TCRC offers array of classes, services

The Telecommunications Resource Center is teaming up with Hablantes Unidos to unite the Kirksville community.

The partnership will yield a program known as Building Strong Families, which is targeted toward the Latino community. Kevin Baiotto, coordinator of Kirksville's TCRC, said Building Strong Families is meant to provide education for Latinos in Adair and Sullivan counties.

Baiotto said the TCRC, which provides technology services to Kirksville citizens, decided to participate in the program because it saw an opportunity to help strengthen the northeast region.

The program is designed and funded with the help of donors in the community, University of Missouri-Columbia extension and Alianzas, a company based in Kansas City that helps Latinos integrate into rural areas.

"There is a little over $4,000 in cash and then $2,000 in donations," Baiotto said. "It's about $6,000 we have to make this happen."

Classes that will be offered through the Building Strong Families program deal with factors that influence the way a family is managed.

TCRC will offer classes that include information on diabetes, how to maintain a healthy diet and healthy heart, fitness, money and stress management and a class in searching for employment.

Baiotto said that in the food courses, students will learn about the kinds of foods that are important to a healthy diet, and in the fitness courses students will be taught the proper way to do certain exercises and stretch.

The course on money management will allow students to have a chance to work with a checkbook and improve their money-counting skills. Each course will include discussion time with a specialist from the MU Extension.

Members of Hablantes Unidos will translate the class handouts and interpret what is being spoken. They will also integrate members of their group into the class to make the setting more diverse.

Sarah Martin, a member of Hablantes Unidos, said the program of Building Strong Families started in Milan because of the large Hispanic community there.

Hablantes Unidos, which translates as "united speakers," is a Truman organization that focuses on the Latino community.

Members offer English classes for native Spanish speakers living in Kirksville and Milan during the week at Mexican restaurants in Kirksville.

Hablantes Unidos also hosts soccer games every Sunday night to help the Hispanic community bond.

"The program has definitely been successful in Milan, and I anticipate it doing well in Kirksville," Martin said.

Tonya Schaffer, a Kirksville resident, said she thinks the program will help Kirksville become more united as one town instead of having many different groups.

"I think the program will help, but I don't know if there will be a lot of [participants]," Tonya Schaffer said, regarding participation in the Building Stronger Families program.

The Building Stronger Families program began in Milan on Sept. 11 and classes will begin on Sept. 25 in Kirksville. Both courses will end in April.

The TCRC also is offering introductory classes in Publisher, Word, Powerpoint, e-mail and general computing skills throughout the fall.