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Lynn Middle School In Las Cruces To Host Community Outreach Night

On August 10, 2017, the LAB -- Learning Action Buffet -- will officially launch at Lynn Middle School’s community outreach night from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. The LAB is an emerging non-profit that supports local youth in making a positive difference in the community while they explore and pursue personal, educational, and life goals through art, communication, and action.

The LAB was founded by a group of educators, artists, youth, and parents in 2016 because youth in our community have a strong desire to be creative and to get involved in meaningful projects that are relevant to their current and future goals.

According to board member  Michelle Valverde, “the LAB team envisions a healthier community that is sustainable where young people work alongside adult mentors to solve problems, create opportunities, and design the future. We are grateful to the Court Youth Center (CYC) Board of Directors for providing us with a start up grant and to CYC in general for initiating this important work over 20 years ago.”

On August 10, the LAB will be doing a variety of engaging arts-based activities with students and families who attend the Lynn Outreach Night. They include painting rocks, creating a chalk mural, and creating a canvas tapestry mural based on the focus question: What does your heart beat 4? LAB youth leads will also informally discuss career and college opportunities.

The LAB will be kicking off its work at Lynn Middle School because, “the vision of the LAB and the Community School approach are very aligned,” according to Valverde. “Community schools are all about  creating the space for students and families to use their voices, just like the LAB.” Community Schools is a model for school transformation that has been embraced by Las Cruces Public Schools. Community Schools transform public schools into neighborhood hubs with the help of a full-time onsite coordinator and a deep community needs and asset assessment.  At community schools, families, staff, students, and community members become integral parts of a school’s vision and operation. In January 2017, Lynn Middle School was launched as the first community school in Las Cruces Public Schools.

Mary Parr-Sanchez, District Training Specialist and Community Schools Liaison at Las Cruces Public Schools, hopes to see future collaboration between LAB and the school district. “As a twenty-five year middle school teacher in our district, I know that our students are craving pathways to express themselves. We need more programs that tap into the creative potential and critical thinking of our students, instead of the more prescriptive/standardized approach we have been using.  The LAB is just what we need in our district, and it complements the emphasis on a robust, culturally relevant curriculum that we see in successful community schools.”

The Lynn Community Outreach Night is free and open to the public. It will take place on August 10, 2017, at Lynn. In addition to LAB activities, the event will include free hair cuts, vision screenings, music, food, fun activities, and school supply give-aways for Lynn families and community. For questions, please contact David Greenberg at dgreenberg@lcps.net. For questions about the LAB, please contact Michelle Valverde at mrvalverde30@gmail.com.