Blog

September 2024

Dear Liga MAC Family

What’s Happening at Liga MAC:

• Health Through Education program reboot starts this month
• Most Liga MAC support programs will begin in October
• Hurricane preparedness taking place at Liga MAC Learning Centre
• 2023/2024 Student Yearbook is ready for viewing

Student Support Program Profile: Health Through Education

One of Liga MAC’s core tenets holds that all aspects of a student’s life must be considered in the quest to achieve educational goals. This holistic approach includes factors that impact a student’s physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Prior to the pandemic lockdown, Liga MAC’s “Health Through Education” program was delivering information on healthy lifestyles and eating habits to students and their families. The program was suspended in February 2020 but is scheduled to resume this month at the Liga MAC Learning Centre.

Liga MAC’s Coordinator of Social Services, Consuelo Espinosa, has been working with local health professionals to schedule bimonthly presentations at the Learning Centre. (* See a current list of health professionals involved in our Health Through Education program.) The first session to which students and their parents are invited will be held on September 7 and features psychiatrist, Dr. Martha Camargo, speaking about teen depression and anxiety.

Nutritionist, Alejandra Martinez, who was involved in the pre-pandemic program, returns to offer 3 workshops for Grade 10 students: Diet Culture and Food and Body Violence; Body Mapping: Learning to Inhabit Your Body; and, Fighting Obesity to Prevent Diabetes, Cancer & Heart Disease. The workshops will be offered this fall, next spring and towards the end of the school year.

Physical educator, Cecilia Villalobos, reprises her work with students and parents by sharing her knowledge of easy, fun and family friendly ways to incorporate fitness into everyday living. We are also thrilled to announce that new facilitators are joining our program. Our friends from F45 and Palestra Gyms, will add their expertise to the program.

Also returning to the Health Through Education program, Chef Tadd Chapman, will christen the Learning Centre’s new kitchen facilities and offer hands-on healthy and economical food preparation for students and their parents.

Disease prevention and education have never been more important as patients experience long wait times to see health professionals and the cancelation of the federal health insurance program, Seguro Popular, means fewer patients can afford to see a physician. A slate of physicians and dentists have stepped up to not only offer their advice but also their services. A local dentist will lecture on proper oral health and offer dental triage for all 43 students enrolled in his program.

Other physicians, including long time supporter, cardiologist Dr. Alejandro Velderrain, will offer information on heart disease, pain management, spinal health, sleep health and prostate and reproductive system cancers. As well, Liga MAC will offer its advocacy services to educate families about all the services that are available to them. Working together with the local medical community, Liga MAC is creating a “big picture” health overview for our families.

* List of Health Through Education presenters (to date):

• Dr. Mauricio Mercado, Internal & Geriatric Medicine & Leader of the Health Through Education Program
• Dr. Martha Camargo, Psychiatrist
• Dr. Ricardo Granados, Psychologist
• Dr. Alejandro Velderrain Zazueta, Cardiologist
• Dr. Diego Ibarra, Urologist
• Dra. Irasema Garcia, Internal Medicine
• Dr. Miguel Ortega, Gyecologist
• Dr. Beatriz Montes de Oca
• Dr. Rogelio Gastelum, Dentist
• Dr. Guadalupe Valdez, Dentist
• Dr. Rogelio Rojas, Dentist
• Dr. Juan Ruben Rivera Cabrera (Youth Center for Drug Addiction Prevention – Centro de Integración Juvenil in Spanish)
• Dr. Dulce Castro Lugo, Psychologist (Youth Center for Drug Addiction Prevention Centro de Integración Juvenil in Spanish)
• Dr. Alejandra Martinez, Nutritionist
• Tadd Chapman, Chef & Colleagues Chefs of Habaneros Rest. & Baja Luna
• Daniel Lopez, Optometrist

Other News at Liga MAC

• Recent rains have revealed areas of concern with regard to drainage at the Learning Centre. Repairs and upgrading are taking place in preparation for potential hurricanes.
• Hurricane potential and possible class cancellation has pushed the start of most programs to October including the new Extended ESL program, Spanish and Math Tutoring, Agents of Change, Self-Esteem and Social Skills Workshop.
• A new/old program will be offered this fall to students interested in music. Musician and former Liga MAC choir facilitator, Mario Lozano, will offer an open call for participants and begin a 4 month program of vocal instruction and music appreciation.
• Congratulations to Liga MAC’s most recent crop of 54 high school and 8 university graduates! Read about their accomplishments, their aspirations and their views on Liga MAC’s role in their lives in our online yearbook HERE

• Look for Liga MAC’s booth at the two organic markets in San Jose del Cabo beginning in November. Also, due to open in November, Liga MAC’s Donation Centre located on Marino Blvd. will be accepting donations of gently used household items and clothing.
• Maria Lindenberg, Liga MAC BOD President and volunteer co-ordinator, is accepting volunteers for the World Wide Technologies PGA Tournament to be held November 6 – 10, 2024 at Diamonte Golf Course. If you enjoy professional golf and would like to see the action first hand, contact Maria at sjdmena@gmail.com.
• The 15th annual Knick Nac Golf Tournament benefitting Liga MAC will be held December 2 at Querencia Golf Course. A silent auction, dinner, prizes and a round of golf on a championship course offers golfers an excellent afternoon while raising funds for a great cause! For more information contact Linda Myers at linda5.klas@gmail.com.

Parting Comments

It cannot be overstated: the Liga MAC Learning Centre is having a huge positive impact on students, facilitators, staff, volunteers, donors and the local community! The fact that ALL Liga MAC programs are now conducted at the Learning Centre with several having been resurrected from pandemic closures plus new programs being added to the repertoire, only underscores the vitality of the facility. As “Health Through Education” program facilitator and nutritionist, Alejandra Martinez pointed out recently after viewing the lecture space for the first time, “this is heaven for workshops and seminars!” This piece of heaven would not be possible without the incredible support from donors, community sponsors and volunteers. Together we are continuing to change lives!

Con mucho cariño,

Maria Lindenberg, President
Liga MAC Board of Directors