L.A.C.E Magazine Issue 2

Managing Money for a Secure Future

The Powerful Guitar Chords Adventure with Acrylics

CREATIVE MINDS

2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Four minutes of the most visually stunning event

2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Four minutes of the most visually stunning event

By: Lenytza Rodriguez

According to NASA, a total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth, completely blocking the face of the sun.

What was so special about the 2024 total solar eclipse that everyone couldn’t stop talking about? Simple; witnessing it would become the most enriching four minute experience. Especially since such a long total solar eclipse had not been seen in more than a decade. Furthermore, it surprised everyone with the astronomical crown of the sun during its totality. Venus and Jupiter could be admired from the United States, Mexico, and Canada. That was priceless.

To have lived this experience, everyone had to use eclipse glasses so they could look safely without damaging their vision during the phases of the partial eclipse. However, during the totality phase, millions of people removed their eclipse glasses, as it was the safe time to look directly at the sun without eye protection.

During the eclipse, many were creative. Some because they did not get the eclipse glasses in time and others because they wanted to turn the event into a science project. Those created a pinhole projector. The purpose was to let sunlight inthrough a small hole, projecting it onto a sheet of paper to create an image of the sun.

Observing the total solar eclipse has different meanings, depending on the beholder. For example, for someone, the eclipse is a significant historical event due to the innovative nature of what happens in space. However, for a scientist, this represents the study of the outer atmosphere or corona of the Sun.

If you were one of those who missed this unique experience, you would have to wait until 2044, which is when it will happen again in the United States.

SELF DEFENSE

STAY SAFE ON THE STREET

Jordon Adorno, Fitness Fury Trainer, taught Xavier Mann how to defend himself from an attack. Photos by Storm Jackson.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

ARISE AT ANY TIME. This is why Jordon dedicated himself once a month to teaching self defense techniques so the students know how to react to a real life situation.

THE POWERFUL GUITAR CHORDS

By: Storm Jackson

Every Monday and Tuesday Mr. Francisco Quintana taught guitar lessons at L.A.C.E, where students increased their knowledge in the musical area and were able to play a full song.

FRANCISCO QUINTANA

GUITAR ARTIST

Where are you from?

I’m from Quito, Ecuador, but I have lived in the United States for 32 years.

When did you start playing the guitar?

I started when I was 24 years old. In my country, Ecuador, I was an accountant. Suddenly, someone gave me a guitar for Christmas, and I changed my career.

How did you learn how to play?

Initially, it was very hard because I learned it by myself. The classes are very expensive in my country, and you can’t pay for classes. You must learn by yourself, in books, or by listening to someone play.

Why do you enjoy giving guitar classes? Because art is fundamental for everybody. Every art is for body, mind, and spirit. That’s the most important thing for every human being.

What are your favorite things about your job?

I love different kinds of music: classical, folk, Spanish, I love any music. Music is for everybody, it is universal. That’s why I love music.

Do you play any other instrument other than the guitar?

No. I chose the guitar because, in my country, only people with money have a piano. Most poor people have a guitar. You can bring your guitar everywhere. In my country, we do a serenade for the girlfriends. It’s romantic music. I love piano, I love violin, but guitar is my favorite.

Do you think playing other instruments or are you only focused on the guitar?

I’m learning the cuatro now. It’s a Puerto Rican instrument. Someday I want to give a concert with the cuatro.

Have you ever performed at a concert? I played with the most famous musicians and the best musicians in my country. That’s why I started with music. I love music.

Who’s your inspiration?

I think you have it in your spirit. That’s why I tell my students that they must feel the music because it’s great that you can do it.

Photos by Greyson Malachi

FUNFETTI CAKE

FUNFETTI CAKE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

- 1 Funfetti box cake mix

- 1 cup of water

- ½ cup of oil

- 3 whole eggs

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS

Set oven to 350° F. Coat bottom of pan with no-stick cooking spray or shortening and flour for dusting.

Beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs in bowl and mix on medium speed with hand mixer for 2 minutes Pour batter into desired baking pans.

Bake at 350° F and follow baking times below. Insert toothpick in the center when it comes out clean, cake is done. Cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cool cake completely before frosting.

FROSTING

Use desired (flavor) frosting, sprinkles and candy for decoration.

_ To support youth in developing their leadership by focusing on their professional goals, Maria Rodriguez, Career Navigator at Riba Aspira, guided students in decorating cupcakes. This was beneficial for them to visualize in a creative way how they can achieve success in exploring new things.

FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

By: Silvia Amaya

Like many teenagers, Alex Holderman, branch manager of Mutual Security Credit Union, was never exposed to financial education. Now his priority is to educate about financial wellness. “I do love what I do, especially working with different individuals. I never was exposed to the type of education for personal finance and literacy. When I started working at the Credit Union, I was living paycheck to paycheck. I didn’t know anything about credit, or credit cards.”, Holderman said.

Alexander Holderman, branch manager of Mutual Security Credit Union, visited L.A.C.E to present banking basics.

If you could go back in time and learn something that you wish you knew sooner, what would it be?

Saving. It’s great to go out every night. It’s great, but over time, it can get stressful if you’re not saving. Saving for an emergency. Financial wellness is real. If you’re not worrying about finances, it’s a lot better than if you are.

Were you slowly getting better at it, or were you trying just to learn generally?

I was trying to learn. I had a checking account, and a savings account, but I didn’t know what that meant. I had it, and I had a debit card, and I knew how to swipe it, but I didn’t know what was going on behind that. I learned over time, where it’s like. When I got to the Credit Union, I started in the Call Center, and I would work with a lot of different people’s accounts. And I would kind of see how other people utilized money, and that really helped me over time. I think I got to the point where I feel a lot more financially sound than I was before.

Do you think you’re good at what you do?

I think I’m working my way there. I think there’s still a lot more to learn. I’ve gone through different types of certifications, like Financial Counseling, different areas that would really help, but I think there’s always room to improve. It’s always a journey. I don’t think, if you haven’t gone through every situation, worked with so many different people, I don’t think anyone can say they’re an expert until that point.

What does a normal day at your job look like?

It changes on a day-to-day basis. A lot of times it’s working with the staff and working with the Watertown Branch and Managing Sales. I know we were talking about commissions. A lot of what we do is based off sales, so all of that.

How do sales work with you guys?

We pretty much have goals, so at each quarter you must reach a certain goal. Every quarter, we need to have 40 checking accounts by the end of the quarter. My job mostly is to promote and work with my staff to get there, and also work with different businesses. Networking is one of the biggest things. I just go out and work with different chambers, work with the Watertown Chamber. It’s getting the name out there and getting the recognition to say, hey, we’re here.

Would you consider your job busy or stressful at certain times?

It can be stressful, but for me, I like the challenge. If you ask me when I’m stressed, I might not say I like it, but it’s one of those things that there’s always opportunity, and there’s always need. And same thing with financial literacy. It’s always like presentations and all of that. It’s never a solid schedule. It can be stressful, but a lot of times it’s more of just managing the ups and downs to find the average.

Do you work with a lot of numbers?

I’m good with calculators. No, no, no. I do. I do enjoy math. It’s more like algebra, finding X.

ADVENTURE WITH ACRYLICS

at the Mattatuck Museum

Briana DaCosta of the Waterbury Local Prevention Council spoke with the youth about the prevention of substances, such as alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs that can impact health and development. She shared with them the causes of problem use and environmental factors that affect behaviors and attitudes.

Waterbury Police Department Community Resource Officer, Michael DiGiovancarlo, visited the LACE students and shared with them his professional experience working in the community and public safety in Waterbury. The youth took advantage of thevisit to ask interesting questions about stressful situations.

IN UNIFORM

MANAGING MONEY FOR A SECURE FUTURE

By: Greyson Malachi

Understanding personal finances is essential to managing money and having a secure future. José Cortez, a Finance student at Post University, provided a financial education program to help youth with their future financial goals. The Finance course was fascinating for the students. José showed them the importance of smart use of money and how to manage it to achieve financial success. He used computerized game programs so that students had a better vision of the topics covered in class and could practice knowledge.

Photos by Xavier Moreno-Martell

How long have you been teaching finance?

This is my first-time teaching this Finance Lab.

Do you enjoy teaching this? Do you find happiness into this?

I never imagined myself as a teacher, per se. I’m currently studying Accounting and Finance. So, I’d say teaching is a different realm, aside from those two fields. But I would say that you guys, the students, have made it a wonderful experience. And it’s been enjoyable being able to teach you guys and hopefully prepare you guys for your own future.

Has somebody ever taught you this before you started teaching this to other people?

I never had or never was around people who were well informed on these topics. I guess you could also add that to the reasoning of why I chose this route or this field of study. But I think for that reason, too, because I wasn’t informed too much on these topics of personal finance. I like to teach you guys about it in case maybe, you know, people don’t teach you.

Do you want us to succeed in life?

I think the point of this whole program is to help you guys succeed in life financially. So, when you turn 18, when it comes time to buying a house, buying a car, using a credit card, you are informed and know what to do and how to tackle that. That’s what the point of all this is.

Where do you get all these games that you showed?

The games that I’ve showed you guys are learning platforms that I have been taught or been shown throughout my college career. I believe the budget game, the stock game that you guys are familiar with. I still think those are good learning platforms. I think you guys could benefit from.

“THIS WHOLE PROGRAM IS TO HELP YOU GUYS SUCCEED IN LIFE FINANCIALLY.”

Is that like just the beginning?

These things are the beginning. I’d say I’m trying to slowly progress, you know, towards the end. There is a structure in this, and again, it is a lot of things. What I have shown you is are only the key points, but I think are the key points that you guys should know.

Have you ever been able to use any of this outside of here?

I use this on my day-to-day basis. I’d say the average person really uses this. Hopefully at one point in my life, I’ll use it while I’m working as well. The personal finance components are what I use. I have a credit card, I have a car, insurance, the necessities.

The Hispanic Coalition of Greater Waterbury, Inc. has been in existence since 1988. The Coalition has three decades of social services experience in the greater Waterbury area and is a principal leader for bilingual services, advocacy, collaboration, education, and policy development in the Latino community.

La Casa Bienvenida

Our Adult Day Center ensures that the elders within the Hispanic Community have the necessary nutritional supplements and that their social and medical needs are met. Transportation is provided to and from the Center daily.

VIDAS (DDS) Program

Certified thru the Department of Developmental Services (DDS), the Hispanic Coalition provides Individual and Family Support Services. Our professional staff is available to assist individuals who live on their own or with their families placing the needs of the consumer first.

Case Management Program

Provides assistance with obtaining essential vital records, i.e.; birth certificates, divorce paperwork, identification cards, etc. Also Community advocacy, Family crisis intervention, Translation of documents, Medical Transportation and Immigration Services.

L.A.C.E. Youth Development

It is the intention of our afterschool program that Waterbury youth foster the skills necessary to promote professional, academic, and personal growth. Through the four pillars of Leadership, Athletics, Community (outreach), and Education, high school students will be better prepared for the challenges that await them upon graduation.

RRaíces

A partnership between the Hispanic Coalition and Waterbury Public Schools that works towards encouraging students on the secondary and post-secondary journey to becoming Waterbury professional educators.