Southern New Hampshire Services

Grand Opening of the Eileen Phinney Multi-Cultural Center

SNHS is pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the Eileen Phinney Multi-Cultural Center at 521 Maple in Manchester on Friday, Nov. 19, from 12 PM to 1PM.

The Latin American Center (LAC) began in 1972, founded by the late Eileen Phinney, a Uruguayan immigrant who founded and was actively involved in the Center as well as the broader Multicultural community of Manchester for 40+ years. In 2010 the Latin American Center officially became the Eileen Phinney Multi-Cultural Center in recognition of her role in starting the center and many years of service to the community.

The Center will continue to the serve the Latino community but now will be available to a variety of different groups in the ever-growing minority community in the Manchester area. The Center has been used for Ethnic groups including Latinos, Bhutanese, Somalians and Congolese. Classes have been conducted for English language and training, agricultural seminars, citizenship, workers’ rights and various other issues that affect the Refugee and Immigrant communities. Currently, the building houses Latino Services, Somali Batu Community Association of New Hampshire and the administrative office for the B.R.I.N.G. I.T!!! after school program It is our explicit commitment to work cooperatively with other organizations, agencies and individuals who are serving the same population to avoid redundancies of services or programs.

Children and Families get a Head Start on Picturing America

SNHS’s  Head Start is participating in a national initiative to introduce children and families to art. Picturing America is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities offering high-quality, color reproductions of American art that range from paintings, sculpture, photographs and architecture.  The project provides children, their families and their communities an opportunity to learn about art and the history of America.  The project includes developmentally appropriate learning experiences and resources that will enrich our curriculums in an engaging and exciting way!  Related learning experiences will introduce new vocabulary and family literacy activities that will support school readiness.  Head Start classrooms are introducing the artwork and the children are experiencing various techniques and mediums.  Head Start staff, children and families will celebrate their experiences with a center based Family Night at the Museum where various stations will encourage conversation, creativity and sensory experiences.

For more information on Picturing America, contact Heidi Toursie, the Family Engagement Manager at  htoursie@snhs.org or 603-889-8498 x607.