THANK YOU 2021- WELCOME 2022

Great news from KAPPLAN

We are so proud of our sisters in México.

In June so many articles about our work.

CONGRATULATIONS  to all! 

have a look at this link to know a little more.

https://www.alphadeltakappa.org/ADK/Library/KAPPAN_Magazine.aspx

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H64VwvFLirT39MRVNHdDkEVwZMPGPagL/view

 

The positive impact of Coronavirus in my life.

By Elizabeth Robinson

One year today... I remember when I used to come home after travelling weeks at a time and climb up the stairs to my condo and not leave my paradise till 8 days later for the next trip. The security guys at the door used to joke with me and say they forgot I was up here.

I wonder what they are going to say when they see me again now that I've been up here for an entire year without leaving once.

"Oh Jesus! We thought you moved away!"

or "Who the hell are you?"

or "Where the hell did you come from lady?"

or "Oh my God! It's Mrs Robinson's Ghost!!"

But seriously, I feel so lucky to have passed the entire year in this paradise I call home. By myself, working full time from home office for a company I love, doing what I love, meeting new people on Zooms, cooking delicious meals for myself, doing my own housework after 40 years of depending on someone else to do it, staying up as long as I want, sleeping in as long as I want, swimming when I felt like it, learning to work smart... not hard.

I've had time to talk to mom each night, to my kids each day, to my BFF when he needs me and my family when they have needed me too.

I have watched how my son never gave up after losing his entire salary as Operational Director of a restaurant company when they all closed down, and living off of home delivery seafood, which was so successful he is now opening his own place in Tulum, always resilient, persistent and hard-working.

I watched as my daughter pulled out all the gym equipment from her gyms in Cancun, Playa, and Merida and set them up into the Mall hallways only to be filled with her members the next day, so the company could continue to pay the rent to the mall.

I learned to sing songs on Smule and record them for posterity so my kids can remember how mom thought she could sing.

So, to those of you who ask how I did it? How in the world could I stay in my apartment for 365 by myself without going nuts?

Be open to doing spring cleaning all year around.

Become or continue to be your own best friend.

Learn to enjoy your own company.

Have hobbies.

Work at what you love.

Dance and sing like nobody's watching... cause nobody is watching.

Learn to appreciate the space you have created for yourself.

Appreciate a really good Netflix Series

When you drop an ice cube on the floor, pick it up right away so you don't slip on it ten minutes later, cause then the guys at security just may meet your ghost!

Newsletter February 2021

 

We here in Mexico are already enjoying the first signs of Spring as seen in the beautiful purple-flowered Jacaranda trees in the photo above. With this new season comes hope that we can soon warm ourselves with hugs and gatherings with family and friends; that the vaccines can reach more and more people; and that this pandemic can be controlled as quickly as possible.

 

We are grateful for so many great meetings with our Sisters in México and abroad via Zoom … one the biggest benefits that this pandemic has brought.

Horticultural Therapy - Theresa Rohaly, California Beta Omicron, gave us hope to expand our talents and altruism and to plant seeds, plants, flowers, and get involved in a sustainable action in our communities. I already have started my box of vegetables at home and have already enjoyed some cherry tomatoes. Thank you to Theresa for sharing the new therapeutic uses of nature in this most special get together.

 

Making a Better World Initiative-Promotes and recognizes members and chapters for their contributions to cross-cultural learning and relationships and for increasing awareness of and involvement in global issues. Add what you have done by March 1^stdeadline. See the International website.          

                                                                                                                         

     

Altruism in Action-  

April 30th Children’s Day Donations of Toys and Books Rural town of Jonacatepec, Morelos for 1,000 thousand migrant children. Pick up of your donations before April 15^th. ¡Mil gracias! Together we can all make a difference.

 

Food and Milk - 20 boxes given to families in need. Thank you:  Debby Elliott, The Rotary Club and Eta for their help. Do you know of others who need our help?

 

Bernardo and Domus Alipio -Gamma continues their monthly service and donation by Epsilon recently.

 

Word Understanding in Action-

 

Young Educators - Mexican and Hispanic young Sisters studying and living in the USA.  We are proud of these young teachers and all they are facing to start their careers during these times. Congratulations: Karina Muñoz, International Teacher in Education (ITE) Scholar from Mexicali studying at Arizona State University, and Abby Reyes of the University of Arizona ADK Collegiate Club and to Shirley Brun, ITE Board Chair for ADK!

 

 English/ Spanish Club – launched. Sisters  enjoying their time with their teacher/ partners from the USA ( Colorado and Kansas) and Mexico. Well done everyone!!

 

 Excellence in Education

 

*Storytelling for Teachers/ Leaders - February 24^th   Irene Quiti

 

*My Experiences with The Dual Language Program in North Carolina

  and also Brief Therapy -March 11^th Magdalena (Mac) Sanchez

 

*Special Education: Preparing for Co-Teaching- April 15^th

  Carlyn Lambert & Diane Sharples (USA)

 

*ADK Blog – Contributions always welcome.

 

*Social Media – Please follow us. Many sisters from abroad are connecting.

 

SAVE THE DATES

 

Chapter Meetings

                    -   Eta  -      Wednesday, February 24^th

                    -   Gamma- Saturday, February 27^rd

                               -   Epsilon – Thursday, March 11^th

 

 Educational Symposium- International Convention

 You can still send your proposals by March 1^st.

 

“Empowering Teachers to Change the World” Lorraine Castañeda

 

“Promoting Altruism in the Community” Marli Camargo

 

Love,

 

Marli Camargo

National President Mexico: 2020-2022

 

Photo by Marli Camargo

Acapulco- México

ADK MEXICO - Newsletter January

ALPHA DELTA KAPPA MEXICO

JANUARY 2021

photo by Marli Camargo

Happy New Year!

Dear Sisters,

The New Year is well underway and we have high hopes for 2021. We hope this will be a year of good health for all our sisters worldwide. We hope the vaccine can reach our entire nation and the world and that all peoples can soon feel safe.

We hope that we all can carry on meeting again where many hugs can be shared, many hands held, many smiles seen.

We hope we can reach more members and guests in our shared journey of Excellence in Education, Altruism and World Understanding. 

Some important news from the Board Meeting held on January 11thfollow here.

Epsilon invites all to hear special guest Theresa Rohaly, California Beta Omicron, talking about “Horticultural Therapy.”

ADK Eta will also have a great speaker, our very own long time member Psychologist

Raquel Muñitz speaking on“Déficit de Atención, en el alumno sin daño neurológico.”

  

To ADK Gamma we are so glad to hear that your President Martha is doing well after her surgery and we wish her a speedy recovery.

To our sisters who have been directly affected by Covid and sadly lost relatives, friends and school members we pray you to find healing aided by fond memories.   

Hurray! The December Kappan journal mentions México. Let´s keep writing and let our sisters here and abroad know more about our wonderful work. 

Altruism in Action- For April’s Children’s Day ETA will donate toys and books in rural Jonacatepec.  Please help us with donations, and Alejandro from The Morelos Rotary Club will help to deliver everything safely.

EPSILON and GAMMA continue with their milk drive, helping Bernardo and  Domus Alipio.

Thank you to Lorraine Castañeda for being our National Altruistic Chair.

Word Understanding in Action- 

All of us live and breathe World Understanding. Some of our newest projects include: “Hands Across Borders ”, “The English Club” and  “Classroom Exchanges.” 

Excellence in Education 

Our Excellence in Education Chair is Mary Yonker. Bravo!

*ADK Blog – Our blog has a wonderful article from Madeline Bosma, Colorado Alpha Iota Chapter, who spoke in December about Diversity. This is a truly World Understanding in Action. Thank you, Madeline!

*Social Media –

Thanks to all our sisters who have posted comments on our Social Media (Facebook and Instagram). Please, help update our “adventures” weekly by sending pictures of your meetings, celebrations, and activities.

FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

The new Fellowship Committee will be keeping in touch with our sisters and caring for those in need as well as making video interviews. Thanks to all who have accepted this challenge!

 

REMEMBER: 

Dues due now.  

 SAVE THE DATES

Chapter Meetings

                                 Epsilon - Thursday, January 14th 
                                 Eta  -    Wednesday, January 20th 
                                 Gamma - Saturday, January 23rd

Educational Symposium- International Convention 

 July 10, 2021 - Austin, Texas 

“Empowering Teachers to Change the World” Lorraine Castañeda -Epsilon

“Promoting Altruism in the Community” Marli Camargo –Eta

Love,

Marli Camargo

National President Mexico: 2020-2022

ALPHA DELTA KAPPA MEXICO NEWSLETTER 12/2020

                      

Dear Sisters,

Many of us are celebrating Christmas, Hanukah, and other special winter holidays!  How great it is to make all of the preparations- house decorating, baking, and all the other fun activities –and to remember all of our family traditions and past good times. 

We in Alpha Delta Kappa Mexico will miss celebrating this season together with the beautiful decorations, turkey, fruitcake, eggnog (yummy!), the music galore from Mama Perla’s heartwarming concerts and the good times as in years past.  

This year we cannot gather together but we can laugh, smile, be kind, call someone and bless many.

The year 2020 has been a sad and difficult one for many of us, some with temporary setbacks and others with permanent losses or changes that have left holes in their lives. Although this has been a hard year, let this also be the time to explore new options, review our infinite possibilities and start to innovate.

We do hope 2021 will be a better year and wish that soon we can get together and celebrate life once again.

Wishing You Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year! 

¡Abrazos Fuertes!  

 

Altruism in Action-  *ADK Eta donated mattresses and many household articles to the Jonacatepec community, and we thank the Rotary Club for helping us to deliver it all safety.

*ADK Epsilon and Gamma, through our dear Angela Florio, delivered milk to the children of the Chiapas hospital. 

* ADK Epsilon also made a special monetary donation to Domus Alipio and passed on a donation of cash from Colorado Alpha Iota to The Navarro Family which was hard hit with COVID losses.

Word Understanding in Action- *A meeting with our International representatives was held this past month and the main theme was DIVERSITY. *Elizabeth Elmer was also named to the new ad hoc Diversity and Inclusion Committee for our South Central Region and has already met with them. *All members who participated in the international survey are thanked and the results are being tabulated and will soon be shared. *Epsilon’s December meeting featured Madeline Bosma, a committee member from her region, sharing her experiences as a Native American and Hispanic Educator.

Educational Excellence in Action – *“The Project Approach”-an Epsilon presentation- by Carmen Castillo.  See it in our ADK Blog.

 *Laurie Saunders, Director of the Colibri Youth Orchestra, is in our Social Media this month. Please have a look at her lovely work first presented at an Eta meeting.

*Coming Soon – YouTube interviews with all of our Golden Sisters so we can register their legacy with ADK MEXICO.

KEEP UPDATED - https://www.alphadeltakappa.org/

REMEMBER: 

December is the month to pay annual dues to your Chapter Treasurers.

 SAVE THE DATES

Chapter Meetings -    Epsilon  Thursday, December 10, 2020

                               -    Eta          Wednesday, December 16, 2020- Cancel.

                               -    Gamma  Thursday, December 17, 2020

International Convention   Austin, Texas     July 2021  

Please answer the International survey:

https://www.alphadeltakappa.org/ADK/Library/News_Articles/Announcements/International_Convention_Survey.aspx

Love,

Marli Camargo

National President Mexico: 2020-2022

Photo was taken by

Marli Camargo

Cuernavaca Greenhouse Poinsettias

WORLD UNDERSTANDING, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: MY STORY AND YOURS

WORLD UNDERSTANDING, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION: MY STORY AND YOURS

by Madelaine Bosma

The speech was given to ADK Mexico Epsilon on December 10, 2020

Good evening my dear sisters.  Warm greetings from Alpha Iota Chapter of Pueblo, Colorado. 

Thank you, Sister Elizabeth Elmer, for inviting me to share my story, “My Experiences as a Pueblo Native American, Hispanic, Educator and Member of ADK’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee”.   

During my talk, I will tell you why I wrestled with joining ADK’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, how discrimination shaped my behaviours and attitudes as a Native American trying to pass for Spanish, and I will share how I reached one of my life’s major goals, working at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. 

My story is not spectacular but it is mine. 

Should I Join ADK’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion?

I wrestled with joining ADK’s ad hoc committee on diversity and inclusion. I argued that (1) I’m retired, I’m not working in the trenches with students and seeing how differences are dealt with today, (2) I don’t live in Colorado where my chapter is so I don’t know the population—I zoom from Tucson, Arizona where I live, (3) my academic credentials and experience are very old and (4) I felt that the spot should be open for younger members who are tomorrow’s leaders.  

After serious consideration, I decided to join rationalizing that I might be able to share with our younger colleagues what does and doesn’t work.  I have lived with issues of diversity, inclusion, discrimination, civil and human rights, gender and income equality, and policy, social change and identity issues my entire life.  

I have also been blessed by privilege and opportunities, a large loving family which includes my beloved husband of 47 years- a PhD in Education-, five White children and one Black adopted daughter, and the chance to visit over 134 different countries.

Being a Native American  Indian in The United States

As Elizabeth may have told you, I am Native American. There are about five million Native Americans in the US comprising less than 2% of the US population.  In 1492 there were approximately 60 million of us. 

Those five million people are divided into 574 Indian tribes. Tribes are formed by geography, customs, blood, language. 78% of Indians do not live on reservations. California, Arizona and Oklahoma have the largest population of Native Americans. Fourteen of our 50 States do not have Indian reservations. Most Natives live in rural areas or small-town areas.

Generally speaking, indigenous people are not politically active; however, we in Arizona have a monthly meeting of our political party.  Several women ran for state and local level positions and won. The first Native male was elected to our Senate in 1870.  It took almost 150 years for Native women to be elected to Congress.  Today we have three.  

In spite of the atrocities the U.S. Government has imposed on its Native people, we are very patriotic. During World War II, 29 Navajo Indian men joined the U.S. Marines and developed an unbreakable code using their native language that helped the U.S. win the war.  

My Spanish Roots

My Spanish roots in America run deep.  The first of my ancestors came to Nueva España around 1655 at the age of 25 from Asturias, Spain.  He arrived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which the Spanish colonized in 1598.  The Spaniard colonized Mexico City In 1521. 

Since Spanish women were few, many Spaniards married Indian women. My Spanish blood grew thinner and thinner as my ancestors married women from 13 different Pueblo Indian Tribes.  There are 19 Pueblo tribes located primarily in New Mexico. Each pueblo is a sovereign nation. The last of our known Native ancestors were from the Picuris Pueblo, a small community in mountainous northern New 

Mexico where they earned a living by raising sheep and farming. 

There was, and still is, a perceived racial hierarchy in The United States. Crossing racial lines was a no-no. People are getting more open now, however.  

Each group in the Southwest of The United States - White, Hispanic, and Indians - saw itself at the top of the racial hierarchy.  No group had anything to do with the other. But both groups subjugated the Indians.  The only relationship either group had with Indians was hiring them as domestics or farmhands. No one cared if Indian children were educated even though this education was made mandatory in 1880.  At that time, children were required to attend school until they reached age 10.  Today public school education is compulsory and free until age 16 in most states (in some 17 or 18 years of age). 

Trying to pass as Spanish wasn’t easy. It did not insulate me from discrimination. Admittedly the discrimination I’ve experienced has not been as blatant or egregious in comparison to what others have experienced.  Honestly, I think I have been given opportunities that I might not have received before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  That law states that everyone is to be treated equally. Of course, the law is often broken.  The entire world saw the marches and riots here in the United States and around the world - during the summer protesting racism.   

In the past, discrimination against anyone who was not White was extreme. To illustrate our father was kicked out of a restaurant.  The signs read, 'No Mexicans, Indians, Niggers, or Dogs Allowed.'” He argued, “I’m an American." 

 "I don’t care,“ the owner yelled back. “Get out!”

Thankfully that kind of sign is prohibited now. 

Blatant discrimination against our father did not end there. When Gramma got ovarian cancer, Daddy sold all of his possessions and took Grandma from Colorado to a hospital in Dallas, Texas, for treatment. He could not enter through the front door.  As Grandma lay dying, he called a Catholic priest to administer the Last Rites to her.  The Presbyterian hospital forbade the priest from entering. Imagine my father’s disappointment and the anger he felt against Protestants even though they had an excellent hospital.

Socially-conscientious Indians who wanted to “pass” as Spanish, had to give up Native ways, adopt Spanish mannerisms, learn to speak Spanish, and convert to Christianity.  As kids, we were admonished if we acted “Indian”.  Examples are walking pigeon-toed; wearing our hair in braids, or wearing hair bands across our foreheads to keep our hair out of our eyes.  P.S.  In Indian tradition, people cut their hair only when someone dies to show that they are in mourning. Children were punished in school if they spoke Spanish even if it was on the school grounds in a private conversation.

Growing Up as a Good Spanish Girl

In our efforts to act Spanish in my day, we girls were not allowed to drive; we could only be chauffeured.  I learned to drive at age 25 because my school was too far from my home. We were not allowed to ride horses for fear of losing our virginity.  We could not compete against men, thus I was denied learning to play chess.  We were never allowed to debate against men.  Their word was “Word”.  Juggling what we were taught at home with what was expected of us at school and learning English was so challenging. I was more than 40 years old and I still didn’t know English well.  

 Even though we women were “pampered and protected”, we were not exempt from working hard.  We, women, had to “mud plaster” the house. We had to help with the planting, harvesting and preserving of crops.  We had to draw water and carry it to the house. We had to help move cattle from one pasture to another on foot waving a handkerchief to keep the cattle from straying while the men rode the horses. Imagine the burrs on the bottom of our skirts after a cattle drive.  The wearing of trousers and shorts was forbidden. We were not allowed to wear sleeveless blouses to church and were required to keep our heads covered.  Our father spanked me at age 16 for the first time ever, because I was wearing shorts.  

Like your students, children were supposed to be obedient to their elders, especially teachers. I’m about to tell you about the most blatant discriminatory act against me. 

Shortly before inductions into the National Honor Society were to be announced, my school counsellor called me into her office. National Honor Society is a prestige organization limited to students who excel in scholarship, leadership, service, and character.  She told me very unemotionally that I was eligible for induction into the National Honor Society.  I knew that!  I was in the top 10% of my class.  

What came next stunned me.  I was glad I was sitting down. She requested that I give up my space on Honor Society to “Harry”.  She told me that she was going to ask another Hispanic girl to give up her slot to “Tom”.  I looked at her in disbelief because “Tom” and “Harry” had lower grade point averages than the other girl and me.  I wanted to say no, but I couldn’t because she was my school counsellor and I cleaned her house on Saturdays.  She rationalized that Spanish girls didn’t need to go to college.  Why they were just going to get married, have babies, and change diapers, but “Tom” and “Harry”, who were White, were going to be bread-winners. 

 She also justified her recommendation because I had not participated in sports.  I could not tell her that my family could not afford it.  The fee to participate in a sport was $25 plus the cost of a physical exam. Why our father earned $35 a week and that supported our family of eight members.  I used the money she paid me for cleaning her house to buy lunch and school supplies. 

To this day, I could kick myself.  I needed the National Honor Society credential to get good scholarships and to get into a good college.  I really wanted to go to college.  I had wanted to be a teacher since I was four years old.

Finally A Teacher: From Small Rural Schools to Washington, D.C. and Beyond- A Dream Come True

With the help of a scholarship, I got my undergraduate degree in four years with a double major in English and social science and a minor in Education.  My first teaching job was in a small rural school. After two years I got a job in Pueblo.  Again, I was assigned to a low income, underachieving school. And again I worked from early morning to late at night to help my students. I joined every professional organization I could.  I wanted nothing more than to learn as much as I could to be the best teacher possible. 

I was thrilled to be invited and honoured as a member of Alpha Delta Kappa. I also joined every professional organization I could including the Hispanic Educators who were faced with militants at the time. Our non-militant organization worked with the school district at the time and agreed that we should go to colleges and universities in the southwestern United States to hold job fairs to recruit Hispanic graduating seniors majoring in education.  I was one of those young teachers selected to recruit new teachers to our district. 

My Dream- Getting to Washington, D.C.

By my third year of teaching, I was still penniless and not able to study for my master’s degree.  Instead, I taught in a government-funded early childhood program during that summer vacation. During that time, a woman from Washington, D.C. evaluated our program, and she gave us ideas of how to make our program better. Right then and there I knew what I wanted to do “when I grew up”.  I wanted to learn as much as possible, to be the best teacher possible, work in Washington, DC. and go around the nation to teach teachers how to teach.    

Dreams are not enough to succeed.  People need a plan and sometimes they need others to help them to actuate their dream. 

How was I going to get to Washington? I had no money. I didn’t anyone there. I didn’t know how to get a job.  I was an empty vessel with only an elusive dream.  

Unplanned, I met “Mr Right” at a convention. Boyd was on the staff of the National Education Association, a professional organization in the U.S.A. based in D.C.  After a short courtship, I married him and moved to Washington, D.C. where he and his five children lived.  Lawdy, I had no idea that rearing five children would be more difficult than being an assistant principal at a school of 500 students. 

Making a Difference on a National and International Level

One day I heard on the classical radio station a job announcement for a curriculum development specialist for the Overseas Dependent Schools of Europe.  As the Army Colonel in charge reviewed my resume in front of me, he almost jumped out of his seat when he read that I was a member of ADK.  On the spot, he offered me the job with the provision that I get my husband’s permission. (I got it.) Though I was thrilled to have the job, as it turned out, I only prepared the materials for my (male) boss to travel to Europe. 

Alas, I later lost my job because of a reduction in force. Meanwhile, I learned that the U.S. Department of Education had an opening to work with migrant farm laborer education. I applied, and I got the job.  Having a small rural school experience and working with my students from Chihuahua came in handy.  At last, I was able to travel throughout the United States to train teachers, prepare national programs and work with the various states and their Departments of Education throughout the United States! What an honour and a privilege! I was fulfilling my dream of making a difference on a large scale.

My husband’s job required us to mingle with the world’s elite in Washington, D.C.  I was intimidated by all the forks and all the glasses set in front of me at the table, but I was not going to be defeated.  I was going to join them, so I enrolled in the prestigious John Robert Powers Modeling and Finishing School to learn social graces. The tuition was higher than tuition for graduate school, but it paid off.  I could attend White House receptions, embassy parties, international gatherings, serve on national and international boards and not feel like the “country bumpkin” I used to be.

One of the boards of directors on which I served was The Advancement of Hispanic in America, an association funded by the King of Spain.  There I told my dearest friend that I was Native.  I had never shared that with anyone in Washington; I was too ashamed to be Indian.  Alas, she betrayed a confidence and told our director.  It wasn’t all bad.  He appointed me to be the “indigenous hostess “ to Cristóbal Colon 18th Duke of Verduga on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus arriving in the new world. 

After I had put my Indian “toe-out into the water”, so to speak, several of my cousins from around the nation and several of my colleagues from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Indian Education and I got all “tuxed up” and attended The Native American Presidential Inaugural Ball.  What fun dancing to country and indigenous music!  Our 14-year-old son and his Vietnamese girlfriend also joined us. It was the first of many presidential inaugural balls we were to attend while we lived in Washington.

Coming Full Circle

After years of grappling with my racial identity, I am now good in my own skin even though I am still piqued that to this day I am stopped every time I board a plane since I don’t look American enough - most say they think I look Iranian. All of these experiences have given me understanding and insights and I now have the opportunity in retirement to work as the executive director of a refugee group from Bhutan. 

So should I be a member of ADK’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee? I currently interact with diverse groups such as the LBGT community, immigrants and refugees in the U.S., persons from around the world, and persons of all ages and backgrounds.  Having been poor, being Indian, Hispanic, and White and having lived through the Civil Rights Movement and still concerned with Human Rights issues, and being proud members of ADK for almost 50 years and committed to education, why not me? And why not all members of ADK? We should all be members, in fact, of the diversity and inclusion committee as we all look inward and outward to reflect upon our practices of accepting diversity and inclusion both inside ADK and in our general lives.

My parting words, be happy with who you are.  Respect yourself, respect others. Help Alpha Delta Kappa lead the way as individuals, as educators, and as an international organization dedicated to diversity and inclusion.

People regardless of who they are want to succeed, feel welcomed, dream, and realize those dreams. Let us all be a part of this!

Thank you, dear Sisters, for allowing me to share my life story with you this evening. All best wishes and Happy Holidays to you all!

Madeline Bosma

ADK Colorado Alpha Iota

 

Why the Project Approach for Young Learners