
COMING ACTIVITIES

With your support, our organization will continue to be engaged in a variety of activities that enhances the quality of life and services delivered to the Hispanic Community in South Carolina. Some of our major achievements during the last year include:
• Continued providing activities for REACH Youth Project (Role models Encouraging Academics and Challenging Hispanics) that include awarding a total of $4,000 in scholarships to Latino college freshmen.
• Collaborated with several agencies all across the state to promote artistic creation in the Hispanic community through initiatives such as the Third Amateur Latin Poetry Contest, the PhotoStory Project and The Escuincles Project’s Traveling Art Display.
• Provided funding for local organizations working on behalf of the Hispanic community including Appleseed Legal Justice, Rural Crossroads Institute GED Program, and the Christmas’s Angels Initiative.
• Advocated for the Hispanic community in SC on issues regarding policy making and availability of quality services.
In order to continue on this active and successful path, our organization and community needs your support. This year’s luncheon also features the winners of the Third Latin Poetry Contest and the eight recipients of the REACH Youth Scholarship.
Individual seats are $35. Write to us for sponsorship opportunities.
RECAP
Date: Friday, October 17, 2008
Place: The Capital City Club
Time: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Panelists: Dr. Doug Woodward, Dr. Elaine Lady, Tammy Becherse, Esq.

Escuincles Project Art Exhibit displayed at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg SC
"The exhibit has been traveling all around South Carolina for the last six months" said Ivan Segura, Coordinator for the Escuincles Project "we continue fulfilling our goal to provide communities all across the state with the opportunity to experience these artistic pieces produced by local Latino artist, and to learn about the Latino culture values; its similarities and differences with the Anglo culture. The Chapman Cultural Center is definitely one of the finest venues where this exhibit has been hosted. For everyone involved in the Escuincles Project, it is an honor to have this gallery available for our exhibition"
The Escuincles Project is a collaborative effort of local amateur and professional Hispanic artists to foster an appreciation of the experience, culture, and struggles of Latino childhood. The Escuincles Project includes twelve artists from all over Latin America and from many disciplines. The list includes: Marcelo Novo, 40, Painter, Argentina; Alejandro Garcia-Lemos, 36, Painter, Colombia; Manuel Gaetan, Photographer, Puerto Rico; Ivan Segura, 33, Poet/Writer, Mexico; Alicia Ballagh, 35, Painter, Ecuador; Maria Bravo-Carrillo, 23, Poet, Mexico;; Charlee Buitrago, 25, Musician, Venezuela; Max Mejia, 25, Pine Straw Basket Weaver, Mexico; Santiago Sandi Ureña, 30, Poet, Costa Rica; Nelsire Ramos, 24, Play Writer, Venezuela; Christian Guerrero, 32, Painter, Chile; and Maria Guadalupe Sierra, 9, Poet, Mexico;
The Escuincles Project is an initiative of the SC Hispanic Leadership Council and is supported by the SC Arts Commission, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.
For more information on the Escuincles Prohect, please visit: http://escuincles.awardspace.com
Latin Poetry Contest

•The participants must be Latino, amateur writers, and live in the state of South Carolina.
•There are two categories: Adults and under sixteen.
•All styles, forms and themes are acceptable.
•The poems are limited to two pages.
•The poems should be original and not previously published.
•It can be written by hand or typed.
•The poets may write poems in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
•Submit every poem on a separate paper.
•Please do not include your name on the poem. Your personal information should be written on a separate piece of paper.
Send a separate piece of paper with the following information:
•Name
•Address
•Telephone number
•E-mail address
•Age
•How did you find out about the contest
The deadline is May 31, 2008
Please mail the poems to:
-Poetry Contest- SCHLC
P.O. Box 7013 Columbia, SC 29202
Or e-mail: concursodepoesia@gmail.com
For more information please visit our website:
http://www.schlc.org
First Place: $100.00
Second Place: $50.00
Third Place: $25.00

First Annual Celebration of Latino Children’s Literature Conference
A free storytelling and community program
On the evening of April 25th, a free storytelling and community program will be held at the Lexington Main Library in Lexington, SC from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m in honor of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day). This event, An Evening of Cuentos with Yuyi Morales, features the award-winning children’s book author/illustrator reading from her exciting picture books, telling magical stories, and performing an unforgettable puppet show. Refreshments will be served and all children attending will receive a special surprise from Yuyi.
For more information on the Latino Children’s Literature Conference or the free Storytelling event, please consult the conference website: http://www.libsci.sc.edu/latinoconf/index.htm
For additional information contact Dr. Jamie Naidoo
University of South Carolina
(803) 777-0090
jnaidoo@gwm.sc.edu

LATINO LOCAL ARTIST TO CREATE A COLLABORATIVE STORY
presented by the first participant. Then, a third participant (a visual artist again) comes, and inspired by those two previous submissions, submits a photo to continue the story that has already been initiated.
•All materials submitted must be original and never before
published.
•Participants understand and agree to follow and continue the story
that has been told before their participation.
•Visual Artist can submit only one piece (i.e. One photograph, one
painting, one sketch, etc)
•Writers can submit a piece of literature (Short story, poem, etc)
no longer than 750 words.
•All participants have only one week to complete their assignment
and present it to be published on the PhotoStory website.
For more information about the PhotoStory Project, please visit our website: http://photostory.awardspace.com where you can experience the art creations already submitted and learn more about the participating
artist.
REACH Youth Project (Role Models Encouraging Academics and Challenging Hispanics) addresses the immediate needs of the at-risk , Hispanic youth (6th—12th grade) in the school system, providing them with the following tools to become successful citizens of this state and future leaders of this country:
Hispanic Mentor/Speaker Series
REACH Youth Project Scholarship
Hispanic Youth Leadership Club
By inspiring, enabling, and mentoring individuals from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances, we are building a better environment and society for everyone.
To participate in this program you can become a speaker for our Hispanic Mentor/Speaker Series. You can also get involved with the process to deliver the REACH Youth Project Scholarship –At this very moment the REACH Youth Project has an open scholarship competition.
Why is it called Escuincles?
The term Escuincles (pronounced "skwink les") is used in Mexico and some parts of Central America as a slang word for kids.
How does the initiative work?
Who are the selected Hispanic artists?
The list includes:
Marcelo Novo, 40, Painter, Argentina
Marcelo was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His art has been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the United States and abroad.
Manuel Gaetan, 70, Photographer, Puerto Rico. Mr. Gaetan is the President and CEO of MGR Enterprises, Inc. He has over 40 years experience in photography, both as a professional with his own studio and as a photojournalist.
Santiago Sandi Ureña, 30, Poet, Costa Rica
Guillermo was the 1st-prize winner of the First Amateur Latin Poetry Contest and has participated in several collaborative displays in Clemson in the areas of writing and photography.
Maria Guadalupe Sierra, 8, Poet, Guatemala
Maria was the 1st-prize winner –under 16 category- of the First Amateur Latin Poetry Contest. She has demonstrated a remarkable ability to express her ideas in writing despite her short age.
Ivan Segura, 32, Writer, Mexico. Ivan was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He has been involved in promoting artistic creation in the Hispanic community through initiatives such as: Expresiones Project, Latin Poetry Inititative and Escuincles Project.
Maximiliano Mejias, 25, Pine Straw Basket Weaver, Mexico. Born in Loma Bonita, Oaxaca, Mexico, Max has a special gift for basket weaving. His creations are sold at shops in Charleston and around South Carolina.
Alejandro Garcia-Lemos, 38, Painter, Colombia. He confines his work to painting, employing acrylic and oil on canvas, wood, and cardboard. His primary interest is representing the human figure as object, and furthermore as a subject resulting from itself, and from its own past.
Charlie Huitrago, 28, Musician, Venezuela. Charlie is the lead singer and composer of Char-Leés, an all-Latino SC rock band. He lives in Greenville, SC and works as a DJ for a local radio station.
Maria Felix Bravo-Carrillo, 23, Poet, Mexico
Maria was born in Nayarit, Mexico. She has actively participated in designing programs to empower Hispanic youth in SC such as: Expresiones Project and REACH Youth Project.
Nelsire Ramos, 25, Play Writer, Venezuela
She attended the Central University of Venezuela following studies in Medicine and Arts. Her artistic ways of expression have included music, painting and acting.
Alicia Ballagh, 30, Painter, Ecuador. Alicia works as a Case Manager for the Youth WIA Program. She has participated in several group exhibitions including Inspirarte 2003.
Christian Guerrero, 32, Painter, Chile.
Christian studied Graphic design in Chile. His paintings are his inner desire to express his feelings through vibrant colors and forms.

Viva-Voz, a Latino poetry reading initiative, is an opportunity for poets and writers to share their poetry with the community. The list of poets includes published poets and writers, amateur individuals, and the winners and participants of the First Amateur Latin Poetry Contest. By providing venues for sharing poetry and writing, we are increasing cultural awareness with Hispanics and encouraging creative diversity.
You can participate as one of the featured poets, or if you are a writer you can read a short story! The idea is to promote all literary creation in the Hispanic community. Our first Viva-Voz, Latino poetry reading, is scheduled to be held on the second week of March 2007. We are planning to have 3 Viva-Voz; Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville.
Partner Agencies
The SCHLC has and will continue to support the activities of local agencies and organizations that provide services to empower the Hispanic community in SC. The SCHLC is proud to support the activities of these two local program/organizations.
L.E.E.R. Family Outreach
L.E.E.R. Family Outreach is a non-profit organization that serves Latino families and their children with an on going after school program and an annual scholarship competition.
In the past, L.E.E.R. Family Outreach has awarded over $5,000 in scholarship monies to Latino girls in Columbia. This year the organization is opening the scholarship competition up to high school boys and girls, and will be awarding scholarships in the areas of academics, athletics, arts, and community service.
L.E.E.R. Family Outreach is currently accepting applicants and sponsorships for its 2007 competition.
The Parenting Program of Lexington School District One
The Parenting Program of Lexington School District One serves Spanish-speaking families with children ages birth to 5 years. Services include: Home visitation program providing toys and bi-lingual books for the families to keep.
• Spanish Monthly newsletter with child development information, calendar of Parent-Child activities and a section that is written by families involved in the program that features stories, poems, recipes and art work.
• Community celebrations with program partners, The Lexington County Public Library, ETV and Tock Knock Books. Events include Pascua, Día do los Muertos and Feliz Navidad.
• Lending Library of Spanish, English and bi-lingual books, tapes, CD's and videos
If you are interesting in helping us to empower the Hispanic community and would like to receive further details about the opportunities presented here, please contact Ivan Segura, SCHLC's President at presidentschlc@gmail.com or at 803.606.1164.