SoBRO: South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation

SoBRO’s Youth Programs made it to the top 50 as a semi-finalist for the annual Coming Up Taller awards, competing against 320 programs from 47 states and the District of Columbia. With this distinction, SoBRO will receive a Certificate of Excellence and a listing in the Coming Up Taller awards national publication, along with mentions in the program’s press kits. The final 15 award winners will be announced before the end of June.

For the past six months, members of SoBRO’s development staff have been meeting with a team of experts in marketing, graphics, web design, and web copy to redesign and improve SoBRO’s website. The project was supported through the Taproot Foundation, a unique organization that brings together volunteers from the private sector to work as a team to strengthen the capacity of non-profits.

SoBRO ESL Teacher Beda Vergara was recently invited to join the Mayor's Committee on Adult Education whose mission is to "to help articulate a vision for the future of adult education in New York City."

Since joining SoBRO in year 2000, Mr. Vergara has been a key member in our adult literacy program and contributed greatly to the development of our services by participating in the planning of logic models and curriculum development.

Mr. Vergara had received an honorable mention at the New York Times ESL Teacher of the Year Award in early 2007.