LPS Federal Programs to hold open house, information session for Lincoln Welcoming Week

September 10, 2025

Lincoln Public Schools will welcome new Americans to the city with a pair of free educational events on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
 
LPS Federal Programs will hold a lunch-and-learn information session with multiple panelists from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Steve Joel District Leadership Center. The department will then lead an open house/tour of the LPS Welcome Center from 2-5 p.m. The LPS Welcome Center – which has undergone a recent expansion – is located at 936 North 70th St. Both programs will be open to all community members.
 
LPS Director of Federal Programs Marco Pedroza said the school district is excited to be part of the community-wide Lincoln Welcoming Week. He said it was valuable for both current and new residents to learn about a wide variety of helpful LPS services and programs.
 
“It is extremely important for new Americans with children to know about what LPS offers,” Pedroza said. “It is also important for anyone in the community to understand about the issues new Americans are facing as they arrive here, and how LPS helps them navigate the system to make the transition as seamless as possible.”
 
The lunch-and-learn event will feature four members of the LPS Federal Programs team. Oscar Rios Pohirieth will speak about the role of bilingual liaisons at LPS, Raya Al Zuhair will provide information about refugee services and community orientation, and Monica Asher will speak about family literacy and migrant education. Laura Salem will talk about registration and language assessment services that are offered at the LPS Welcome Center.
 
Audience members will be able to ask questions to the panelists afterwards. Rios Pohirieth is coordinator of the bilingual liaison program, Asher is family engagement supervisor, Salem supervises English Learners services and Al Zuhair is the LPS family literacy specialist.
 
The LPS Welcome Center open house will give families a chance to meet additional LPS staff. Community members will be able to tour the building and learn about the help provided by the LPS Federal Programs team. Staff who conduct language assessments and assist with registration processes will be on hand to answer any questions about these and all related LPS services.
 
Pedroza said he hopes attendance will exceed the encouraging turnout that happened last year. Community members, new Americans, LPS teachers and members of Lincoln’s New Americans Task Force came to the building for the open house.

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