FICS grand re-opening of the multi-cultural in Tampa

Tampa, FL: Please join us for a wonderful one-of-a kind celebration combining two events: the tenth anniversary of the Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) and our Grand Re-Opening of the FICS Multicultural Family Center on Friday April 27, 2012 from 4-8 PM. To add spice to our day, we have invited our Prodigy students to hold their quarterly showcase at the Grand Re-Opening. Get ready for some awesome breakdance, capoeira, drums and art. The press and public are invited to see first-hand how talented our many youth (and adults) are through the lens of Friendship. Speaking of friendship, our wonderful DJ Diamond Notes will be DJing and helping MC the event.

We are especially excited about our Proclamation and ribbon cutting ceremonies, taking place between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. Please support our donors who helped to make this day possible: Mr. Pablo Sierra and family, LazyDays Employee Foundation and Lowe’s Foundation. Our local community has been generous with donations for food and silent auction materials: Big Cat Rescue, Improv Comedy Club, Chili’s Restaurant, Starbucks, Target and Wal-Mart!

Space is still available for vendors. Call us at 813.249.8100 for more information or stop by FICS Multicultural Family, 6704 Hanley Road, Tampa FL 33634.

The Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) has functioned for ten years as a statewide non-profit organization working within communities to plan and create better futures. Our programming serves over two thousand people annually, ages seven to seventeen and adults. In addition to outreach services, FICS Multicultural Family Center is centrally located and offers an array of programs, mentoring/tutoring, computer access, HIV/AIDS testing, English, Spanish and Italian classes and much more. Volunteers are always welcome. Visit us at www.ficsinc.org.
--
Alayne Unterberger, PhD Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) PO Box 16745 Tampa FL 33687 813.249.8100 Community. Activism. Research. Education.

3 Kings Celebration in Ruskin this Saturday

For immediate release, January 3,2010

Contact person: Alayne Unterberger, 813.477.2882

Annual Three Kings Celebration to be Held at New Location in Ruskin, FL on SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2011

Ruskin, FL –  Eleven years ago, immigrant farmworker families identified that the lack of strong cultural heritage events in the South County area was a threat to their children’s well-being.  Today, as we gear up for the tenth annual Three Kings’ Day celebration, we invite the press and public to witness the power of community-wide heritage sharing as a way to build strength in our community. Best of all, the children of these parents are helping out as volunteers!  Thanks to help from many individuals and organizations, the celebration will take place at Church of the Network of Ministers - Iglesia Ministerios la Red: 501 2^nd St S.E Ruskin, FL from 1-4 PM, on Saturday, January 8. 2011.  

Garcia’s Bakery in Wimauma is donating the traditional ROSCA, a special bread made only for Epiphany, which will be distributed at the event by our own Three Kings (Baltazar, Melchor and Gaspar). Toys were donated by many organizations, including: the Metropolitan Ministries, Mise En Place (MaryAnn Ferenc), and the Ronald McDonald House.  Individual donors include: Francisco Coll, Attorney, Ivonne Alvarez, Kathy Griffin and many more anonymous donors!  

The Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) facilitates these events as part of our Strategic Plan for South County, however, the event is planned and made possible by the South County FICS Community Advisors Project of and our partners at Iglesia Ministerios, Iglesia de Dios Elim, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Ronald McDonald House.

We are still taking donations!  We would be very grateful for any donations of toys, especially educational games, jewelry making kits, soccer balls, footballs and/or nicer clothing.  Donations are tax deductible to FICS and can be dropped off at our FICS Multicultural Family Center @ 6704 Hanley Road, Tampa FL  33634 or picked up by calling 813.249.8100.

Join us!  FICS partners with communities to help them achieve their goals through research, service, education and training.  Join our cause on Facebook or by volunteering: www.ficsinc.org.

2nd annual parranda on Sept. 25th, Town and County

The Florida Institute for Community Studies will be hosting our "Second  Town n Country Parranda" for Hispanic Heritage Month on Saturday,  September 25, 2010 from 1-6pm. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is partnering with communities across Florida to help them achieve their goals through: research, service, training, and education.

Our Town n Country Parranda Block Party celebrates Latino cultures, music, food, and art. We will be having ethnic foods by parents from our  free after school program and sponsors. Please support our Youth!

Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) at the Multicultural Center 6704 Hanley Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634

Multicultural food and art show, FICS, this Friday

Press Release
For Immediate Release: April 5, 2010

Contact Person: Alayne Unterberger, 813.477.2882

New Sponsors Sign On for the Third Annual Multicultural Food and Art Show THIS FRIDAY 4/9/2010!

Tampa, FL: Three new sponsors have joined our 3rd Annual FICS Multicultural Food and Art Show! This Friday, April 9, 2010, we will have amazing food from Latin America and Europe (Cici’s Pizza) as well as Ethiopian from Queen of Sheba. We now have a Silver Sponsor in the Brink Foundation and are excited to welcome the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Slavery Museum, which is generating a great deal of dialogue and interest across Florida!

Additionally, we have Fademasters III, Starbucks at Westshore Plaza and various art. This show began as a small food festival put on by youth in Town n Country and now encompasses an indoor/outdoor food and art show, complete with musical and dance performances. The FICS Multicultural Family Center, located on 6704 Hanley Road, Tampa FL 33634.

There is still limited space for vendors, and priority is given to those whose art, trade or food is complementary to our event. If interested, contact Alayne or Nadia at 813.249.8100 as soon as possible. We will charge a $5 entrance fee to cover some of the free giveaways. All proceeds from art sold are split 50% between FICS and the artists, regardless of their ages. Our raindate is 4/23/2010. Please confirm participation by phoning FICS at 813.249.8100 or 813.477.2882.

The Florida Institute for Community Studies (FICS) is a statewide non-profit dedicated to partnering with communities to help them achieve their goals through research, services, education and training.