Lodge located at 3975 28^th Street. 

An annual multicultural social event, “La Fiesta”, held by Intercambio de Comunidades features live entertainment, music, dancing, and best of all: cultural exchange. At La Fiesta you can experience reggae and salsa in the same night, all while meeting and dancing with individuals of various cultural backgrounds. This year Intercambio has an extensive entertainment list that you certainly won’t want to miss.  So if you have the itch to get out, meet new people, and dance this upcoming weekend we will see you at “La Fiesta”.

Maybe dancing isn’t your thing but you still want to get out, get involved, and meet new people.  Well, lucky for you Intercambio still needs volunteers for “La Fiesta”.  Come out and enjoy the music and cultural diversity as a greeter or coat check.

Tickets to “La Fiesta” are $15 if you buy them beforehand or $25 at the door. All of the proceeds go towards furthering the mission of Intercambio de Communidades. So even if you don’t want to dance or volunteer, just come out and enjoy the cultural diversity and support a stronger, more unified Boulder community.

Check out the entertainment schedule, ticket sales locations, and volunteer information here. We hope to see you this weekend!

 

   

 

Intercambio Welcomes You

Hello from all of us here at Intercambio de Comunidades!  We wish to welcome you to our blog where we hope to achieve an even deeper and more meaningful connection with everyone involved or interested in our programs. 

We will be updating this blog biweekly with news of upcoming events, coverage of past events, and special exclusive interviews. Our goal is to communicate with the community at large, whether already involved, interested, or just plain curious and utilize your feedback to improve upon the excellent programs and events we offer.

But first let us briefly tell you what Intercambio de Comunidades is all about.  We are dedicated to attaining a more unified society through accomplishing four noble goals:

• Help immigrants achieve greater self-sufficiency and confidence
• Foster cross-cultural relationships through volunteerism (400 volunteers a year) and grassroots outreach.
• Create a more accepting, integrated community in which all members feel comfortable and effectively communicate.
• Build social capital by bringing people together to learn from each other and advance together.

You can find these goals and much more on our website: www.intercambioweb.org

Be sure to follow us on facebook “Intercambio De Comunidades”. We look forward to communicating with you and integrating the feedback we receive in order to better achieve the goal of a more unified community.  Check in often to see video and pictures of the our events, and read interviews of people involved in and affected by Intercambio’s positive force in our community.

Lee is named BEST Activist/Community Champion

Lee Shainis, our Executive Director, was named BEST Activist/Community Champion in the 2010 Boulder County Gold People’s Choice Awards!!!

Hooray, Lee! We're so proud of you!!!

http://bouldercountygold.com/2010/best-activistcommunity-champion-lee-shainis-founder-intercambio-de-comunidades/

La Fiesta Lineup!

We are pretty excited about our lineup this year:

7:30 - Frederick High Poms

7:45 - Team Jalwa - Bollywood Show

7:55 - Bateria Alegria - Brazilian Drum Group

8:20 - The Bizung Family - African & Reggae

8:50 - Streetside Breakdancers

9:00 - Intercambio Dance Troupe

9:20 - Grupo Kaoba - Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Bachata

11:00 - Chavos Dun Dun - Cumbia, Banda, Quebradita, Rock & Roll

Teacher Discussion: Share your Homework Tips

Students need extra practice outside of the regularly scheduled class time. Assigning thoughtful, creative and applicable tasks as homework can be a great way to encourage students to practice. Although the homework pages in Interactive English get students practicing on paper, some students need more.

What have been useful homework assignments that you’ve given to your student or students?

We want to hear from our volunteer teachers! Leave a comment below.

Longmont Volunteer Training Dates

Intercambio’s next training in Longmont is September 8th and 15th from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The training is being held at Central Presbyterian Church (402 Kimbark St).

Please R.S.V.P. Visit www.intercambioweb.org/volunteer.php or call Eddie at 303-776-7070.