Washington, DC - After 18 years of educating children and serving families in the District of Columbia, Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center is adopting a new name: "CentroNía."

The unveiling of the new name, held on last Wednesday, September 29th, 2004 began with a press conference and continued as a day-long celebration that affirmed the organization's growth and reconfirms the mission and values that have made it a leader in education.

The new name which is blend of Spanish, Swahili and Esperanto, a universal language created in the late 19th century to help bridge cultures, reflects the multicultural community CentroNía serves and its commitment to success for all through education. Centro means "center" in Spanish. Nía means "purpose" in Swahili and "our" in Esperanto. The organization's bilingual tagline:

"growing, learning, leading"
"crecimiento, aprendizaje, liderazgo"

highlights a continuum of education and support for the children and families it serves as well as its commitment to leadership in the field of bilingual, and multicultural education.

As CentroNía Founder and Executive Director Beatriz "BB" Otero stated, "Our community has come very far together over the past 18 years. We have overcome many obstacles, learned much, and grown stronger and more capable through the hard work and talents of many children, youth and adults. Now, as we witness an entire generation grow to maturity and join us as responsible adults working to better the lives of others, we felt it was finally time to take on a new name, a new look, a new vitality that stands up and applauds this growth: CentroNía."

With the support of Venture Philanthropy Partners, in 2003 the organization initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process, which led to the reorganization of the institution and the realization that it needed to create a name that better represented who it is and where it is headed.

Through the planning process, the organization evaluated how to align its existing structure, name, and brand with its long-term goals. Mario Morino, Chairman and member of the executive committee of Venture Philanthropy Partners' board of directors, comments "We applaud BB and her board for using the planning process as a springboard to create a new identity and brand that best reflects their aspirations."

To learn more about CentroNía or its new name, visit the website at www.centronia.org.

The National Neighborhood Coalition Community Engagement Forum Series continues with a dialogue among leaders of neighborhood institutions with an activist edge. Schools, libraries, faith-based and social service organizations all have the potential to enhance, or in some cases, hinder community engagement in neighborhood and civic life. NNC's forum will explore the strategies and experiences of neighborhood institutions and residents who are developing a voice, building power, and influencing positive change.

Community-based institutions and organizations often provide benefits beyond service provision or specific programs. They foster informed engagement by neighborhood residents and a strengthened capacity to contribute effectively to neighborhood change. There is no single method for engaging neighborhood people and institutions as change makers. Rather, strategies are shaped by neighborhood circumstances, institutional politics, and increasingly the priorities of national organizations and funding sources. Successful organizations know their community and take an intentional approach to strengthening the will and capacity of their residents to participate.

Join us for an important discussion among innovative leaders committed to building powerful, and empowering, neighborhood institutions. Panelists will discuss how they are facilitating neighborhood engagement and how neighborhood residents influence their institutions. Add your voice and experience to the dialogue!

Moderator: Roland Anglin, New Jersey Institute for Public Policy and Research

Roundtable participants:

· Linda Figueroa, Community Action Commission of Harrisburg, PA

· Tina Johnson, Coalition to Save our Schools, Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Dr. RobyneTurner, The Cookingham Institute of Public Affairs, University of Missouri-Kansas City

· Christina Hip-Flores, Spanish Catholic Center, Washington, DC

· Maureen O'Connor, Queens Borough Public Library, Queens, NY

· Sandy Dang, Asian American Lead, Washington, DC

· The Point CDC, Bronx, NY (Invited)

The Washington Post Award Selection Committee invites you to join them for an application workshop. The meeting is offered to help area nonprofits set a strategy for competing and completing the application. Tips on how to approach the questions, what the committee looks for in a winning application and application presentation will all be discussed. Speakers will include the 2004 Winner and members of the selection committee.

The workshop is NOT a requirement for participation, but it is offered to assist organizations to get the most out of this program. Deadline to submit an application is December 15, 2004.

This workshop is FREE to everyone. To register for event, click on link below.

If you would like to share any announcements from your organization or campus with the CoRAL Network community, send a brief blurb to cbenitez@coralnetwork.org by close of business each Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Newsbits.