Barrios & Virguez JULY 2018

Barrios & Virguez JULY 2018

JULY 2018

THE MONTHLY ADVOCATE

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World almost every day right after it happened to keep my mind away from thoughts of my kidnappers. My dad didn’t want us to go back to Guatemala at all, but we needed to for the trail. Some of my fears were valid. In the days and weeks after the kidnapping, our family received death threats, and we were followed. My dad decided we couldn’t live in Guatemala anymore. He arranged for us to come to the United States. We returned to Guatemala for the trial, and after it was over, we officially moved to the U.S. Going through this showed me what this country can give to people — freedom from fear, freedom from persecution, and freedom from poverty. I no longer look over my shoulder all the time. I’ve experienced true freedom. I’m really grateful. I’ve seen the same transformation happen for our clients when they receive their approval notices. When you don’t have status, there’s no peace. You are always looking over your shoulder. Once we provide that status, it brings the freedom and peace that our clients have been waiting and hoping for. That’s my first job — to bring peace and freedom to my clients. It’s incredible what getting status does for families. When they receive their green card, their whole life changes. One of our clients was separated from her family. She was outside of the country and couldn’t return to them. Her husband was a U.S. citizen, and they’d been apart for years. You can imagine what it was like for them to reunite. It gave them their lives and futures back. It’s amazing to help clients in this way. My favorite part of what I do is to reunite families and help people get out of dangerous places. It’s why we work so hard at our jobs. We defend freedoms so that people can have better futures than they would in their

I am so grateful to be in this country. The United States has provided me with so many freedoms — freedom from violence, freedom from fear, and the freedom to start over after facing terrifying circumstances. After I was kidnapped in my home country of Guatemala when I was 10, my life was full of fear. I was sure my kidnappers were going to come back for me. I was traumatized. To distract me, my dad took me to Disney WE FIGHT FOR A BETTER FUTURE Freedom From Fear

home countries. I know how powerful freedom is, and I know how debilitating fear is. No one should have to live with the presence of fear in their lives.

–Keren Barrios

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Every summer, parents across the country have to deal with the same delicate problem. They want to make sure their kids continue to learn without feeling like they’re being assigned tasks. After all, summer homework is every child’s worst nightmare. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on math problems and book reports to keep your child’s development from taking a two-month vacation. Here are a few mentally stimulating activities that are as educational as they are fun. FOR LITTLE ONES: HOMEMADE BUBBLES Bubbles fascinate young children, so why not spend a day making your own solution and experimenting by blowing different types of bubbles? The formula is simple: 1 part dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best) to 10 parts water. Optionally, you can also include 1/4 part glycerin. The process of making the solution will teach ratios, and finding creative ways to blow bubbles fosters problem-solving skills and creative thinking. FOR TEENAGERS: FAMILY DINNER PARTY Cooking teaches so many important skills: math, science, nutrition, concentration, cultural understanding, following directions, creativity, time management, and more. Even better, it doesn’t feel like learning; it feels like fun. Encourage your older children to take the reins for preparing regular meals throughout the summer. You can pick guiding themes, like “a trip to Mexico” or “pasta party,” but let them choose the recipes and prep the meals on their own. FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY: AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP Field trips always inspire excitement in students, and you’ll find the same goes for your family members. You can tailor your destination to the interests of your kids for maximum engagement. If you have a family of art lovers, head to a museum for some inspiration and discussion. Kids who prefer the outdoors will enjoy a nature walk or hike. You can bring along a field guide to identify flora and fauna. These trips may not pack the thrill of a water park, but they’re fun in an entirely different way. LEARNING THAT DOESN’T FEEL LIKE SCHOOL MENTALLY STIMULATING ACTIVITIES FOR SUMMER

Every four summers, we look forward to watching international talent meet in one place to play the beautiful game of soccer. When the whistle blows, it all comes down to the turf, 22 players, two goals, and one ball. The 2018 World Cup is underway in Russia, and while we have a couple weeks to go before the final match, we’ve already seen some impressive plays made by up-and-coming soccer stars. In an exciting upstart, Mexico defeated the seemingly unshakeable German team in the first match of the World Cup. Mexico’s Hirving Lozano, the leading forward, scored toward the end of the first half to thunderous applause by Mexican fans, and that 1–0 score held through the second half. Lozano has been showing promise since debuting with Mexico’s first division at 18. During his club season with PSV Eindhoven, he scored 17 goals in just 29 games. The loss leaves Germany in a precarious position, having to win their next game to continue on to the next round. It’s the country’s first defeat in the opening game since 1982. To the horror of Messi fans, Croatia beat Argentina 3–0 during the Group D game. The game stayed scoreless until the second half, when in minute 62, Croatia came in with a goal and followed quickly with two more. As with Germany, the loss leaves Argentina’s rank in the 2018 World Cup uncertain. World Cup 2018 WHO’S TAKING HOME THE CUP?

Spain beat Iran in a 1–0 match, as France did with Peru. The Australians and Danes met in the middle with a 1–1 score to end their match.

You can find more results and catch free game recaps at fifa.com. There you’ll also find the Fan Zone, where you can make your own game predictions and see pictures that other fans have posted. Enjoy the game!

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YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE

Getting the kids ready to go back to school can be a busy time. Make it easier this summer by checking off some things you can take care of now. Many stores already have their back-to-school lists ready, and for items like school uniforms, you can start to shop for them now and miss the big rush in August. Here are a few ways to get a head start.

MAKE A CHECKLIST. One month before school starts, you can ...

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Double check your children’s registration.

GET A JUMP-START ON READING. Help ease your kids back into the routine of homework with some fun books from the library they can read in the next month. Here are some ideas for each grade level.

• If they’re going to a new school, walk or drive there with your child so they feel more comfortable with the commute.

• Check to see that your children have all the immunizations they’ll need for school, and schedule appointments with your doctor.

For grade levels K–2 “Pedro for President” by Fran Manushkin; “Are You Ready to Play Outside?” by Mo Willems; “The Moon Over Star” by Dianna Hutts Aston.

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Get a copy of your children’s school calendars.

For grade levels 3–5 “The Underneath” by Kathi Appelt; “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate; “The Unforgotten Coat” by Frank Cottrell Boyce.

• Look at their school supplies, and make a list of what you need to buy.

SHOP FOR UNIFORMS AND SUPPLIES. If you want to do some research before you go to the store, Walmart has an entire back-to-school section on their website, where you can search by every grade. For uniforms, Target and Kohl’s are good places to start. Sugarloaf Mills outlet mall in Gwinnett County also has some options, like Burlington Coat Factory, and you’ll usually find good deals. Zulily is an online retailer that has daily deals, so you can see if they have any options for your children’s uniforms.

For grade levels 6–9 “I Lived on Butterfly Hill” by Marjorie Agosin; “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander; “Caminar” by Skila Brown.

When your checklist is complete and you’re ready to have some fun, check out the Back to School BubblePalooza on Aug. 1 at the Duluth Town Green. This free event has bubbles, large games, and a DJ.

TRIVIA IV A 2. HOWMANY RINGS ARE ON THE OLYMPIC FLAG? 3.WHAT COLOR IS VERMILION A SHADE OF?

1. CARL AND THE PASSIONS CHANGED THEIR BAND NAME TO WHAT?

4. KING ZOG RULED WHICH COUNTRY?

a. b. c. d.

Seven

a. b. c. d.

Purple

a. b. c. d.

Ireland

Five

Blue

Scotland Albania

a. b. c. d.

The Beach Boys

Three

Yellow

The Doors Pink Floyd

One

Red

Peru

Styx

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Fighting for a Better Future

Summer-Worthy Learning Opportunities

World Cup Coverage

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Your Back-to-School Guide

Trivia

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Take Your S’mores to the Next Level

CAN I HAVE S’MORE?

CREATIVE TWISTS ON THE CAMPFIRE CLASSIC

You’re just three ingredients away from the perfect summertime treat: chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. The s’more is a fan favorite on camping trips and at backyard bonfires alike. Though they say you can’t improve perfection, we’ve found a few creative twists on the classic treat that will make your summer a little sweeter. THE ELVIS A campfire snack fit for a king — of rock ’n’ roll, that is. This s’more pays homage to Elvis Presley’s love of peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Swap out the chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup candy and add a few slices of fresh banana between the graham cracker and marshmallow. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even add some bacon. S’MORES IN A JAR Here are s’mores you can enjoy all year long. Layers of crushed graham cracker, melted marshmallow, and creamy chocolate turn a simple jar into a great dessert! Learn how to make the perfect s’mores on the go at family. disney.com/recipe/smores-in-a-jar . STRAWBERRY S’MORE-CAKE If you really want to wow your guests at the next bonfire, try your hand at this creative take on the summertime classic. Gooey s’mores meet fresh strawberry shortcake in a dessert that’s as delicious as it is original.

Find the whole recipe, including tips on making the perfect shortcake, at aspicyperspective.com/smores-strawberry-shortcake-recipe .

S’MOREO A simple but memorable twist on the campfire classic. Grab a box of Oreo cookies, pull a cookie apart, and use that in place of your graham cracker. The cream filling will pair nicely with the chocolate and toasted marshmallow. S’MORES MILKSHAKE Too hot for a campfire? Cool down with a s’mores milkshake! The trick is to lightly toast the marshmallows in the oven so they mix well with the other ingredients in the blender. Get the recipe at spoonfulofflavor. com/2013/08/30/smores-milkshake to enjoy this sweet treat even in the heat of summer. It’s the simple recipe that opens the door for creative interpretations of the classic s’more. Be adventurous this summer and see what great new s’mores you can create!

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