Mar 1st Program

Introduced Dr. Bertha Garza - Director of Multilingual Programs for PAISD, Betty Davidson with State Farm Insurance Company and Mark Durham - Director of the Port Arthur Pulic Library.  Fernando told about a literacy program in the PAISD that taught English to the parents followed by Citizenship classes.  Now State Farm Insurance supplies English books, English-Spanish Dictionaries and Citizenship books and classes have been moved to the Port Arthur Public Library.  The parents take their newly learned Englsih skills home to help their children with their reading and English. 

One of these parents (Japanese) has learned enough English and Spanish to allow her to find employment as a teacher's aide in one of the local elementary schools.

The Texas Work Force Commission offers advanced English classes.  The Port Arthur First Baptist Church not only has English classes but also provides child care for the learners.

Construction workers at the plants know that if they are rained-out early in the day they can go to the Port Arthur Public Library and take part in an English class that day.