NEON, Inc.
98 South Main Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: 203.899.2420
Fax: 203.899.2430
Email: admin@neon-norwalk.org
Welcome to NEON, Inc.
Welcome to NEON, Inc. and our home on the world wide web.

Our mission is  "To provide economically disadvantaged residents of the
greater Norwalk area with the range of community, social, economic
development and emergency assistance services needed to enhance quality
of life, increase self-sufficiency and reduce the incidence of  poverty."
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Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc.
Making The Case For Change...
Engaging The Community To End Poverty
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NEON preschoolers treat moms to breakfast        
By Patrick McNamee
Special Correspondent
Stamford Advocate        
May 10, 2008      

NORWALK - Children and mothers switched roles at
Nathaniel Ely School yesterday morning, as the
moms sat back while their kids served them breakfast.

It was part of Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now's "
Moms and Muffins Day" celebrating Mother's Day and
giving caretakers a chance to spend some time with
their sons or daughters in the classroom.

NEON provided muffins, milk and juice for every classroom
at the anti-poverty agency's Nathaniel Ely and the Ben Franklin centers. There are
512 children in the NEON Child Development program. Family outreach worker
Brenda Capers estimated 85 percent of students' moms were on hand for the
celebration.

"This is the first year we're doing this, and I think it's going to be very successful,"
Capers said. "The parents loved the idea when we first told them about it. It gives
them a half hour or 45 minutes to spend with their kids that they otherwise wouldn't
have."

Each classroom held different activities. Some wrote and performed poems, while
others made Mother's Day cards out of crayons and construction paper.

"Some classes made placemats. Everyone did a little something to show their love,"
Capers said.

Capers also said that the appreciation was extended to some teachers, with parents
arriving with balloons and flowers.

                                                                              Waleska Tirado was especially         
                                                                               pleased to be able to spend a          
                                                                               part of her morning with her             
                                                                               3-year old daughter, Alexa.

                                                                              "It's a good idea, and I like it. It's      
                                                                               fun," said Tirado, who received a     
                                                                               pin with her picture on it and her     
                                                                               daughter's handprint placed on a     
                                                                               board. "I like spending time with      
                                                                               my daughter, and it's nice, extra      
                                                                               time to be able to come and            
                                                                               have breakfast with her."
AP photo/ERIK TRAUTMANN

Let’s see now, this one
will teach me about....

Nadia Clarke, 2, picks out books
at the “Building A Bridge For
Literacy” where 8,000 free
books were
distributed to children at the
Nathaniel Ely school Saturday.
The event, which was
sponsored by NEON,
Building with Books and the
Department of Children and
Familes, featured free grilled
food, face painting,
story time and a craft project.
A fresh face for NEON
Veronica Symon paints artwork that will hang in the hallway at the
former Ben Franklin school. Since Friday, April 25,
City Year and its crew have been at NEON Ben Franklin preparing for
an extreme enhancement of the educational and social service facilities.
On Tuesday morning, Pepperidge Farm employees, led by City Year,
helped paint, build and redesign shelves and supplied needed materials
for the school’s revitalization.

Photo appeared in The Hour, Wednesday, April 30, 2008