(Walks scheduled for August 3rd, 17th & 24th)

The Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA) recently announced its plan to formally team up with Denver Public Schools (DPS) for the 10th Annual Community Walk. With events scheduled for three Saturdays in August, teams of teachers, school administrators, and volunteers will go door-to-door to provide students with school supplies and meet with parents to discuss expectations for the upcoming school year. Each Saturday, the walks will begin at 9:00 A.M. and last until 12:00 P.M.

"The LARASA Community Walk is the first step in providing parents with the opportunity to meet their child's teacher in a positive, familiar, and safe environment," said Elena Dia, Education Coordinator for LARASA. "The teacher starts the school year by initiating this important personal relationship with the family."

Since 1992, LARASA has coordinated the annual event and informally targeted several DPS schools, which are typically located in some of the city's most troubled neighborhoods. However, this year represents the first year of a formal partnership where thirteen DPS schools have been targeted with expected student contacts of more than 6,000 students.

"We work in predominantly Latino neighborhoods where a high value is placed on personal relationships," said Dia. "When the teacher and the parents build a personal relationship and communicate and collaborate on the child's education, the child benefits."

The August 3rd event begins at 8:00 A.M. with a pre-walk breakfast for teachers, volunteers, and other participants. Targeted neighborhoods will include those surrounding the following elementary schools:

August 3rd
Fairmont – 520 W. 3rd Av.
Mitchell – 1350 E. 33rd Ave.
Pioneer Charter – 3230 E. 38th Ave.

August 17th
Remington – 4735 Pecos

August 24th
Castro – 845 S. Lowell
Hallet – 2950 Jasmine
Columbine – 2540 E. 29th Ave.
Swansea – 4650 Columbine
Ebert – 410 Park Ave. West
Valverde – 2030 W. Alameda
Gilpin – 2949 California

LARASA is a nonprofit research and service organization created in 1964 to improve the health, education, and self-sufficiency of Colorado?s Latino community.

For more information on the 10th Annual Community Walk, contact Elena Dia at 303-722-5150 x112, or the DPS Pubic Information Office at 720-423-3414.