ALPHA PHI ALPHA
A group of “simply outstanding young men” began serving Kalamazoo Central High School Students in the 2005-2006 school year. As this WMU Fraternity promised to do then, they still do now….arriving as a group of 3-5 young men and meeting each week with a group of male high school students assigned by the Site Coordinator who could benefit from a mentoring relationships. Towards the end of the school year, they host a big celebration on campus for 11 of the students they worked with.
This school year, Alpha Phi Alpha targeted students in Kalamazoo Central’s after school program. The majority of the involved students were freshmen. Each one of these conscientious young men serves as an exemplary role model. With their consistent presence, Alpha Phi Alpha has helped provide that extra support, encouraging students to see what their future could hold. They aren’t just teaching our students about the value of service. They are living it.
Ervin Armstrong
Ervin Armstrong is described as a dreamer---not for himself but for the community’s children and young people. As the executive director at New Genesis, he is also seen as a beacon, of light, of possibility, of a brighter future for kids and for the entire community. Ervin’s passion is a bit like a virus---strong, contagious and adaptive. He believes---he speaks---he inspires. He wants others with him and he in turn supports others. KCIS is proud to call Ervin Armstrong an emerging partner and we hope that collaboration fever keeps a hold on him. And with Ervin we have had the terrific bonus of the talent of his lovely wife Joyce and his talented son, Josh. What a deal!
August Optical
Being able to read and see the blackboard is essential to learning. August Optical makes it possible. In cases where parent can’t take the child—and in most cases this is the situation—the site coordinator obtains paperwork, parent permission and takes the child to the appointments. The child returns to school with a new pair of glasses and the Site Coordinator returns, often with an amazing, uplifting story of the wonderful care August Optical staff provide to students. This year, at one school alone, 14 children received glasses through August Optical. Three of the children needed glasses replaced, one from a family house fire and one broken and one lost. Dr. August is patient with the children and shows a great ability to work with children of all backgrounds.
One child who has minimal language skills, was immediately put at ease by August Optical Staff. The Doctor was able to determine needs and appropriate glasses were provided.
King Westwood’s KCIS Site Coordinator Jessica Chatman says they have repaired countless pairs of glasses, from screws to bent frames, often on the same day, even when their office was bursting full of other patients.
BeadVenture
As an enrichment provider for over 4 years with our 21st Century After School Programming, Beadventure has gone far beyond what is written within their contractual duties as an after school provider. Once a week, 5 or 6 Milwood Magnet or Northglade Montessori students who want to learn more about making, marketing and selling hand made jewelry attend Beadventure’s Park Trades studio.
Christena Smith, Director of Beadventure builds strong relationships with the students, and encourages them to build strong relationships with others. She motivates them to participate in the Art Hop to sell their wares and feel a sense of accomplishment at having their voice be heard and their product admired.
Beadventure offers “Saturday School” where the students can have a safe place to spend further time on their projects and extend their learning opportunities. Beadventure exposes students who may not otherwise have a chance to build their social skills and self esteem by interacting with their community, at fairs, exhibits and field trips.
“Students love this program!” says Site Coordinator Molly Appeldoorn. “I have to go to Beadventure today! I’m working on a special order. I promised the customer I would have it ready by this week.” Students return from the studio exhilarated that they are creating beautiful things. Beadventure is bringing out the beauty and talent of children that could otherwise go untapped.
Bronson Hospital Foundation
The Bronson Hospital Foundation took a significant leap of faith about five years ago when its CEO, Bob Doud brought a consultant from Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids to speak to their Board about a model for addressing the health needs of low income children by working with schools throughout the County. Bob listened to KCIS’s growing body of concern that children’s physical health was surfacing as an equal priority to their social, emotional and behavioral needs and sought out expert advice on a model that could be replicated in Kalamazoo. The Bronson Foundation provided half the funding for a school nurse pilot at Milwood Elementary for two years. When changes at Pfizer resulted in the elimination of their shared funding, the Bronson Foundation remain committed to addressing this need and they have funded 80% of the cost for the past two years. As a result, students, parents and teachers have benefited from the expert care and compassion of “Nurse Linda” for four years. When the children learned of her retirement, here is what a couple of them had to say:
“Dear Nurse Linda, I don’t think you should retire yet. You look way too young to retire. You help a lot around here. If you leave, who will hold our medicine, who will give us ice packs, who will keep us company at school while we are sick, who will be our favorite nurse ever without you around? I will miss you a whole lot so make sure you come visit us next year, every week or every other week, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday---no other days. Make sure you stop and see Mrs. Phillips class a super duper super duper lot. I will really need it and if you don’t do that you call me at (phone #). I will miss you all the time.”
“Dear Nurse Linda, You are an awesome nurse and I do not know what we will do without you. Who is going to check our temperature and hold our medicine and inhalers and take care of us and giving us ice packs and information."
The commitment of the Bronson Hospital Foundation to school based health has increased student attendance, improved their behavior, enhanced their sense of safety and well-being and told them their community cares. The commitment of the Bronson Hospital Foundation has reassured teachers that they don’t have to be nurses, that they are not alone in caring for children and that their community cares about them too.
Catalyst Development Company
Two-and-a-half years ago, KCIS was contemplating what it might be like to be the first non-profit in Kalamazoo to be homeless. We wondered if we would need to become a “mobile unit”, having staff work from their cars and homes. National City’s Arcadia Building had been sold and its new east coast owner could not see the same benefit in donating space to KCIS. Despite the old saying that beggars can’t be choosers, we were both! We were begging for donated space and we wanted it to be in the City, preferably downtown Kalamazoo and something that would give us visibility with the general public---just prime location, downtown storefront at no cost! A few landlords took our initial calls but when they learned we were looking for a 100% “discount”, there didn’t appear to be much left to talk about.
Catalyst Development not only responded to our plight, they offered to completely renovate a downtown building and tailor it to our specific needs. Providing KCIS with its own building through a three-year rent-free lease has made a significant contribution to our visibility and has allowed our other resources to be devoted to directly addressing student needs---a value of well over $200,000 over the three years. As if that wasn’t enough, Catalyst provided an incredible “office-warming” gift by donating the sign on the outside of the building.
Because of Catalyst’s willingness to take us on, what could have been a major set-back, turned into an opportunity to move KCIS several steps ahead.
City of Kalamazoo
What some of you may not know is that the city of Kalamazoo has been a partner with us since the beginning. In 1999, along with the KPS Board of Trustees, the City Commission brought the National CIS model to Kalamazoo. They listened to the research that tells us that a key characteristic of high-performing schools is systematic and appropriate involvement of the community with the school. They, along with the Kalamazoo Public Schools and the Chamber of Commerce have breathed life into us, into this model—helping us begin the work of creating and implementing a system of integrated student support services that is delivered within a school to remove barriers and create access. As many of the parents whose children receive our wonderful partner support and services tell us, “my child would not have received this help if it had not been offered in the school”.
In July 2007, The City of Kalamazoo enacted a Promise Partners Program, collaborating in a new way with Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) and Kalamazoo Communities In Schools (KCIS) to help students prepare to obtain the benefits of the Kalamazoo Promise. With the leadership of the City Manager, the City Commission adopted a policy to give its employees paid time off to work with students with KPS schools. The policy states that: “As a Promise Partner, employees will be allowed to use paid time off to volunteer as a mentor, tutor, special events helper or to make donations.”
In October the Water and Wastewater Departments had a week-long rivalry to see which group could gather the healthiest snacks to support the children at Milwood Elementary during MEAP week. We won’t tell you which department won.
City employees volunteered at a number of special events. From serving as a KPS Celebrity Greeter on the first day of school, to being readers for our Bagels and Books, Cider and Stories, and the College Awareness Week’s sharing of the I Know I Can Go To College event in all KPS second grade classrooms. They helped distribute shoes to 1st graders through Valerie Denghel’s First Day Shoe program at summer school.
This year, 13 employees worked as mentors and tutors across 6 schools. Five men who serve our city as police officers or work within the Wastewater Treatment Plant are leaders in the Guys Read program which entices 4th and 5th grade boys to read and discuss books. The men were told they only needed to meet with the boys once a month and keep in touch by email between meetings. However, from the start, the boys’ delight at having these men in their lives was obvious – and the connection between the boys and the men was so instantaneous – that all the leaders have been at the school every week.
Kalamazoo City’s policy—both in writing and action--sets forth an excellent model for other organizations to emulate; paving the way for others to offer all employees an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life.
Dee Callander, Kalamazoo Public Schools
Dee Callander’s commitment to the Communities In Schools model, precedes almost all of us---she participated in the City of Kalamazoo’s Blue Ribbon Committee to explore whether CIS would be a good model for the City-School District partnership to improve the academic success of the community’s children. Dee is a product of Kalamazoo Public Schools, a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. We could probably refer to her as a “PK”---but rather than it standing for Preacher’s Kid, it would be “Principal’s Kid”. Dee’s father was both a KPS Administrator and subsequently a member of the School Board so she has a “genetic pre-disposition” to KPS. As is common with Preacher’s Kids, Dee may have needed to remind her dad periodically that expecting her to always be the perfect role model for other kids just wasn’t possible. KPS students could not have a stronger, more well-informed ally than Dee Callander. She never forgets what it’s like to be a kid and naturally incorporates that into all that she does as an Administrator of Student Services---she avoids making the problems of adults the problems of the students she serves.
Dee is a problem-solver--low-key, matter-of-fact, pragmatic and most of all student-centered. Her reinforcement comes not from the accolades from adults but from knowing that her actions have improved the circumstances of one young person at a time. Day-in, day-out, year-after-year, Dee Callander can be counted on to figure out how to make things work with children in mind she is a champion for the whole child and the KCIS model of integrated student support services.
DALT
Diversity Awareness Leadership Training or DALT is a program provided through The Adventure Centre. DALT has been providing services at both Phoenix High School and Kalamazoo Central High School. Site Coordinator Deb Faling says that this program reaches across all boundaries and groups to provide a safe and supportive atmosphere, which offers students and staff alike the opportunity to explore ideas and emotions, coming away with a greater understanding of the diversity that make up both school climate and the larger community.
Over 30 students participated in a 4-day overnight intensive retreat during which they educate one another on challenges faced every day such as bullying and prejudice. By listening to their peers, students gained a new awareness of themselves and one another. They practiced skills such as dialogue, responding to bigotry and effective communication. The connections created and positive feelings generated during the retreat and other DALT events can be translated back into daily life. They are asked to brainstorm creative ways to take their knowledge and skills back to the community and write out a detailed action plan. Students return to school energized, excited to carry out very concrete plans. DALT provides a true lifeline to participants and gives them the tools to reach out to others. The program has strong support from Kalamazoo Central High School staff members Erin Ruble, Rob Bradford and Jennifer Young who are part of the 4 day retreat as well as the in-school meetings. Kalamazoo Central and Phoenix students say it best:
"DALT changed me. Even people in my neighborhood will tell you. I think we need to have DALT everywhere…” "DALT is spreading around our school because we all talk to each other and people want to know how we learned to do it." "For me, this is an opportunity to make myself a better person."
"DALT changed me. Even people in my neighborhood will tell you. I think we need to have DALT everywhere…”
"DALT is spreading around our school because we all talk to each other and people want to know how we learned to do it."
"For me, this is an opportunity to make myself a better person."
Judy D’Arcangelis
Winter, spring, summer or fall---all we have to do is call, and she’ll be there…. Judy D’Arcangelis is there for the KPS-KCIS partnership because “she gets it”. She is very sensitive to the needs of the whole child and works extremely hard with KCIS to ensure that those needs can be addressed. KCIS has had the privilege of working with Judy year-round for four years and we have seen her wear many hats with ease---instructional leader, supervisor, facilities manager, juggler, alarm technician, food service worker, transportation engineer and more. All of these roles she plays with children in mind---practicing her own version of the golden rule---treat others’ children as you want your own child to be treated. Judy understands about return on investment---spend the extra five minutes acknowledging the value of a new partner and you’ll get back many hours of quality service for your building. It is easy to think of King-Westwood when a new partner calls and wants to contribute a service to the schools---there is no doubt that Judy will assure that they are welcomed to her building and acknowledged fully for their service to her students.
Jane DeRight
A KPS Reading Specialist before “retiring”, Jane DeRight now serves as Edison’s Attendance Interventionist. Those who know Jane will tell you she is truly a “Jack of all trades”.
Over the last 6 years Jane has assisted the Site Coordinator with a number of KCIS supported programs. Some of these include: Being a mentor to WMU Bachelor level social work interns, Supporting WMU Master Social Work interns placed at Edison help students with attendance issues, Member of the Edison School Based Health Center Community Advisory Committee, School Liasion for Girls on the Run, Liaison with parents and assistance with vision assistance program, When parents have been hesitant about agreeing to a service, Jane’s relationships with the family often makes the difference.
Jane holds--both within her head and in her heart--the children of Edison.
Her connections and credibility with both children and families have helped KCIS and its partners more fully meet the needs of students.
First Presbyterian Church
How to describe this partnership? A potpourri of support. Volunteers committed to making a difference for Edison Environmental Science Academies’ children in many different ways…
First Presbyterian Church has been committed to helping for a long time; they have never waivered from serving the Edison students. Site Coordinator Cathy Ullrey feels that one of the secrets to their success is Joyce and John Petro and Carol Payne Smith. They serve a critical role in recruiting and supporting volunteers from First Presbyterian. All have a good rapport with the teachers.
While First Presbyterian attached themselves to Edison prior to CIS, we have, for the past 7 years, been privileged to see first hand, the value and care for children these volunteers bring to the students of Edison. This school year alone, First Presbyterian Church provided 51 volunteers to support Edison students in a variety of ways. Their numbers are impressive but so is the heart and soul that each of them pour into the work they do.
Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan
Genuine, compassionate, flexible, tireless energy. These words only begin to capture our partner, Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Because of their work, children and teens are able to benefit from grief groups within the elementary, middle, high school and alternative high school setting. Hospice counselors are highly skilled at engaging students from diverse backgrounds who are grieving due death of a loved one, recent move or change in school, divorce, incarceration or foster care.
KPS Nurse Jill Reynolds shared with us the need to help students struggling with grief & loss issues. When, a little over 2 years ago a grant through United Way was available, Hospice began school based grief services which have since received numerous accolades from principals, site coordinators, teachers, parents and students alike. When the grant was not renewed the following year, the Hospice Board committed to not only continuing the partnership but expanded from 2 to 8 KPS schools, this year holding 15 Grief & Loss groups that served 108 children and teens. The Hospice Board, administrators and therapists find ways to meet children’s needs, even when resources and time are already scarce.
This service for many of the children is giving them hope and often a second chance at life. One young woman, struggling with the death of her mother, saw her grades drop to the point she felt paralyzed with grief and hopelessness. “I didn’t care about anything”, she said. “I gave up easily…I wasn’t doing my work and was behind on credits.” She took what she saw as her only available option and dropped out of high school--she almost became a statistic. Almost.
KPS staff did a great job of convincing this young woman to return to school, suggesting the alternative high school setting might be able to provide some additional services through KCIS. The Site Coordinator immediately connected her up with Hospice. She credits the work she did in the weekly groups with therapist Cate Jarvis not only with helping her get back on track to graduate but now, as the oldest child in a parentless family, she recognizes that the best way to honor her mother’s memory is to make sure that her little brothers and sisters attend school regularly and do their homework so they too can graduate and take advantage of The Promise.
First United Methodist Church
There is considerable research that shows that children who are not reading at grade level by third grade face far higher risks than their peers of dropping out of high school, becoming pregnant, unemployed or of entering the prison system. It was over two years ago when Spring Valley’s Principal Scott Kemple highlighted this fact and shared with us that he wanted to take a highly successful protocol for reading instructors and expand it within their school. The need however, was for more one on one reading time with children who needed extra practice with specific skills. First United Methodist stepped up to the plate and with a razor sharp focus immediately took action. Promise Helpers was born.
“This isn’t going to be easy, you know,” said Mary Bullock who had agreed to recruit tutors from within the church.” I don’t know if we can get the number of volunteers we need to pull this off well.” Her worries quickly dissipated as a dedicated cadre of talented tutors came forward. After undergoing training by Spring Valley’s Literacy Coach, Linda Summerer, the tutors worked this year with targeted 1st and 3rd grade children on a weekly basis. Two years of grant money, totaling almost $10,000 made possible through Henkel— thanks to church member/Promise Helper Rob Hilliard, who as an employee of this international German company made it possible for Spring Valley to use euros to purchase books and other reading and learning materials to enhance the work that the Promise Helpers were doing in the school. In addition to recruiting 18 volunteers to Spring Valley this year, First United Methodist has established a Promise Helpers Fund and out of this has provided $500 worth of books for Spring Valley in-room libraries, another $500 for math textbooks and $250 worth of books to assure that every first grader has a book to take home for the summer. “FUMC’s presence at Spring Valley,” says Site Coordinator Martha Serio, “has truly been a blessing."
Lester Hughes
Every community partner and volunteer who serves Milwood Elementary is better and stronger because of one man: Mr. Lester Hughes.
For almost 30 years, KPS has entrusted Mr. Hughes with the care taking of its school buildings. Not only has Mr. Hughes embraced his work as a custodian, he has gone above and beyond to assure that the learning environment is ready every day for children. He does his work beautifully and, at the same time, is connecting with the kids…every day. He calls them by name and teaches them about respect. He lets them know they are special. And when he sees a student acting up in the hallway, he takes advantage of this and makes it a teachable moment.”
“Mr. Hughes,” says Site Coordinator Deborah Yarbrough, “serves with a glad heart. He welcomes EVERYONE who enters Milwood Elementary School. He brings with him every day laughter and joy to our building. Anything we ask him to do, it is done! We recently had a volunteer luncheon. I walked in early to help set up. I found that Mr. Hughes had already had everything set up and he stood there, smiling at me and said, ‘What’s next?’
He goes far beyond the call of duty.”
Mr. Hughes has told us that the partners entering the building are passionate and work well together with KPS and KCIS to create an environment that children can thrive in. As the wise Mr. Hughes has often told us, “It’s about ownership and making people feel a part of our school, from families to parents to our community. Only with a sense of ownership can change happen. Then we have an environment that our children can express their passion, their dreams, their visions.”
JP Morgan Chase
When the local chapter of the American Association of University of University Women approached KCIS about a partnership to implement College Awareness Week, it sounded like a perfect marriage. Both AAUW and KCIS had talent and time for sharing the “I Know I Can” “plan and prepare for college” message but no treasure for making it happen! Within two-three months with the support of local President, Darren Timmeney, JP Morgan Chase agreed to purchase copies of the “I Know I Can” book for every second grade student in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. In addition, several of their staff, including a member of the Grand Rapids office, donned their favorite college attire to read to the second graders and share the expectation that every student can and must prepare to fulfill their own dreams by getting ready for college.
As a result of this experience, Darren committed to exploring how they might “adopt-a-school” and engage in a regular set of activities throughout the school year. Throughout the 07-08 school year, JP Morgan Chase has adopted King-Westwood Elementary School to provide mentoring and tutoring to a specific group of students selected by the Principal and some general support on a classroom and school-wide basis. They were so motivated to do a good job that they participated in training provided by Big Brothers, Big Sisters. JP Morgan Chase has set a great example for other businesses in the “adopt-a-school” approach.
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
Sometimes it takes a while to convince a partner to come aboard but Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes was already ahead of us. When Milwood Elementary School teachers expressed concern over a number of students coming into school each Monday morning hungry, we approached Loaves & Fishes. They already had a similar idea, wanting to support children during both the school and summer time. They were considering what mechanism of support they could create to make this a reality. It was a perfect match. As with all new partnerships, there was a lot of preliminary homework that had to be done prior to implementation. Loaves & Fishes arranged for CIS and Milwood Elementary to take a field trip to Food Bank of South Central Michigan and a visit to a school in Vicksburg that was implementing a similar program. Taking what was learned from these trips and tailoring it to KPS, the program came to life.
Since 2004, the program has expanded from serving 50 children a week at Milwood Elementary, to around 400 children every week at Milwood Elementary, Edison, Lincoln and Spring Valley. In addition, last summer, 500 children each week received Friday Food packs as part of summer school.
Loaves and Fishes has made the Friday food pack program a substantial part of their budget as a way to help meet the nutritional needs of our children. The generosity of Loaves and Fishes to this community has served as a catalyst for other groups to become involved either through donations or helping Site Coordinators with the food pack distribution. From the volunteers who pack the bags at the Foodbank of South Central Michigan, to the Loaves & Fishes staff and volunteers in Kalamazoo who make the hand off to the volunteers who bring the food to the schools.
Five organizations--Milwood Christian Reformed, MRC Industries, First United Methodist Church, People’s Church, Westwood Christian Reformed Church--have all joined in each and every week to support this program, a genuinely collaborative effort.
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is true to its name. They are not only feeding the hungry but they are inspiring a multitude of others within our community to step forth and join in our collective efforts.
PNC Bank (Then, National City)
National City “signed on” to the KCIS mission from the beginning. It has consistently demonstrated its corporate citizenship and the understanding of its leadership that investing in the educational success of young people is an investment in the economic development and the future of the community. National City has devoted talent, treasure and time---to KAAAP and to CIS before the merger and to the combined organization since the merger. National City Presidents Paul Clark, Tim Lathe, Larry Lueth and Dave Tomko have each made substantial leadership contributions to the KCIS Board. National City generosity was recognized in 2004 with a Governor’s Service Award. Throughout 2007 and 2008 National City has been responsible for substantially increasing the power of the KCIS First Fridays program because each of their branches within the KPS District has been a collection site for school supplies, socks, personal hygiene items, hats and mittens and books. Most recently, in an internal contest of their own making, one National City unit collected and donated 750 books that will be used to support reading activities in summer school. If we could add the value of National City’s in-kind contributions and actual cash donations of the past several years, the total would be well over a million dollars.
Congratulations National City on your 2008 Champ Award!
Chuck Pearson
Chuck couldn’t be here today. He’s somewhere in Montana right now. Chuck Pearson is Principal of Milwood Elementary School. As folks will tell you, he is a humble man who loves and cares for the children of Milwood as if each one was his own personal child. Everyone needs a Chuck Pearson in their lives. Site Coordinator Deb Yarbrough says it is a powerful experience to see a Principal with such love and dedication, refusing to allow even one child to slip through the cracks and fail.
Chuck Pearson is highly visible throughout his building, he is a calming presence to children and adults alike. He reminds us all—through both his words and actions---that children---CHILDREN--are the reason we do what we do.
Chuck, wherever you may be at this moment, know we thank you and celebrate your work!
Professional Image
Professional Image has been an after school provider with us for 5 years. Professional Image is a stellar example of professionalism: always prepared and organized for doing a range of services; from Character Development, Brain Power to personal enrichment programs such as “Minding Your Dough” and poise and etiquette groups.
As a former microbiologist with the former UpJohn Company, Professional Images’ Dorothy McMillian brings her knowledge and love of learning to students of all academic levels. She gets them excited, keeps their attention, always has a plan, with materials ready to go. She has that special ability to reach both the young and older students. “Kids love her!” Site Coordinator Bonnie Terrentine states. “They don’t want her to leave.” Before she is even out the door, the kids are already asking, ‘When’s Ms. McMillian coming back?’”
Plus, she supports KCIS initiatives beyond Professional Images, such as volunteering by reading at Bagels & Books events.
Professional Image, congratulations on your 2008 Champ Award!
Jill Reynolds
Smart, bright, compassionate and funny. KPS Nurse Jill Reynolds serves as an inspiration for community programs that support the health and wellness of KPS students.
Jill Reynolds, congratulations on your 2008 Champ Award!
Alan Sylvester
Alan Sylvester became a KAAAP mentor several years ago---prior to the merger of KAAAP, KPEF and CIS. He is among the exclusive club of mentors who were matched with an elementary school student and remain committed to seeing the young person through graduation---exactly the way the KAAAP model was originally intended. But Alan took his challenge a giant step farther. A comment was made at a mentors’ meeting that there just aren’t enough men involved as mentors and that our young boys are desperate for male attention. Alan attended that meeting and took the comment as a challenge to what he believed about men that he knows personally and professionally. He was certain that there are men who have been very involved with their own children and when faced with their empty nest, would consider being a mentor. The announcement of the Kalamazoo Promise solidified Alan’s thinking and he became even more convinced that there were men who would be interested in helping another child, particularly if the goals were as clear as academic achievement, college readiness and being able to use the Promise. So he mobilized several others---an advisory team---to work with him to create “One-on-One”. This mentor project works exclusively to recruit men and matches them to 4th grade boys at Edison and Lincoln Elementary buildings. To date at least 25 boys and carefully recruited men have been matched. Alan Sylvester, a man with his own business, his own family and his own mentee, took it upon himself to initiate an effort that will be life-changing for a group of boys whose needs are profound.
Alan, congratulations on your 2008 Champ Award!
Steve Terranella
It is impossible to overstate the difference a caring and skilled volunteer can make in the lives of students. Steve represents the best of mentoring and tutoring in his work with students at Kalamazoo Central High School.
For many years, Steve was an engineer at Kellogg, retiring in 2005. One week of retirement and he decided that was enough for him and he contacted KCIS about working with students - and high school students at that. The next week he started tutoring. Now he is a constant presence - creating a safe and challenging academic environment for each student.
Although he specializes in assisting students with math and science, Steve mentors multiple students and maintains good relationships with these young people in the midst of transition. He is invaluable working with those students who need direction and encouragement as well as academic help.
Steve is unable to attend today, but congratulations on your 2008 Champ Award!
WMU Bronson School of Nursing
The Nurse Intern program, over the past 5 years has grown from one school and 7 interns to a collaboration among two 2 nursing programs working with a number of medical providers to bring health education and support into 7 schools. In addition to KPS and KCIS, WMU Bronson School of Nursing has readily collaborated with other key partners to meet the needs of students. Key partners such as:
o Medical Alliance – an anti-violence program,
o Safe Kids – provided bike helmets and “protect your brain” program materials.
o The Children’s Hospital at Bronson on health fairs during family nights at schools.
o KVCC School of Nursing to share effective strategies
By developing effective, flexible programming in the changing environment of schools, WMU Bronson School of Nursing, through their example and willingness to share resources with other community partners is a shining example of a true collaborative partnership.
WMU Bronson School of Nursing, congratulations on your 2008 Champ Award!