"Our tribal government has made investing in education a priority. We are seeing members of our families graduating from levels ranging from grade school to graduate school. Every graduation is a milestone that should be celebrated.

Our commitment to education also is a way to honor our ancestors, who endured so much for us to stay together as a tribe, and to provide a better path for the generations to come.

In my previous columns, I have discussed some of our many educational programs. Another one is our Learning Center on the Chumash Reservation, which our tribal General Council voted two years ago to establish.

The center has a computer lab, library, parent resources, curricular materials and seven smaller study spaces to accommodate tutorial sessions individualized for each student. Two of these study spaces have smaller-sized tables and chairs to accommodate children in pre-school or kindergarten."

Get the Story:
Richard Gomez: Educational excellence at home, beyond (The Solvang Valley News 2/14)