Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc.

A Quarterly Newsletter from Catholic Charities - August 2003

Folklorico Dance Strengthens Family Bond

Catholic Charities’ Brownson House, located in East Los Angeles, has a history of teaching folklorico dance troupes. Folklorico dancing is a tradition in this predominantly Latino community. Like mariachi music, the folklorico dances and the costumes associated with them have their roots in Mexico’s regional states. There are as many dances and costumes in the folklorico tradition as there are states and regions of Mexico.

Grandmother and grandchildren enjoy weekly folklorico classes at Brownson House.

Folklorico brings a community together. The bright colors, rhythmic dancing, and lively music make watching a folklorico dance exciting. Children are often taught at an early age the basic steps of folklorico dancing, passing on the tradition from generation to generation.

At Brownson House, three special people have been brought together by the routine of weekly folklorico practice. Every Friday, Josefina Perez has been bringing her two grandchildren to practice. Although she sometimes struggles to get up due to osteoporosis and her battle with cancer, her daughter believes that she gets her strength by watching her grandchildren practice. “Abuelita” (grandmother), as she is called, wants her grandchildren to learn more about Mexican culture, such as art, music, and especially the dance that she performed as a child.

Maria Perez, the children’s mother, states, “ I want my children to have a beautiful ‘recuerdo’ (memory) about their grandmother, that she was there for them, supporting their performances.” Maria is grateful to Catholic Charities’ Brownson House for offering the folklorico classes.

Brownson House is located at 1307 Warren Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033. For more information, please call (323) 266-3230.

Catholic Charities Discloses Privacy Policy
for Information and Donations

Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. is committed to the privacy of those individuals who visit www.CatholicCharitiesLA.org to donate on-line or to register, as well as to the privacy of those who make donations to the agency through direct mail or other means.

When donations are made, or registration submitted, to Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc., personally-identifiable information (name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) is collected. Catholic Charities will not sell, share, trade or rent this information to others.

Personally-identifiable information, authorized and submitted by the donor or interested party, will be retained and used to send agency updates, newsletters and other items of interest. Submissions may be reviewed or changed.

To be removed from Catholic Charities’ records or to change information, e-mail the agency at info@CatholicCharitiesLA.org or call Christy at (213)-251-3498, or Lana at (213)-251-3494.

Essay Writers Win Bikes Donated by Rotary Club

In the Spring, third and fourth grade students from the Guadalupe Community Center in Canoga Park read their essays in front of the Canoga Park/Winnetka Rotary Club as part of the R.I.D.E.R.S (Rotary Ideas Develop Educated Riding Students) Bike Program. Rotary members voted for the top five essays and five runners-up. The essays answered two questions: 1) Why I would like to have a bike; and 2) What can I do to make my community better. The top five winning essayists each received a new bike and riding helmet and the five runners-up received Certificates of Achievement and a $20 certificate, to be deposited into a Youth Savings Account at Priority One Credit Union.

A winning writer prepares to take her new bike out for a ride.

Some of the winning writers wrote that they wanted a bike so they could help their parents by running errands. Another common theme was that the children wanted to take their younger siblings for rides. In response to the second question, many writers stated that they would make their community better by cleaning up their neighborhood. The bike winners were: Stephanie Vega, age 9 in third grade; Maria Stephanie Sanchez, age 10 in fourth grade; Adrian Gonzales, age 10 in fourth grade; Maribel Franco, age 10 in fourth grade; and Manual Chavez, age 9 in fourth grade. The youth of the Guadalupe Center were proud of their achievement and thankful for the wonderful prizes given by the Rotary Club. Margaret Pontius, Guadalupe Center Coordinator, remarked, “I am grateful to the Rotary Club for providing bikes to the children whose parents would not be able to afford to buy one. The event was very meaningful to all the boys and girls who participated.”

Guadalupe Center is located at 21600 Hart St., Canoga Park, CA 91303. For more information about the center, please call (818) 340-2050.