CITY, SCHOOLS RECEIVE $10,000 GRANT FROM AMERICA’S PROMISE ALLIANCE FOR RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT
6 month grant supports parent/caregiver engagement in early reading; efforts to be focused in Healey School neighborhoods, in collaboration with community partner agencies
Curtatone and the Somerville Public Schools announce that the City of
Somerville has received a $10,000 grant from Colin Powell's America's Promise
Alliance to support parent/caregiver engagement in early reading. The grant
funds will be used in efforts to be focused in neighborhoods surrounding the
Healey School, in collaboration with community partner agencies, including the
Somerville Public Schools' Somerville Family Learning Collaborative, Shape Up
Somerville, and independent non-profits including The Welcome Project, the
Cambridge Health Alliance, HeadStart and Mystic Learning Center.
The
City's SomerPromise initiative is currently undertaking a pilot program in
these areas, as part of their stated mission to improve the education related,
district-wide concerns of kindergarten preparedness and 3rd Grade
Reading proficiency under SomerPromise Director Anna Fox Doherty. The proposal
for the grant detailed several community activities for parents of Healey
School children, including family discussions and community events. SomerPromise
has convened these partners to help foster awareness and action among parent
leaders in the community and to develop ambassadors who will strengthen a
culture of learning and education in Somerville for students in the early
years.
"Education
has always been one of my top priorities, and our commitment to Somerville's
youth has been recognized and greatly supported by America's
Promise Alliance. We are honored to have their support, particularly this most
recent grant award which will help us to expand our ongoing initiatives for youth
and families throughout our community," said Mayor Curtatone. "Through
SomerPromise, we have made great strides in strengthening community
partnerships and increasing parent/guardian involvement, and these funds will
help us to continue that vital work both inside and outside of school hours."
"One of Somerville's greatest attributes is the
community's commitment to working collaboratively in support of our youth,"
said Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi. "We all know that
parent/guardian and community engagement are critical components to student
success, and we are committed to continuing to find innovative and effective
ways to provide the necessary services and resources to help all our youth
reach their potential. SomerPromise builds on that commitment by
strategically bringing together agencies and resources in support of students
most at-risk, helping mitigate external barriers that often keep students from
reaching their potential. We're thrilled to continue working on these
partnerships and are grateful to America's Promise Alliance for their support
of this important community initiative."
For more information on SomerPromise or the programs
supported by the APA grant, contact Anna Fox Doherty at ADoherty@somervillema.gov, or
617-625-6600 ext 2341.
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