Consul General, Diego Gómez Pickering, visits Agri-Business Child Development (ABCD) in Middletown, New York

• Consul General, Diego Gómez Pickering, visits the Middletown Center of Agri-Business Child Development (ABCD), organization that offers free early childhood education for children of agricultural workers who are in a vast majority of Mexican origin.
• The Consul had the opportunity to meet with beneficiaries of the ABCD Parent Ambassador Program, who have been empowered through English classes, financial education and learning how to navigate the educational system of the United States.

On August 1st the Consul General of Mexico in New York, Diego Gómez Pickering, visited the Middletown Center of Agri-Business Child Development (ABCD), organization that offers free early childhood education for children of agricultural workers. ABCD has 13 centers in New York State and approximately 95% of the families they serve are Mexican. Practically since their birth, the center offers child care, bilingual education, nutrition, health and transportation services.

As Alejandra Ortega, Director for Community Affairs and Susan Dingee, Director for Development, explained that with the purpose of offering a comprehensive service the center also has programs for parents. As such, one of the most successful has been the ABCD Parent Ambassador that started in 2015 with 25 parents that received English courses, financial education and learned how to navigate and participate in the United States educational system. During the visit, the Consul General had the opportunity to talk with women who have benefited from the program and expressed that they want to continue their education and establish a hometown organization. Additionally, the Consul donated two collections of the Mexican primary school text books.

Finally, it is important to mention that the Consulate on Wheels will be offering services in this organization this week, from August 2nd to 6th. For more details on the Consulate on Wheels, click here.