Bethlehem, PA – June 18, 2018 – PBS39, in partnership with the Allentown School District, will present a Community Conversation on Puerto Rico: The Human Toll on Tuesday evening, June 19, at the Luis A. Ramos Elementary School, at 1430 West Allen Street in Allentown. The event will be recorded from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday. Doors open at 5:15 pm and close promptly at 5:55 pm. The one hour show will air on Wednesday, June 20 at 6:00 pm on PBS39 and be available on the PBS39 website and Facebook.
This Community Conversation encompasses two different events; a town hall-style meeting, and a resource fair where residents who fled Puerto Rico after the hurricane can get help, find information, and have discussions with the appropriate organizations. The town hall meeting will be in the auditorium, and the resource fair will take place in the lobby of the school. Resource fair participants will offer Spanish-speaking representatives to effectively communicate with the evacuees who attend. The meeting and the fair will occur simultaneously from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. No tickets are required for the resource fair. Tickets for the taping are free, but required for admission. They are available on the PBS39 website at www.PBS39.org/community-conversation.
“This is an important opportunity for PBS39 to fulfill its role in the Greater Lehigh Valley; to act as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to connect our community through civil discourse around important issues,” said Tim Fallon, Chief Executive Officer of PBS39. “We are especially excited to partner with the Allentown School District to present this event from a school in our community and offer a resource fair to help those affected by the tragedy in Puerto Rico.”
“Hurricane Maria has had a profound impact on the Allentown School District. We are honored to host this event at the Luis A. Ramos Elementary School, and to share the innovative ways we have assisted families who have sought refuge in the Lehigh Valley through educational opportunities,” said Thomas Parker, Superintendent of the Allentown School District.
The Community Conversation will include two segments: Families now in the Lehigh Valley as a result of the hurricane, and community stakeholders working to create solutions to the many challenges presented by this influx of new community members. In the first segment we will talk with members of a young family who are now working and attending school locally. We will also hear stories from Dr. Yahira Acevedo and attorney Lilia Rodriguez who have family in Puerto Rico and have been working to help the overall cause.
During the second segment, the following community leaders and stakeholders will be involved in the conversation:
· Thomas Parker – Superintendent, Allentown School District
· Carole Devey Schachter – Head of the Center for Language Assessment, Bethlehem School District
· Mary Colon – Board Member, Hispanic Center Board; Governor Advisory Committee on Latino Affairs
· Lucy DeLabar – Executive Director, Casa Guadalupe Center
· Alan Jennings – Executive Director, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley
· Norman Bristol – Director of Special Projects – PA Dept. of State
· Julio Guridy – Allentown City Council
A number of representatives from national, state, and local organizations have also been invited to attend as audience members.
Families and individuals who fled to the Greater Lehigh Valley as a result of Hurricane Maria can visit the following organizations at the resource fair:
· Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV)
· Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (HCLV)
· FEMA/PEMA
· Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)
· Casa Guadalupe
· Hispanic American Organization (HAO)
· Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers (LVCC)
· Community Services for Children
· KidsPeace
· National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
· Office of State Representative Peter Schweyer
· Office of State Representative Mike Schlossberg
· Office of State Representative Steve Samuelson
· Office of State Senator Pat Browne
About PBS39
PBS39 is a community-owned public television station licensed to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pa., serving eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. PBS39 is owned and operated by the Lehigh Valley Public Telecommunications Corporation. PBS39 acts as the catalyst to promote civic engagement, and to fulfill the regional needs of the Greater Lehigh Valley through its dynamic communication platforms and resources. For more information, visit www.pbs39.org.
About The Allentown School District
The Allentown School District (ASD) serves more than 17,000 students in a network of 22 early childhood, elementary, middle and high schools throughout the city of Allentown, PA. The District is the third largest urban school district out of 500 districts in the Commonwealth. The District’s Mission focuses on providing a safe, rigorous and engaging educational experience that prepares all students to excel in learning and life to guide ASD students on their individual journey to realize their aspirations whether they be college, career or technical focus. ASD goals are aligned and compatible with the Pathways to Success Framework while providing a balanced education to all students. Allentown School District employs approximately 2,200 teachers, staff and administrators. The District, founded in 1866 serves students from 51 countries speaking 26 languages with nearly 90 percent household qualifying as low income. ASD is committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to education programs and resources. www.allentownsd.org
Information provided to TVL by:
Jim Macdonald
Director of Marketing, PBS39
AND
Office of Communications
Allentown School District
www.allentownsd.org/
