Lynn’s La Vida aids Latinos with learning, life

LYNN – The button on Frances Martinez? office wall reads, “Can I Count On You” and the words encompass her motto of community involvement and the expectations she sets for people she helps.Martinez is the executive director of La Vida, Inc., a non-profit organization based in the St. Joseph?s parish center providing a college preparation program, after school homework help, English as a Second Language assistance and a citizenship course.Founded in 1996 as a newspaper and support organization for new Catholic clergy, La Vida continues to rely on the leadership and financial support of board members, including Thomas Shields and Robert Hildreth.Martinez volunteered with La Vida in 2002, drawing on her experience with the Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce and Latino Business Association to write grant applications for La Vida?s after school program.She made sure La Vida?s after-school program assessed the educational backgrounds of Latino students, noting the difference in academic achievement between children from poor Central American countries and more educationally advanced South American nations.Sixty-five middle and high school students currently participate in the program four days a week from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. La Vida provides transportation from local schools to St. Joseph?s parish center to keep teenagers away from youth gang recruiters.?We focus on any area where they need support. We?ve had students go from D?s and F?s to B?s and A?s,” she said.Under Martinez? direction, La Vida launched its college preparation program in 2007. Local high school sophomores must make a three-year commitment to twice-a-week study sessions initially focusing on test taking preparation and advancing to college application and preparation.The students? parents also make a commitment to participate in the program by saving $2,000 in a college tuition fund matched by La Vida.Martinez said the realities and rigors of the college application process is a new experience for many Latino parents. Her parents pushed her to complete course work at Salem State College and Boston University.?Not many of these parents have been involved in getting a child to college. If they didn?t have our support their children probably would not be able to go,” she said.Students who have participated in the scholars program return from college to instruct students going through the program.?These kids are committed. They know people are counting on them,” Martinez said.La Vida?s English proficiency and citizenship programs work to underscore the importance of Latino integration into the United States. The ESL classes offer four levels of English instruction and courses cost $125. Martinez said value of conversational English outweighs the course cost.?To succeed and to be counted, you need to integrate.”Over 600 participants in La Vida?s citizenship course have become American citizens since 2006. Martinez said citizenship provided a double benefit for one participant who relocated his family, including a son with a serious heart defect, to the United States after becoming a citizen. The boy received the medical care he needed in the U.S. and the father no longer needed to send money back to the Dominican Republic to help pay for his treatment.?He can invest his savings here instead of sending it back,” Martinez said.La Vida also offers Spanish literacy courses for Latinos who did not finish school in their native countries.