Free Bilingual Workshop for Children at the Community Arts CenterLoteria con YoCasa!
Have you ever wished your child could learn another language but didn’t know how to begin? It will be easy thanks to a new FREE workshop at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center. Let’s Play Loteria con YoCasa! will be offered once a month on Saturday for children ages 5 – 10. The first three workshops are scheduled for May 22, June 19, and July 24, 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Parents can register online at https://wilmingtoncommunityarts.org/classes-events/loteria-con-yocasa/ or call 910-341-7860. Spanish speaking parents may also register at 910-777-4325.
Children will join bilingual storyteller Yolanda House as she shares childhood stories on the arts, culture, and language found in the Mexican folk bingo game called “Loteria”. Young participants will play Loteria in a group, linguistically engage while learning Spanish vocabulary, and hear bilingual stories of the origins of the beloved game. The interactive experience will include Mexican treats, music, and art. Loteria con YoCasa! Is a wonderful activity for siblings!
Benefits for children speaking more than one language are well documented and include improved academic results, a better sense of self-worth, identity and belonging, and more diverse opportunities in life. Bilingual and cultural immersion have the power to enrich lives, create greater harmony among people, and help bring a community together.
“The Community Arts Center belongs to everyone in the Port City and thanks to Yolanda House we are able to offer an experience to better connect with our Hispanic/Latino residents,” said Susan Habas, Executive Director of Thalian Association. “We want the center to be the place for everyone to come together to share a love of language, visual & performing arts, culture, learning, and play.”
Meet YoCasa
Yolanda House is a Chicana from the Los Angeles area, with a love story spanning two Wilmingtons – one in California where she grew up and the other in North Carolina where she lives today with her husband and daughter. She created a YoCasa YouTube channel last year when many were homebound to showcase her desire to inspire. Yolanda is YoCasa – Creative Homemaker, Bilingual Educator, and Storyteller, promoting peace for hearts and homes.
The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center is owned by the City of Wilmington and managed by Thalian Association Community Theatre. The building is a historic and cultural treasure that has been the center of recreation and art for generations of local children. Today the building continues to be the home for children, art and recreation while serving as a mini museum of the Wilmington and New Hanover County WWII home front. The World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) preservation organization, is the de-facto preservationist of the building's history and maintains the home front museum. For more information go to www.wilmingtoncommunityarts.org.
Established in 1788, Thalian Association Community Theatre is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to enhancing the Cape Fear region through live community theatre and arts education. Thalian Association Community Theatre produces five major productions annually on the Main Stage at historic Thalian Hall and professionally manages the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center for the City of Wilmington. The youth theatre program offers training and performance opportunities for children age seven through high school seniors. In 2007, Thalian Association Community Theatre was designated North Carolina’s Official Community Theater by the state legislature. For more information, go to www.thalian.org.