Across the state, 70% of pre-school aged children are enrolled in a licensed early education program (Strategies for Children, http://www.strategiesforchildren.org). However, in the Gateway Communities that Raising A Reader MA serves, this number is much lower. In Chelsea only 49% of children are enrolled; in Everett, only 38%.
We’ve asked ourselves, “Where are these children? How can we provide them with educational experiences that will prepare them for kindergarten?” These questions led us to develop “off-the-grid” partnerships, or those efforts to deliver Raising A Reader MA’s unique combination of early literacy and family engagement services to children not enrolled in the formal system of education and care.
One of our first off-the-grid partners is St. Anthony’s Parish in Everett, a church with a primarily Brazilian congregation. The partnership was spearheaded by a parent, Marcia Davantel. Ms. Davantel, after participating in Raising A Reader MA at her son’s pre-school, realized that parents at her church would benefit from the program as well.
The partnership with St. Anthony’s Church was launched in Spring 2012 with fifteen children and their families. Each Sunday when families attended church, they met Marcia to trade their red bag for a new bag of books to share. Once a month a Raising A Reader MA facilitator led a special coffee-time training before Mass to deliver the parent workshop.
The initial partnership between St. Anthony’s and Raising A Reader MA was a success. All of the parents receiving the red bags also attended the workshops, a 100% participation rate! In addition, the engagement of a member of the parish in shaping the program helped ensure the books and workshops were tailored to the needs and strengths of the communities. For example, a large percentage of books circulated were in Portuguese, and the monthly Dialogic Reading workshops were offered in parents’ native language.
At the conclusion of the first series of workshops, each participant received a thank-you gift bag that included a mix of Portuguese and English book to enhance their home libraries, and maintain positive literacy routines.
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