FICS Needs YOU This #GivingTuesday

At this writing, we feel like we have come full circle. FICS began in the midst of a policy crisis related to tuberculosis in the im/migrant community. Now, we find ourselves in the midst of a very tense time for immigrants, asylees and their children while undergoing a Pandemic the likes of which have not been seen since 1918.  

There appears to be no end in sight. Except that our communities' resilience keeps us all motivated....and so....

FICS never closed - we pivoted in March to a food distribution center, unemployment application computer lab, distribution of over 1500 masks, 1000 gloves and about 200 hand sanitizers.  Many trips were made to Wimauma, and much food, PPE and support was given but we could not obtain space to meet, our Erika Gallardo held daily literacy and arts classes virtually with our families who were hit very hard with Covid. We estimate that 10/50 families in Wimauma have been affected.  

In TNC, we moved straight into virtual Afterschool4Success and FICS pioneered teaching online Prodigy Theatre and Improv with the energetic Ms. Vivienne Brown. We did this until June 14, when we were approved by the FL DOH and Hillsborough County to have only 19 students, and opened as a modified Summer4Success, this time providing extra help for struggling students who had not passed their grade and were having to repeat courses in Summer School.  We have followed our coronavirus protocols very closely and have even been able to hold a field trip to the Tampa Museum of Art through our Arts Council of Hillsborough County grant and virtually attend FMoPA's Photography Showcase which featured our youth!  

Since August, FICS once more listened to community concerns, and we together with State Representative Susan Valdez, Mi Familia Vota and the FL Department of Health held a Facebook live on the coronavirus, support, unemployment and covid testing with about 200 in attendance. Currently, in response to family concern for older and immune compromised persons, FICS has pivoted again to serving as an E-learning Resource Center, open 7:40 AM to 4:30 PM every day. We are grateful to the Reiki Shrine and Ms. Maria Antonienta Revello for generously contributing funds to help us serve our children with high quality mentoring and coaching (even a few birthday parties).

Our mission of partnering with communities to help them achieve their goals is completely visible! We partnered with FMoPA and the Straz Center to hold classes at Jackson Springs Recreation Center, both highly regarded programs by the kids, parents and parks staff. In fact, we are holding a virtual showcase with the Straz in December!

This sense of normalcy has been invaluable to our community. 

Currently FICS is in the process of data collection with families and indicators to gage the safety of re-opening and the feasibility of continuing e-learning in January.

THE ASK

FICS has seen a severe decline in donations and we have not been able to hold events to fundraise due to covid-19. Please help us get back on track to open 2021 in the black!

We have a raffle for:

1. Artwork (3 small Wind in the Willows by Guillermo Portieles, Cuban painter), each starting at $40

2. Two (2) Busch Gardens Passes - each valued at $125, $250

3. Our Webmaster can teach a child (K-12) to code (2 hour class) - Scott Schneider is the best! (this class would be $40)

The auction will be live 11/24/20 through 12/2/20 at www.ficsinc.org/auction

Or you can simply donate to our cause!  For $25 you can sponsor a youth for an entire week of Afterschool4Success. $50 gets a full week in Summer4Success, 7 AM - 6 PM, which goes a long way towards helping working class parents by freeing them mentally because their children are safe.   We appreciate all our Madrinas and Padrinos - simply tell us what you want to sponsor and we will give you credit! www.ficsinc.org