Literacy program empowers Triad black, brown students through positive books that reflect them
A national literacy program is empowering Triad Black and brown students through positive books that reflect them and their experiences.
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CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND FREEDOM SCHOOLS:
The national program's mission is to foster environments that support children and young adults (known as "scholars" within the program) to excel and believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, schools, communities, country and world with hope, education and action.
The program provides students, K-12, with culturally relevant pedagogy and high-quality books that deepen their understanding of themselves and all they have in common with others in a multiracial and multicultural society.
Many of the non-fictional and fictional books that the students read highlight the student's cultural history and portray characters who look like them in a positive way.
"The scholars are connecting with who they read about in the books. And it’s giving them an idea, well if they can do it, I can do it too because they look like me," Charolette Leach, executive director of Forest Park Elementary Freedom Schools, said.
The CDF grew out of the Civil Rights Movement under the leadership of Marian Edelman, the first Black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar. It has been focused on improving policies and programs for children and voting rights since the 1960s.
Nine schools with Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools are part of the national program.
On Thursday, hundreds of students gathered at St. Peter's World Outreach on Old Lexington Road in Winston-Salem for their annual Jubilee event, which provided students a chance to make new friends and highlighted the importance of reading through fun activities.
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"Over the years, we’ve seen as much as 12 months of instructional reading gains over the summer and having that opportunity is huge for kids. Not only that, the program offers a whole-child approach. There’s parenting engagement, civic engagement, healthy, nutrition," Dani Parker Moore, executive director of Wake Forest University Freedom School, said.
Parker Moore said the program not only benefits Black and brown students but it also provides value to students of all backgrounds.
"It sends them a huge message. Basically, if you’re interested in whatever character, you’re saying this is valuable. The teacher is showing this is valuable because she is choosing this text. Being able to see yourself makes it valuable, but not only for the kids in that group, the kids not a part of that group, it’s equally valuable. Research shows that they benefit as well because they see their counterpart as someone human or having a story as well," she said.
MOTHER, DAUGHTER AND NEPHEW:
WXII 12 News talked with Michelle Peay, a teacher and mother whose daughter, nephew and niece are taking part in the program, to learn more about the impact of the program.
"It makes me feel great because they see someone who resembles them. They’re interested in stories that they perhaps can relate to. It encourages them to want to read, participate in the program, come to the program and just have a great time," she said.
Peay said the program addresses a significant overlooked issue within many schools across the nation. She said the curriculum of many schools does not consistently focus on the positive stories of Black and brown students, and this program addresses that.
"The curriculum doesn’t really encompass a lot of literature that speaks to Black and brown children. It’s very important, representation, because we have a story to tell as well. So it needs to be out there," she said.
Her nephew, Tyler Robinson, 8, said he enjoys the program and hopes it can unite students – of all backgrounds – together.
"Good because Blacks and whites can get together more," he said.
Peay's daughter, Elle, 9, said the program "makes me feel like I’m a character in the book, like I can actually do the stuff because I know I’m reading it. It’s on my mind. I can stay focused on it, and I know that, whatever I do, it’s going to be like real because I’m going to set my mind on that one thing."
Elle added that the program has taught her that "anything can come true as long as you face toward it." She also hopes it can spread more kindness and love.
"It can stop bullying and show kindness and respect to other people," she said.
The program is free to students.
To learn more about the program and to apply, please click here.
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