News
About 20 girls gather around two tables at Bijou Community School, decorating holiday ornaments and frosting cookies.
Later Santa Claus shows up with stockings for all the girls. Kimberly Vences, 10, waits patiently to tell Santa she wants a Nintendo DS for Christmas.
Meet the Little Latinas — a group of girls ranging from kindergarten students to fifth graders.
The group was formed after girls were involved in five fights at South Tahoe High School in March. An anonymous donor stepped forward to fund the program, which is aimed at building girls’ self-esteem at a young age, said Heather Avila, one of the group’s organizers.
Rosio Arroyo, a teacher at Bijou Community School, selected which girls would be a part of the group. Jeanie Beemer and Amy Jackson, a counselor at Mount Tallac Continuation School, helped start the program too.
The Little Latinas’ first gathering was at the end of October. The little girls wanted a makeover night, Avila said. Not only did the girls have their makeup done, but they also had their nails painted and used spray-on temporary hair coloring.
After the makeover night, teenage girls were recruited to help out and serve as role models for the younger girls, Avila said.
“We had too many adults at the first event,” Avila said. “We needed more teens.”
Angelica Ponce, 15, helped organize the group too. Ponce said she wanted to help the girls.
“I know they can do more than get into trouble,” Ponce said.
And the girls look up to the teens. Ponce started mixing red and white frosting to make pink, and the girls decorating cookies next to her wanted pink frosting, too.
Ponce finds mentoring the girls rewarding.
“I don’t have any little sisters, so I get to borrow them for a few hours,” Ponce said.
In addition to the makeover night, the girls saw “The Nutcracker” ballet and watched “The Color Purple.” A handful take lessons at the Marcia Sarosik Dance Studio. The anonymous donor’s goal is help the girls participate in activities they wouldn’t normally have access to. The program will follow the girls through high school, Avila said.
Kimberly and 9-year-old Yesenia Gallardo take hip hop, jazz and tap lessons. They said they have lots of fun in their classes, and they’d like the Little Latinas to have a dance party.
In addition to working with the girls, the group will also assist parents to help build strong family connections, Avila said.
The goal is to expand the program to other sites around town, Avila said. Right now only a small number or girls are receiving this service compared to the number that needs it.
Later Santa Claus shows up with stockings for all the girls. Kimberly Vences, 10, waits patiently to tell Santa she wants a Nintendo DS for Christmas.
Meet the Little Latinas — a group of girls ranging from kindergarten students to fifth graders.
The group was formed after girls were involved in five fights at South Tahoe High School in March. An anonymous donor stepped forward to fund the program, which is aimed at building girls’ self-esteem at a young age, said Heather Avila, one of the group’s organizers.
Rosio Arroyo, a teacher at Bijou Community School, selected which girls would be a part of the group. Jeanie Beemer and Amy Jackson, a counselor at Mount Tallac Continuation School, helped start the program too.
The Little Latinas’ first gathering was at the end of October. The little girls wanted a makeover night, Avila said. Not only did the girls have their makeup done, but they also had their nails painted and used spray-on temporary hair coloring.
After the makeover night, teenage girls were recruited to help out and serve as role models for the younger girls, Avila said.
“We had too many adults at the first event,” Avila said. “We needed more teens.”
Angelica Ponce, 15, helped organize the group too. Ponce said she wanted to help the girls.
“I know they can do more than get into trouble,” Ponce said.
And the girls look up to the teens. Ponce started mixing red and white frosting to make pink, and the girls decorating cookies next to her wanted pink frosting, too.
Ponce finds mentoring the girls rewarding.
“I don’t have any little sisters, so I get to borrow them for a few hours,” Ponce said.
In addition to the makeover night, the girls saw “The Nutcracker” ballet and watched “The Color Purple.” A handful take lessons at the Marcia Sarosik Dance Studio. The anonymous donor’s goal is help the girls participate in activities they wouldn’t normally have access to. The program will follow the girls through high school, Avila said.
Kimberly and 9-year-old Yesenia Gallardo take hip hop, jazz and tap lessons. They said they have lots of fun in their classes, and they’d like the Little Latinas to have a dance party.
In addition to working with the girls, the group will also assist parents to help build strong family connections, Avila said.
The goal is to expand the program to other sites around town, Avila said. Right now only a small number or girls are receiving this service compared to the number that needs it.
