New Site to Learn Spanish

Do you have a Herrick District Library Card? Then you can use the new Mango software to learn Spanish! Go to the Herrick District Library website and click on the big ad on the top of the homepage. Go to Mango, and you will be able to learn lots of Spanish words and phrases as soon as you login with your library card barcode! Have fun!

Great Cultural Event Before School Starts!

Grand Rapids Sister Cities International is excited to bring Paco Padilla and his group, from Tlaquepaque, Mexico and the Pre-Columbian dancers from the Basilica of Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, as part of the Sister Cities International global outreach program.

This historic event marks the beginning of promoting and expanding cultural exchanges with Grand Rapids newest Sister City, Zapopan, Mexico.

A renowned Mexican musician and artist, Paco Padilla is a native son of Tlaquepaque, in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Born into a family of potters and introduced to the craft of pottery through his father’s shop, Paco Padilla is also an internationally acclaimed composer and performer of the modern Mexican folk music-inspired genre known as "nueva cancion"--"new song."

Padilla has been with his two lead guitarists, Raul Rodriguez and Enrique Ortiz, for 25 years. The other band members have been with him for a decade. With performances around the world, Padilla’s art keeps alive this unique form of Spanish-language.

The Pre-Columbian dancers from the Basilica, perform traditional ancient dances of their ancestors from Mexico. Their culture and dances have survived through the Conquistadors and the many revolutions in Mexico. The dances are presented in the colorful native costumes.

This family entertaining event will take place on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Grand Rapids Community College Spectrum Theatre at

160 Fountain Ave. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Cost:

Adults - $20.00

Grand Rapids Sister Cities International Members - $15.00

Students with ID - $10.00

Children under the age of 5 - FREE

Tickets may be purchased by contacting:

Arturo Armijo

(616) 878-6154

aarmijo@grcc.edu