Gonzalo Escobar is an Extension Educator in prevention at the Chicago Extension Center. Escobar works with organizations and agencies to develop educational programs for youth, teachers, parents, youth service personnel, and other community members.
In a joint effort between University of Illinois Extension and independent community radio station WLUW, Escobar produces and hosts a weekly Spanish language radio program, Si Se Puede (Yes, It Can Be Done). The program provides a forum for Extension Educators and others, including young people, to present topics pertinent to the needs and interests of the audience.
Currently, he serves as co-chair of the Latino Coalition for Prevention. He is a community representative on the Local School Council of Philip Rogers School, and a board member of the Alliance of Latinos and Jews. He is a member of the National Association of Extension 4H Agents and the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education.
Escobar earned a Licenciado degree and a secondary school teaching certificate at the Department of Psychology, Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala. He completed an MA degree in sociocultural anthropology at the University of Illinois, Urbana. Before joining Extension in 1993, he taught in adult education programs for eleven years. His interests include community radio and sharing his knowledge of technology. He loves reading in both Spanish and English, listening to jazz and Latino music, and viewing and talking about films. He also enjoys cooking and passing time with family and friends.
Family 4-H
When two or more individuals live with a commitment to one another, there are individuals and family needs to think about. Each week Family 4-H provides a topic for the family to explore and practice. The Family 4-H project reinforces the opportunity for adults to become important for their children and encourages the inclusion of relatives, neighbors and other community members. This training is suitable for Child Parent Center directors, agency representatives who wish to be facilitators, and others who wish to lead a group of parents or teens in focusing on family strengths. This is a train-the-trainer workshop. Time: Six hours (over one or two days)
Youth Risk and Protective Factors
This seminar helps participants learn about important considerations in youth preventive work called risk and protective factors. Risk factors are those individual or environmental conditions present in some young people's lives that increase their vulnerability to negative behavior. Protective factors, often the opposite of risk factors, enhance a young person's ability to resist stressful life events and promote competence. Time: Three hours
SPACES
SPACES is a 4-H program that helps youth to prepare for a high technology world and their own future. When kids have a concept of the future, they make better decisions in the present. The SPACES Program provides decision making challenges and fun at the same time. A "hands on" approach is used, consistent with the 4-H philosophy of "learning by doing."
SPACES involves the whole person - leadership skills, scientific problem solving, and multicultural awareness content are all included in the activities. The program is geared for early adolescent youth ages 9 to 15. This is a train-the-trainer workshop. Time: Six hours (two hours on each section).
Enseñando Computación Con Sensibilidad Cultural (Teaching Computers with Cultural Sensitivity)
Two series of five sessions each introduce Microsoft Word. Groups can be dedicated to young children (8 to 12 years of age), teens (12-16 years of age) and adults. These programs, taught in Spanish, are appropriate for those who have very limited, or no experience with computers. Technical skills addressed include use of the mouse and use of the digital camera. Participants prepare a final presentation for the group. Basic reading skills are necessary.
Parenting Workshops
A number of workshops for parents are available. Some of them have also been requested for staff of social service or childcare agencies. Titles include: "How to Get Along with Your Teenager," "Your Self-Esteem and Your Children," "How to Control Your Anger," "How to Discipline Your Children," "Domestic Abuse," "Children, the Internet and Safety," "Toy Safety," "Communication," "Child Development," "Children's Rights." Many of these workshops were originally developed at the request of groups. Please contact Escobar for a complete listing of workshops that are appropriate for your group.
Si Se Puede (Yes, It Can Be Done)
Family life, volunteerism, youth development, nutrition and prevention are among a wide range of themes addressed on Si Se Puede. This Spanish language radio program focuses on topics and issues of interest to the Latino community and features interviews with Extension educators, local individuals and others, both youth and adults.
Si Se Puede is a joint project of local community radio station WLUW and The University of Illinois Extension. It can be heard from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. each Sunday at 88.7 FM "Voice of Diversity." The listening range of this station includes much of Chicago's north side and near north suburbs as well as parts of Chicago's near south side. The program can also be heard on the internet at wluw.org.
