Children Deserve a Future

Contingent walking from LTSC

I've been working in the Child Development field for almost 8 years, as a parent, and 7 years at LTSC.  We have had a lot of successes with families in our Family Literacy program, with parents learning to speak English, gaining confidence and self-esteem, and several of our parents putting themselves out there and testifying before Commissioners at First 5 LA and School Board members at LAUSD Board meetings.  I am so proud of them, and inspired by their courage.   I have done it countless times myself, almost monthly it seems, and each time I am a shaking mess, 

We have gone to rallies, marched from Echo Park to downtown over the years, and in April this year, 55 people from LTSC, parents, children, teachers, directors and friends joined us at the march and rally to save Childcare from budget cuts with another 3,000 people who attended.  My programs were cut $200,000 last year, and this year they were cut an additional $100,000 so when they say that budgets are balanced on the backs of poor families, immigrants, and children, these are the babies, toddlers and preschoolers we work with every day.  

So, enough of my soapbox, here are some pictures of the Childcare Rally in April.  

LTSC Staff, Parents, Children!

Me and Maiya... LTSC Grace Iino Child Care Center Alumni (2005-2008)

Disa, who was Co-campaign manager for Meghan Sahli-Wells

Angelina Preschool teachers

Grace Iino staff and families

Child Development, the personal is political

Peace. Out.

NaBloPoMo12 #10
(Backblogging April 2012)

February 2012 Update

February was a busy month.  I participated in a march and rally around LAUSD Headquarters supporting Adult Education and calling against the closing of 30 Adult Education sites with 300,000 adult learners, including the mommies in our Family Literacy program who attend 68 hours a month of English classes, parenting classes and parent/child literacy activities with their preschool children.  We were among 1,000 others that day. Furlough days continued for Maiya, and we were thrilled that my cousin Jackie came and brought her grandbaby Harper over to visit and have lunch.

Also this month, I started volunteering with Meghan Sahli-Wells' campaign for City Council, attending fundraisers, helping on a phone bank, walking precincts, assembling and putting up lawn signs in the neighborhood with Maiya, writing a support letter that was published in 3 or 4 news blogs, and making some new friends.  After losing by 32 votes in 2010 on an eco-friendly campaign I could get behind, I had decided if she ever ran again, I would volunteer for her campaign.

New York Knick Jeremy Lin hit the big time, and we got the last Linsanity t-shirt at the mall (a gift for Kevin's bday), which the kids celebrated at the gymnastics center, where I tried to pull some old tricks on the equipment, reliving my old gymnastics glory days #FAIL.

LTSC Family Literacy supports ADULT EDUCATION at LAUSD Headquarters

Cousin Jackie and Baby Harper visit on Maiya's Furlough Day

Supporting Meghan Sahli-Wells for City Council!

Superstars #6 has the ball!  Playing against WLA boys

Linsanity goes full force in February!

Maiya & Eve

Kevin's 7th Birthday at the Gymnastics Center

Peace Out... that's February 2012
#activism #baby #bball #birthday #cousins #literacy #monthlyupdate
(Posted 10/27/12)

More Letters from Daddy (#23)

A few more "Letters from Daddy."

October 4, 2010
Dear Maiya, Good morning.  Did you sleep well?  I did.  Mommy didn't cough all night.  That's great. Let's go to the park after school today.  Love, Daddy

October 12, 2010
Dear Maiya.  I think you are cool.  I love you.  I will see you after school at El Marino. Love Daddy

October 18, 2010 *This one is Maiya's favorite.
Dear Maiya, Hello. Hello. Hello.  It's off to work I go and you school--see you at 4:32! Love, Daddy

October 20, 2010
Dear Maiya, Ohayo gozaimasu!  Good morning young one.  Did you sleep well?  Did you dream? Did your body and mind rest?  I slept like a baby - ga ga goo goo!  Stay dry today and enjoy your muffin and machaca burrito.  Oishi, neh? Give Mommy a hug and a high five for me.  Let's go to the library today after school and get a book on club houses.  Tony "Daddy" Osumi

November 5, 2010
Dear Maiya, Good morning Love.  How did you sleep?  I slept all night and didn't wake up at all.  What are you bringing to Share Toy Day? Gaga? Sarcastic Cat? Your plastic light saber handle we got from the hardware store? When I pick you up after school, tell me.  Tonight for dinner I'm going to make gohan--rice.  White steamed rice with a fried egg on top with chopped up hot dogs and tsukemono.  Do you know what tsukemono is?  I think you spell it this way in Japanese:  つけもの.  Can you read that?  Have a great, fun day.  Be brave and strong. Love, Daddy


November 9, 2010
Dear Maiya,We have a DVD to watch after school.  We also have to take it back after we watch it.  Or maybe Daddy will take it back later in the night.  Oops! I forgot to say good morning.  "Good morning!" What fun stuff are you doing at school today?  Will  you be chasing some kids or playing soccer?  Be like Invisible Girl Mai Mai and do teamwork.  Love and hugs, Love and kisses, Love and tickles, Daddy


November 15, 2010

Dear Maiya, Good morning.  It's Monday.  Time for work and school.  Yay!  Yesterday was a cool day. seeing you on the basketball court hustling and dribbling and passing and shooting and trying your best was exciting.  Having grandma and grandpa there made it even cooler.  Next week let's invite Uncle Bill and Aunty Keiko.  I'll see you at school in the afternoon.  I'll bring a basketball.  Let's not forget to read a chapter of 100 Dresses.  I wonder what the contest will be about.  What do you think?  (Heart) and (Kisses) Daddy.


NaBloPoMo#23

Letters from Daddy (Aug-Sept) (#4)

Most mornings when we wake up for school, Tony has already left for work, but these handwritten letters with little drawings are waiting for us on the pillow.  Maiya and I read them together in bed, or if we're running late, we read them on the potty.

Maiya and Daddy on the first day of Kindergarten

8/27/10:
Dear Maiya, I think today will be special.  Why?  Because it is your last day as a preschooler.  You can always go back to visit Nishi, but you are 3 days away from beginning Kindergarten.  It's a German word, Kindergarten. That's another language and country.  Kindergarten means "Kid's garden."  They call the class that because it's where kids grow into beautiful, smart and creative young people.  And I think you're going to grow into a beautiful flower tree.  Strong like a giant tree and beautiful like a flower.  Will you share your fruit with others?  Will your leaves and branches make shade for people and animals on hot days?  Will your trunk be a home to chipmunks?  Will you let kids climb and build a tree house?  Will people wear your beautiful flowers in their hair on special occasions?  Like a wedding.  Will you have a swing on your strong branch arms?  Have a memorable day at Nishi.  Love, Daddy

9/13/10:
Dear Maiya, Good morning sweety.  I wish I could take you to school, but I need to go to school myself.  it's my first day back to work.  Summer vacation is over.  Have a great time today.  I will pick you up in the afternoon.  I'm going to call your name, bend down on one knee and then give you a really, really, really giant, humongous, jumbo super duper big hug.  Okay?  Love, Daddy

9/15/10:
Dear Mai Mai, Oh my gosh!  It's your 12th day of school.  Did you know that 12 is also called a dozen.  Like a dozen eggs are called a dozen eggs.  Here's morning quiz.  What are these things? (Pictured are pencil, eraser, circle, glue and scissors - which she learned the Japanese words for the week's homework).  Mommy, you be the teacher.  Good luck Maiya.  Love, Daddy

9/21/10:
Dear Maiya, When I think about you, I feel happy and good inside.  I'm proud of you.  Love, Daddy T. P.S. Let's do some fun homework tonight.

9/22/10:
Hello Maiya Grace, I am writing with a purple marker.  I heard you read my letter yesterday.  Are you reading this one?  I have a teacher's union meeting tonight.  I'll see you tonight after shower.  I will give you a hug and try to capture you.  Love Daddy.

Photo taken by Daddy T on the school playground the first day of school

There's NaBloPoMo#4.

Reflections from the Backseat

We have good days and bad days during carpool. Some days we laugh and play the whole way. Other days Maiya and Devin fight, yell, cry and say nasty mean things to each other and I arrive at work very grumpy. But most days they alternate between getting along, laughing a lot, with little flare-ups in between. Today was one of them, but I consider it a good day because I didn’t yell at anyone and I'm feeling pretty chipper, despite the 4 hours of sleep.  Maiya and Devin were drawing pictures on their magnetic Doodle Art boards this morning.

Somewhere in Culver City:
M:  Devin, how do you write your name?
D:  D-E-V-I-N.
M: Look Devin. I wrote “I love you Devin.”
(Devin’s response is sort of a chuckle/grunt.)
M:  Devin, if you want to copy it, you could change the last part to Maiya. If you want to.
D:  No, thank you.

On the freeway:
M:  Look Devin. I made a drawing of me giving you a dog.
D:  That’s not a dog!
M:  Yes it is! It is a dog!
D:  Well it doesn’t look like one.
M:  Devin. It’s not about fighting. It’s about peace. Right Mommy?
J:   Yes, it is about peace.
M:  Devin we are very baddest friends. Why do we always have ploblems?
D:  We don’t always have problems. Some times we are very good friends to each other.
M:  That’s true. But sometimes we fight.

Still later on San Pedro Street:
M:  Mommy, what are you doing?
J:    Exercising (to Rockett & Zoe's CD - Black Eyed Peas).
M:  It looks like you’re dancing. Devin, let’s dance.
D:   I don’t want to dance. Maiya, stop it! Don’t pin me! (Teasing him with hair clip.)
J:    Maiya, Devin says he doesn’t want to dance, please don’t bother him with your hairclip. He doesn’t have to dance if he doesn’t want to.
M:  But I saw him dance in his seat a little bit twice.

On First Street:
D:  Maiya, I think the shop owners will think that we are brother and sister.
M:  No! They can’t see us. The windows are (unintelligible).
D:   No they’re not. They can see us.
M:  Oh no, not another ploblem.

Turning in to parking lot:
M:  Devin, what do you think Ms. Yumiko will say about my sparkly headband?
D:  (Unintelligible)  Jenni, look at my fighter plane. It has fire coming out the back!
J:   Wow, that’s a great fighter plane. Ok, here we are. Everyone get your things together. Let’s take a picture of your drawings.  (See above.)

Maiya's Fun Summer 2009

Here's a book Maiya & I made for Christmas gifts for our family about Maiya's Summer. It's easy to make on Shutterfly and fun to share with family & friends. Enjoy.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Family (Literacy) Fun Night (#23)

Last Friday night, Maiya, Letty & I went to the Angelina Family (Literacy) Fun Night event at work, part of the celebration for National Family Literacy Month (November). It was a joint event with our Family Literacy, Male Involvement and DISKovery Angelina programs. We had a good time. After a fun circle time dancing to "We're Going on a Bear Hunt," we set about to join Maiya on 5-6 activity stations. Maiya spent over an hour on the first activity, but she made a fun collage that she was very proud of. I accidentally forgot her cereal necklace at the taco place where we had dinner afterwards. So far, she hasn't noticed.NaBloPoMo #23

Rocking the Red Carpet

Me & Maiya at the Red Carpet event for for Read Early, Read Aloud, part of the celebration of National Family Literacy Month at our local library, sponsored by First5LA. Our family literacy program at work attended, as well as me & Maiya.  And excuse the bad hair day, please. (Photo Credit: Ben/First 5 LA) NaBloPoMo#12

Gasa Mama starts the day with Family Literacy

NaBloPoMo#6: This morning in the car as I rushed to drop off Maiya before going out to Downey for a training, I was telling Maiya what gasa gasa meant (it means busy). She said I was a gasa mama. My "day off" yesterday was a gasa gasa kind of day. First, Maiya & I went to our local library to celebrate First 5 LA's National Family Literacy Month with our Angelina Preschool Family Literacy program from work. It was part of the kickoff for the Read Early, Read Aloud program, and was an event which included readings by celebrities, including Constance Marie from the George Lopez show.

Maiya enjoying storytime for the first hour

LTSC Family Literacy program on the red carpet

My silly girl wearing her boa on her head

After the Family Literacy event, which seemed like a long morning, we went to drop off some dry cleaning next to the haircut place, first time in about a year, to find out that the dry cleaner is long gone, then went 2 doors down to CVS to look for sale item Halloween stuff but didn't find anything, quick poop stop at CVS. Still early for the haircut place, so we went next door to the little Hello Kitty type store and Maiya got to pick out some stickers. Then, finally at 12:30, got a much needed haircut--first time at a real haircut place (not Fantastic Sams or Supercuts) in years, then took Maiya to lunch at Mitsuwa. She ate an entire huge bowl of soba by herself. We were a little early for my haircut appointment, so we walked around the Japanese bookstore and Mitsuwa for awhile. Then off to my eye doctor appointment, during which time Maiya was getting a little punchy from all the errands. After that, we walked next door to the cake supply store, didn't buy anything, and then had to go back to the eye doctor for a 3rd potty stop, then had to go back to the cake store to look for Maiya's boa, which she had dropped, then went to the get gas, then went to a new dry cleaner by our house, then went next door to share a root beer float (Maiya's first root beer float). She didn't like the bubbles, but did eat all the ice cream.

Was kind of tired by the time we got home, mostly because we both needed a nap. Tony made some frozen ravioli for us with boiled arugula. Spent the rest of the night doing laundry, dishes, cleaning up the kitchen counters and wiping away all the dead and alive ants in our kitchen, quick shower, put Maiya to sleep (she fell asleep after only 1 book-no wonder), setting a new Bejeweled record of 170,000 and stayed up till 2am on the addictive FB. And there, in a nutshell, was my gasa gasa day off.

3 Hats

With other parents from Proyecto Pastorale

I went to the Early Learning Advocacy Day in Sacramento earlier this month and I was proud to wear 3 hats, one from Little Tokyo Service Center's Child Development program, the Asian and Pacific Islanders California Action Network, and as parent of a 4 year old preschooler. The morning was a mixture of speakers in the ECE field, parents, business community, and politicians. I learned that California is now 47th in the nation in per child spending, and will soon be 49th. We learned about updates on several bills and legislation.

I also sat up and listened when Carl Guardino from the Silicon Valley Leadership Group talked about the tale of two "states," the "haves and have nots" and the 3.1 million Latino/a children and their high school exit stats vs. white children. His advice to show how we in early childhood education "add value to the State of California" was a very clear message. I was also inspired by Kris Perry, the ED of First 5 California, who spoke about the "children who need preschool the most, don't have access to it."

We also spent the morning preparing for our legislative visits in the afternoon, my first time... my group went to visit Assemblymember John Perez' office. We had 3 parents from Boyle Heights in our group and it was wonderful to hear their stories and share in their first visit to Sacramento.

Overall, being part of close to 400 people from all over the state coming together was really special. The day helped me reflect on our infant toddler program in downtown LA and our preschool in Echo Park/Angelina Heights and feel proud about the work that we are doing with children and parents in our Family Literacy program.

Yes to Family Literacy!

LTSC Angelina Preschool Family Literacy Field Trip to lend their voices to the No on Prop 1D cause. The mommies in our program attended a rally downtown this month. Having no return transportation, they marched all the way from the California State Building on Spring and 3rd Street back to Angelina Preschool in Echo Park carrying their signs and urging voters to support First 5LA programs such as the Family Literacy Initiative.

Speaking to the LAUSD Board: No on 1D

I was asked to make comments to the LAUSD School Board to urge the board members to pass a resolution opposing Proposition 1D. It was my first time in the Board room. Going up to the podium was a little bit nerve wracking, but luckily I managed to get through it with 5 seconds to spare on my 3 minute comment:

• Good afternoon. My name is Jennifer Kuida and I am the Director of Childcare at Little Tokyo Service Center. With me is Meliza Roa-Arreola, our Family Literacy Program Manager at Angelina Preschool. Our preschool is located a few blocks from here in Echo Park. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you today.

• Little Tokyo Service Center has been a grantee of First 5 LA’s Family Literacy Initiative for the past 7 years. One of 22 grantees in our program, we have served 90 families with a highly intensive 4 component program, including full-day year-round early childhood education, adult education where we offer daily ESL and computer classes, weekly parenting education, and provide opportunities for parent and child interactive literacy activities, such as our Lending Library, Mommy and Me, Read-A-Thon, and parents reading to their children every night before they go to sleep.

* Proposition 1D would rob our children of the most important early learning opportunities needed for school success. School readiness programs, family literacy skills-building classes, and access to preschool give our children the greatest chance for school success.

* We have these programs in LAUSD because of First 5 LA and Proposition 10 funding. Now, when we need these programs most, state leaders want to cut them to balance their budget … and, I might add, a very small portion of the state budget.

* First 5 LA’s family literacy programs like Little Tokyo Service Center’s Angelina Preschool Family Literacy program are proven successes. Our program works to improve the literacy skills of parents and preschool children, engages parents to
become involved in their child’s school once their children enter the school district, and teaches families the importance of reading as a key to learning and, ultimately, as a key to success in life.

* First 5 LA-funded family literacy programs have improved literacy levels of both parents and children, and have resulted in families bringing many more books into their homes, and a number of positive benefits that are known to boost students’ success rates.

* The education safety net in Los Angeles County is at risk if Proposition 1D passes on May 19th. Proposition 1D is so over reaching that it takes almost 67 percent of First 5 LA’s yearly funding. We don’t think that’s fair.

* The children of Los Angeles County should not have to pay this high a price to balance the state budget. This ballot measure is completely deceptive.

In closing, We’d like to thank you on behalf of children and families in Los Angeles and our Family Literacy Program and urge you to support this resolution opposing Proposition 1D.

(The resolution to Oppose Prop 1D passed at the May 12 LAUSD Board meeting).

Read-A-Thon Brings Tears All Around

Today, I went to our Mommy & Me class for our Family Literacy program, the day before Thanksgiving. It's one of the fantastic programs that I manage. It was exciting because we were celebrating National Family Literacy Month and revealing the winner of our Read-A-Thon contest.

When I got there, there were about 10 mommies, and 20-25 children ranging from newborn infants, mostly preschoolers to about 10 years old. They were doing circle time, and singing and dancing together some songs in Spanish. Then, Meliza, our Family Literacy Cordinator, passed out yellow paper shaped like corn or a flower, for people to write down what they were thankful for, and then she was posting them on the bulletin board. Then they moved to lunch, where they talked about things they were thankful for. We ate baloney sandwiches, mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, and corn. They also had centers for playing with playdough, fall leaves and Thanksgiving foam art, computer games for children, and a cozy reading area.

Then, we all gathered around for the Read-A-Thon, a challenge to read the most number of books during a 3 week period of November. The mommies had to complete a log with the book name, time spent reading the book, and write a report on each book in order to receive credit. They borrowed the books from our Lending Library, the local public library, and from our preschool. They had to write a paragraph what the book was about, then there was a space for the child to scribble or draw a picture related to the story. Meliza had put together a beautiful gift basket for the winner with books, games, gift certificate to Barnes & Noble, makeup kit, and we got these great canvas book bags from our funder First5LA for everyone, with free books and other supplies and gifts inside, with treat bags and balloons for each child.

The winner read 123 books in the last few weeks. When Cecilia and her 4 children were announced the winners, her oldest boy, about 10 years old, started yelling, and doing some crazy break dance moves right there on the floor, like he was a caterpillar, shocking everyone with his excitement. He started crying, and then Cecilia started crying and smiling, and then the 2nd son maybe 8-9 years old started to cry, and then the older girl, maybe 5 years old also started to cry. And then, the entire room was crying. I couldn't understand a word of what was happening, but happy tears were streaming down my face.

Cecilia came to this country about a year ago with her 4 children, and joined our Family Literacy program. Her oldest son forgot how to read shortly after arriving and during a difficult adjustment to a new culture and a new life. Cecilia explained how her son couldn't read, but then through this Read-A-Thon and being in the Family Literacy program, of which one of the 4 components is to engage in literacy activities with your children, he remembered how to read, and that is what she was thankful for. (Adriana, the preschool director explained to me that this is common when children are trying to learn a new language, that they forget how to read in the home language.) She said that the time they spent reading brought their family together. So it was far more important than the prize, but how it changed and changes their family.

As a group, our mommies read 559 books in just 3 weeks. For our mommies, who attend English, computer and parenting classes with us 5 days a week, engage in interactive literacy activities at home, and send their children to our preschool or our family child care providers, it is indeed these success stories that make our work so meaningful.

Farmer's Market Field Trip

I'm taking an Early Childhood Education online class. Here are some photos from my trip to the Farmer's Market today with one of my classmates. We're doing a group project, planning a field trip to the Farmer's Market. So these photos are for Group B - Lauren, Zarina and Janay. You can click on any of the photos for more detail.

Generic Farmer's Market photos:
Food Samples for children to taste:
Apples (& things you can make from apples):
The Honey Bee Booth and Display:
Arts and Craft for Kids:
Farmer's Market/Community Awareness:
*Brownies collecting "Pennies for Peace"
*Fire Dept Pancake B-fast for Toys for Tots:Kids at the FM:
Flowers (Kids Pick One Free):
There are learning opportunities everywhere, even at the Farmer's Market.

• We saw a dad say to his girls, "Hey look at this--this is how bees collect honey (science)."
• We saw kids waiting in line to pay with dollar bills in their hands (math/social).
• We saw kids water coloring painting with leaves and experimenting with salt (art).
  
• Kids are exposed to 7 different kinds of plums, and can taste the different varieties (science/math).
• We learned that all of the food vendors accept WIC from low-income families (community).
• We saw a toddler dancing to music from a DJ (music).
• Another toddler was pointing to the letters on one of the posters (early literacy).

And it's all about eating organic and locally grown, healthy fruits and vegetables.