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2006 - Día de los Niños / Día de
los Libros
El Paso Public Library
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Washington Park, El Paso, TX
11:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Festival
Celebrates Youth
This April 29, families in El Paso and the
surrounding area are invited to celebrate
Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros – a
day when we are reminded that the most
important resource of all is children.
This year will be the 10th anniversary of
the annual community wide celebration,
which began as a joint partnership between the El
Paso Public Library and the Parks and Recreation
Department. Beginning at 10:00 am there will be a parade and
Healthy Heart walk from Fox Plaza to Washington Park
via Paisano street. After the parade, festivities
will continue at Washington Park from 11:00 am to
6:00 pm. There will be thousands of free books to
give away as well as free goodies, entertainment,
sports, and activities throughout the day. Admission
is free and open to the public. |
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The
idea for the celebration comes from Mexico and
Latin America where el Día del Niño is observed
to honor youth in the same way in which Mother’s
Day and Father’s Day are celebrated. America’s
celebration of Children’s Day began in 1997 as
the brainchild of El Paso born author Pat Mora. Mora used her influence with
educators and librarians to encourage
observances throughout the country. Her idea was
not only to celebrate children but also to
promote the importance of literacy as one of the
most important elements in the development and
future success of young people.
The idea caught on! Today, hundreds of cities
around the United States organize Día de los
Niños celebrations. Places such as Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin and Danbury, Connecticut to New York
City and Los Angeles have recognized the
importance of dedicating one special day just
for kids. |
Pat Mora |
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According to the National Latino Children’s
Institute “El Día de los Niños is a day when
children of all economic, social and cultural
backgrounds voice their wishes, hopes and
dreams for the future”. Should this special
day become a National Holiday, it will be seen
as a gift from the Hispanic community to the
youth of America. The movement has received
heavy bi-partisan support on Capital Hill from
Senators Orin Hatch, Jeff Bingaman, Tom
Daschle and Kay Bailey Hutchison as well as
Hilary Clinton and the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus to name a few.
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In El Paso, the goal each year is to provide a free
book to every child who attends the event. In
addition to a free book, each child receives free
goodies to take home. There is also a stage with
entertainment for the whole family throughout the
day. The Parks and Recreation department provides
free jumping balloons and other activities for all
the kids to enjoy. Free swimming at one of the local
public pools is offered to all the kids courtesy of
Gus and Goldie. If kids don’t have a way to get to
the celebration, the can get on any Sun Metro bus
and ride for free to and from the event. There are
also in access of 60 carnival type booths with
games, which offer prizes and information to the
children. The best part is that all of these great
activities are provided free of charge thanks to
community sponsors. Families are encouraged to bring
their lunches but there will also be many food and
beverage vendors, which will provide nourishment
throughout the day at very reasonable prices. The
idea is to make this special day affordable for all
El Paso families.
For more information contact Jack Galindo at (915)
274-3336 or
galindowjw@elpasotexas.gov
Download a flyer....... |
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Local hero to be
honored at Día de los Niños celebration |
El Paso icon
Rosa Guerrero will be the honored guest at
this year’s Children’s Day celebration at
Washington Park on April 29th. Ms.
Guerrero has been an El Paso institution
of dance and education for many years and
was present at the very first Día de los
Niños celebration ten years ago when she
led hundreds of children in an impromptu
rendition of the Macarena. Guerrero will
open the festivities at 11:00 am with a
presentation and exhibition.
Biography from the Texas Women’s Hall
of Fame
Rosa Ramirez Guerrero’s efforts as an
artist, educator, dance historian and
humanitarian enhanced her commitment to
promoting cultural awareness and resulted
in her developing the first intercultural
programs within the El Paso Public schools
in 1970 where she taught for 20 years.
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She was
awarded a Life Membership with the Texas
PTA and was the first Hispanic woman in El
Paso to have a school, Rosa Guerrero
Elementary, named in her honor. Ms.
Guerrero founded and became the artistic
director of the International Folklorico
Dance Group. Her film “Tapestry,” on
creating cultural harmony and
understanding, was honored with a national
award for documentary filmmaking.
She received many honors, including
Outstanding Woman in the Arts (Women’s
Political Caucus); Outstanding Woman
Artist in El Paso (the Mexican American
National Association); one of the
Outstanding Hispanics in the Southwest
(Adolph Coors, Co.); and Outstanding
Hispanic of El Paso (the University of
Texas at El Paso). Among her other awards
are the Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation
Award; the LULAC Arts and Humanities
Award; the Human Relations Award (Texas
State Teachers Association); and the Good
Samaritan Award (Catholic Media Ministries
of El Paso). Ms. Guerrero also received
the Setoma Service to Mankind Award, the
Arts Alliance Individual Dance Award, and
the Adelante Mujer Hispana V Award for her
continuous support of the advancement of
Hispanic women.
She has been called “a tapestry of many
cultures whose mission is to share this
tapestry of cultural diversity, and how it
is woven, with all people.”
Ms. Guerrero earned her bachelor’s and
master’s degrees from the University of
Texas at El Paso and was named a
Distinguished Alumnus in 1997.
http://www.twu.edu/twhf/tw-guerrero.htm
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The Clan Tynker
to Perform at Día de los Niños Celebration |
This year’s theme
for Dia de los Ninos will be A Circus of Books.
In keeping with that theme, an exciting group of
performers, The Clan Tynker, has been invited to
perform at the 10th Annual literacy festival in
South-Central El Paso on April 29th.
In the European Renaissance style of
performance, the Clan Tynker is a six member
troupe of two brothers, three sisters, and one
“brother in law” specializing in juggling,
magic, stilt walking, fire eating, music, and
more! |
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Their variety show,
in the dress of medieval jesters, is a non-stop
kaleidoscope of entertainments from “around the
world,” set to humor and live music. This
colorful and charming show will appeal to both
young and old. This group began juggling
together when they were very young and has been
performing professionally since 1996. For more
information on The Clan Tynker visit
www.clantynker.com |
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Other websites with
information on Día de los Niños / Día de los Libros
www.nlci.org/
www.patmora.com
www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ninos/ |
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