Cambridge, Somerville, Everett, Malden, Stoneham, and MedfordHistorySomerville was the second community to receive the Raising A Reader program, and Everett the third. Heloísa Micheletti Alvarez joined the RAR MA team in July, 2008. She has been giving ongoing support to the sites we are currently serving in these areas, focusing on sustaining older relationships and forming new ones. Our strong foundations in both Somerville and Everett led to increased involvement with Head Start programs in the surrounding communities. We are now partnered with all classrooms in CAAS Head Start (Cambridge and Somerville) as well as Tri-City Head Start (in Everett, Malden, Stoneham, and Medford). Heloísa has had consistent involvement in monthly family meetings in order to provide even more comprehensive support to families and help them adopt a daily habit of interactive story time. In all of these communities we have been able to offer trainings in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, a vital opportunity for the many immigrant families. Past and Upcoming Events:Storytime in the Park During the summer of 2009, Program Coordinator Heloísa Alvarez will be hosting a series of storytimes in the park in Everett and Somerville. These events will be offered to Raising A Reader family childcare providers and their children. Please see the schedule attached for dates and locations. We hope you’ll join us! Getting School Ready- Celebrating Promising Practices Raising A Reader collaborated in the organization of the second “Getting School Ready” community conversation in Somerville. This event brought together education, health, community organizations and government officials in Somerville with the goal of celebrating current promising practices as well as fostering new partnerships in the city. The event was held in Dante Club and was supported by Quality Full-day Kindergarten Grant. Read More About Our Program’s Outcomes: |
Who we serve: Stoneham: 1 childcare center with 19 children Medford: 1 childcare center, 6 family providers, totalling 53 children Malden: 2 childcare centers, 27 family providers, 1 playgroup, totalling 275 children Everett: 2 childcare centers, 26 family providers, 2 playgroups, totalling 520 children Cambridge: 4 childcare centers, 5 family providers, 3 home visiting programs, totalling 249 children Somerville: 9 childcare centers, 20 family providers, 1 playgroup, 4 home visiting programs, totalling 1,355 children Program partners: Tri-City- Tri-City Head Start, Catholic Charities Family Childcare, Child Development and Education Family Childcare, Malden Everett Family Network, Webster Elementary School in Everett Cambridge- Catholic Charities Family Childcare, CAAS Head Start, The Guidance Center Somerville- Child Development and Education Association Family Childcare, Catholic Charities Family Childcare, COPE, CAAS Head Start, CEOC, Open Center for Children, Elizabeth Peabody House, Somerville Child Care Center, Somerville YMCA, Michael E. Capuano Early Childhood Center, Early Head Start, The Guidance Center Other Local Partners: Malden Public Library, Cambridge Public Library, The Parlin Memorial Library of Everett, Somerville Community Partnership for Children (CPC), Somerville Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC), Somerville Local Cable Television |