7315 N. Western Ave. Chicago Illinois 60645 Phone 312.869.9785 www.circapintig.com

Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts - Pintig

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Community Board Ginger Leopoldo Executive Director Members: Albert Aba Christy Aliposa Levi Aliposa Baron Cabalona Louella Cabalona Ramona Kywe Gustavo Ott RJ Silva Advisory Board Angela Mascarenas, PhD Chair, Advisory Board Flor Clarito Finance Director Members: Jerry Clarito Ruth & Heman Ezra Anna Guevarra, PhD P. Emraida Kiram, PhD

May 31, 2013 Dear Sir or Madam: On behalf of everyone at the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA-Pintig), we are pleased to write this letter of recommendation for Zachariah Wiedeman. Zachariah was a true champion for the (m)oving words project, an arts-based early literacy development program, which he helped develop and implement at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. At Ray Elementary, a Chicago Public School located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, Zachariah had the opportunity to work directly with a very diverse group of students with large class sizes. Zachariah taught in nine K-2nd grade classrooms and instrumentally impressed the administrators, teachers and students in a positive manner through his classroom management skills, understanding of early literacy/child development, music/theater background and enthusiasm. In addition, Zachariah created materials for the students to take home. Our “Read All About It” newsletters, nurtured the students’ love for reading and created a nice connection, having the students extend and share activities with their families. Zachariah is a dedicated educator and engages his students in a manner that challenges them toward their fullest potential. It is with high regard that we recommend Zachariah. We wish him well in his endeavors and know that he will continue to make a difference with children and families. Sincerely, Ginger Leopoldo Executive Director