EDA Annual Report 2013-2014

the 29th Annual Highgrove Day “Super Heroes” theme. The Highgrove Day started with the famous Pancake Breakfast, followed with music and entertainment for kids in the Kids Zone. Several county agencies set up booths and provided information about their agency. There was a Woof Gang Dogs demonstration, car show, and a costume contest for the best dressed superhero. • Robidoux held 99 computer classes with a total of 1,029 students. The classes provided instruction for beginning and intermediate levels. Many of the students were bilingual and taught according to skill level. • Glen Avon provided Tai Chi and healthy cooking classes sponsored by the Riverside Community Health Foundation. • Eastvale partnered with C2 Education to provide a free practice SAT and ACT exam. They also provided 2 series of workshops designed to help students succeed in college. • Grace Mellman ran a free six week course on Alzheimer’s Disease for (non-paid) Family Caregivers called Savvy Caregiver.  Course materials were provided to participants with funding from the Riverside County Office on Aging. • Temecula held a social event with Superior Court Judge Mark Cope and Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone as keynote speakers. The program was open to the public and provided an opportunity for the community to learn about the Law Resource Center located in the library.

• Anza held four Teen Reading Programs including one called Popcorn. During the program, they explored the history of popcorn and created their own blend of popcorn trail mix. • Idyllwild offered the class Beginning or Restarting Your Family History with expert historian Karl Weiler. Participants learned several new tips and tricks for family history research. • Temecula offered an interesting program for teens by pairing “Origami and Sushi. The teens had the option of making simple origami boxes, heart boxes, or whatever kind of bento “box” their imaginations could dream up. The program was a huge hit. • San Jacinto provided a two hour event focusing on friendship and acceptance. The event featured a presentation by Jennifer S. Holland, noted National Geographic writer and author of the “Unlikely Friendships” book series. • Cathedral City partnered with AARP to provide free income tax preparation assistance as well as answer tax questions for the community. The program was very popular this year with an increase of 25% served over the previous year. • Indio and Perris offered a 12 week course to assist candidates with passing the U.S. Citizenship test. Staff from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) visited each class location to provide a general overview of the Naturalization process, distribute materials and answer questions.

• Palm Desert started two new programs specifically for the “tween” age group.  BeTween is a craft program and Little Bricks is a Lego competition. Prizes were awarded to the top three designs. The programs were very successful with 20+ participants each month. • Cabazon had a Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss Program, with a visit from the Hat in the Cat who read three beloved Dr. Seuss books: Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Oh, The Places You’ll Go . The program included carnival games, book illustrating and cake. • Sun City held classes for children called “Therapy Dogs” on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Reading to dogs helps build confidence in reading aloud, while also helping to develop reading skills.  Each child chose their own book to read and selected a dog of their choice to read to for 15 minutes. • Perris partnered with the UC Riverside Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts and invited the Minerva Tapia Dance Group to teach dance to the community. The event allowed participants to experience the fusion of Mexican Folkloric dance from the North of Mexico with modern dance movements. • Cabazon held a Día program event with 25 participants. Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds.

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