The Robinson Community Learning Center (RCLC) will celebrate its ninth anniversary Friday (Feb. 26) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the University of Notre Dame, the center is located at 921 N. Eddy St., South Bend.
The celebration will feature guest speakers Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president and South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke and will publicly recognize RCLC founding director Jay Caponigro’s promotion to the position of director of community engagement for the University, effective March 1.
Entertainment will be provided by members of the Adams High School Jazz Band, and festivities will include recognition of community volunteers and Notre Dame faculty, staff and students whose efforts support the center’s programs. In addition, the James Kapsa Take Ten Award will be presented to a local school leader, and awards will be given to Take Ten poster design winners from 12 schools.
The RCLC offers innovative tutoring, violence-prevention, youth entrepreneurship and performing arts projects for adults and children in South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood. In partnership with school, religious and civic leaders and with assistance from some 250 Notre Dame volunteers each semester, RCLC programs have grown to involve more than 5,000 local participants each academic year.
The RCLC was started in 2001 as a community-driven education center sponsored by Notre Dame in collaboration with community residents and partners. The center offers a number of programs and activities sponsored by local agencies and organizations, including health education and screenings, GED and English-as-a-second-language classes and tax preparation. It also features a Computer Teaching and Learning Center, which is equipped with 20 computers and provides instruction and Internet and e-mail access.
Contact: Jay Caponigro, director of the Robinson Community Learning Center, 574-631-9423, caponigro.2@nd.edu