“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” By Maya Angelou
Covid-19 Update..!
In Costa Rica, the Health Ministry has confirmed 15,229 cumulative known coronavirus cases, 629 added between Saturday and Sunday. Costa Rica announced six new coronavirus-related deaths over the past day for a total of 104, according to official data released Sunday afternoon by the Health Ministry. Continuous searches for updated official information regarding the re-opening of public schools in Costa Rica is often non-productive. There was a plan to re-open schools in July or early August on an extreme limited basis, but no current information can be located. (Source: Tico Times, July 26,2020.)
Copey Gears Up for Learning..!
My promise was to keep you updated on the progress we are making towards having some form of education during the Copey Learning Center’s closure. The alternative is similar to many other places…“distance learning”.
Work is underway to establish an appropriate curriculum, class schedule, and gather a
small army of volunteer teachers to support the “distance learning” effort. As “Friends of Copey” we have initiated efforts to recruit several very gifted teachers to support this. To date, we have three confirmed and each teacher will have a tremendous impact on the Copey students once we are operating. Over the next week, using our new Blog design, I will add to our menu a special section highlighting the credentials of all the volunteer teachers we have participating.
If you wish to be included or would like to recommend a teacher who can spend one or two hours a week providing on-line education, contact me. Just imagine what a great opportunity this could be for all of us.
Celeste Ulloa Encouraged!
Sometimes I am asked about the results of some of the students we have been supporting for several years. Celeste Ulloa, not yet 20 years old, has been assigned the lead in developing the Copey Learning Center’s “distance learning” program. Here is some of Celeste’s story:
When Celeste traveled to the USA in 2016 as one of the very first recipients of the 
“Pathway Project”, she was still very young. Now, she is 19 years old and has had just a little time to further her college level education. She enrolled in the University Cenfotec and taken software development courses. She has a strong interest in the communication area but also has interests in neurology. Neurology requires about 12 years of education and training. Other 
interests include writing and drawing, along with an appreciation for music.
Since last November, Celeste has worked closely with the Copey Learning Center and now has taken on greater responsibilities setting up the “distance learning” program even though the center is technically closed.
This is an amazing opportunity for her to continue growing as a student and as an adult. The pathway of life for Celeste is now completely different than just a few years ago. The mere thought that Copey students now consider careers such as doctors or software and communications specialists speaks volumes about the impact English education is having on students.
I am both pleased and honored to work with Celeste. We are all in a better position now to mentor, guide, and support Celeste as she utilizes the education and experiences she has been provided at the Copey Learning Center.
“Good Trouble…!”
I remember that phrase from back in the day when it meant something to “old schoolers” like me. Yesterday, I heard it several times and saw the words proudly on T-Shirts during the coverage of Representative John Lewis being driven over the Edmund Pettus Bridge located in Selma, Alabama.
I believe there can be noteworthy arguments for keeping historical evidence of slavery and its painful reminders. We watched the flagged draped casket containing Representative Lewis slowly moving across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Pettus name is still prominently displayed overhead memorializing a fiercely devout segregationist, a KKK officer and leader, who later served as a US Senator. As the casket sat still underneath the Pettus name under the bridge, for me this moment served as a loud proclamation of final victory against Pettus and those who joined in the horrors of injustice and segregation.
I believe the image of the name Pettus displayed on the bridge was/is as important as the bridge itself still standing as symbols of an historically and successfully “good struggle” long to be remembered.