When “5th Day”/Living in America started, it was supposed to be a 16-week series informing mothers about the importance of early childhood development. That was in January 2007—and although many more women have joined the program, the original ones are all still coming too.
(For more information, see Family Literacy/“5th Day.”)

When the Women’s Center lost some funding in October 2009, we had to close the morning childcare and suspend the morning Transition class that the Women’s Center co-sponsored with the Cedar Riverside Adult Education Collaborative. Thanks to the generosity of the Carolyn Foundation, the Center has been able to provide those women—as well as others who want their children to learn and to learn themselves—two mornings of “5th Day” each week. On Thursday morning, the women use sewing as their English language-learning tool. Women are following written directions, increasing their vocabularies, and improving their hand-eye coordination. They are also learning business and marketing skills through their participation in the holiday store, Twice the Gift.
(See Twice the Gift.)

try out new foods, and practice incorporating them into their traditional meals.

The Women’s Center invites women from the community at large to share information with the women about topics of interest, and we go on fieldtrips together to learn about the opportunities that the larger community provides for families. This summer we plan to visit the Children’s Museum, a farm, and some local parks.