By Sonya Bernard-Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com
The Kalamazoo Public Schools’ Learning Network of Kalamazoo exemplifies the Kwanzaa principle: Imani (Faith): To believe in all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
KALAMAZOO (MICH.)– When the difference between knowing how to read effects a community, the entire community suffers. That’s what Kalamazoo Public Schools believes and is taking a stance to make a difference for the future our entire city. Through a new Family Literacy Initiative funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, KPS has teamed with local churches, community centers, and organizations to help parents and students learn the benefits of reading.
A total of $6 million has been granted for the effort to go out into the communities and provide professional, fun programs which will work with parent and children in the areas of literacy. The interactive learning programs will inspire both parents and students to write, read and further their educational goals. Their goal is to have 10 parents served per program, per site; with a total of 30 families effected each year.
Dr. Michael F. Rice, Superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools recently announced six sights for the Family Literacy Initiative. The Community Sites are: The Hispanic American Council and Boys and Girls Clubs, both on the city’s south side; Open Door Ministries and Trenches Community Church, both on the city’s east side; New Genesis, on the city’s north side; and Bible Baptist Church, on the west side.
“Literacy doesn’t begin when you put a child in front of a book,” Rice said. “Reading takes root when parents have conversations with their child, when you sing to your child. That’s what makes the text step out.”
Rice said their goal is to make Kalamazoo the first urban area in the country to be fully literate.
“When we do that, we will have created a college going culture and will show the nation that the word Promise is not only in our name, it is a reality, it’s what we believe.”
For contacts to the program near you:
Program Manager: Yvonne Davis, (269) 337-0186
Hispanic American Council, 930 Lake Street, Lori Mercedes, (269) 385-6279
Open Door Ministries, 416 Phelps Avenue, Joyce Wells, (269) 599-3680
Boys & Girls Club at Edison, 915 Lake Street, Jill Angel, (269) 349-4485
New Genesis Education Center, 1340 Cobb Avenue, Joyce Armstrong, (269) 343-7023
Trenches Community Church, 1003 Gayle Avenue, Pastor James Harris, (269) 343-2715
Bible Baptist Church, 1700 N. Drake Road, Dr. Maryann Lavender, (269) 382-1532
For more on the parent education and family literacy programs, please see the Learning Network of Greater Kalamazoo section of this website.
