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May 3, 2008 | TBO.com
Agency's Name Explains It All
UNIVERSITY AREA - Every Sunday and some
weekday afternoons, Jacqueline Cadet's children
spend time at It's All About Kids, a nonprofit
agency offering etiquette lessons, reading
tutoring, art classes and a children's church
worship service.
Cadet wanted to learn more
about what the children are doing at the
free program and recently attended a parents
night, sponsored by the agency at its center
at Carlisle Lakes Apartments.
The meeting
included information about current programs,
an opportunity to request additional programs
for children and adults, and a free spaghetti
dinner served to about 20 children and a
dozen parents, agency staff members and volunteers.
"My
kids come here every Sunday, and I wanted
to see what it was all about for myself," said
Cadet, who lives at Carlisle Lakes with her
four daughters and son.
It's All About Kids
Executive Director Wanda DeLaRosa said she
started the monthly meetings this year to
offer more support to the families.
"When
you are impacting the children, you have
to reach into the home," DeLaRosa
said in an interview after the meeting. "I
was just an outsider before. Now, I am a
part of the family."
During the meeting,
DeLaRosa asked the parents whether they would
attend meetings for adults about improving
credit and understanding finances.
Speaker
Kara Moore, from Genesis, a nonprofit credit
counseling agency, told the attendees about
the free classes available through her agency.
DeLaRosa
also wanted to know what other activities
they would like for their children.
"It's
all about you guys; it's all about your children.
We are here to help you," DeLaRosa
told the parents.
Several mentioned more programs
on child safety and a way to address safety
concerns they see at the apartment complex.
Darhleen
Major attended the program with her 5-year-old
granddaughter, Shiasia Bloodworth, who lives
with her.
"There is so much going on
in the street. They the children can be influenced
by almost anything," Major said. "It's
stuff you don't want them be involved in."
The
grandmother added that if parents get more
involved in their children's lives, "The
kids will talk to them."
Tribune correspondent
Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851
or llake@tampatrib.com.
