PCC Adult Education’s El Rio Learning Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary
January 26, 2012
Tucson, AZ -- Pima Community College will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the El Rio Adult Learning Center with a Seeds of Literacy reception on Friday, January 27.
The reception will commemorate the legacy of El Rio’s student leadership and its role in fostering community involvement in adult education.
“The El Rio Adult Learning Center is a precious resource for our community,” said Mayra Gavia Molina, a former PCCAE student who will be one of the speakers at the reception. “It has played a critical role in helping thousands of people like me improve ourselves by furthering our education.”
Pima’s El Rio Learning Center is one of three PCC primary learning centers for adult education and was one of the first neighborhood centers in Tucson. The facility opened in 1972 and quickly became a community hub.
The doors to the current facility opened 30 years later, after an effort by community leaders to improve the much-used center. Staff and students gladly left behind two rundown trailers and moved into the current state-of-the-art buildings.
PCC Adult Education is a recognized leader in Arizona and the nation in its aggressive efforts to support adult education and family literacy. More than 3,000 students are currently enrolled in PCC's Adult Education program.
Last year, 4,788 students came through the program. They come from diverse backgrounds and ranged in age from 16 to 86. Each is a testament to the ideals that will be honored during the Seeds of Literacy reception.
“The reception really is a celebration of learning,” said Karen Smith, Advanced Program Manager at PCCAE’s El Rio Learning Center. “We are recognizing that education is an investment in our future and will be honoring the accomplishments of people like Mayra Gavia Molina at this event. Her story represents thousands of adult education students in our community.”
The Seeds of Literacy reception will take place from 4-6 p.m., at El Rio Learning Center, 1390 W. Speedway Blvd. Entertainment will be provided by Entre Peruanos and Mariachi Ensueño de Tucson. Light refreshments will also be served.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu