United Way and AmeriCorps VISTA Member Promote ‘Success By 6′
By: Ismael Calderon, AmeriCorps VISTA member with United Way of Lake County, IL
“As an AmeriCorps VISTA Member I am working to eliminate poverty and the negative effects it has on our community. In my role as a VISTA Member, I support these goals by helping provide high-risk children with the core skills they need to succeed in school. “During my first month of service, I took part in an intensive training schedule developed and implemented by my Supervisor Jennifer Little, Success By 6 Manager, and Edna Galvan, Program Coordinator at United Way of Lake County. They are key members of United Way’s family and have been guiding me through the daily work in the organization and my responsibilities as a VISTA team member. These responsibilities include the development and implementation of learning and interactive activities for children and carrying out preplanned activities and curriculum at the classroom. I have also been mentored and trained on how they develop and implements their strategies for Kindergarten Readiness and other Success By 6 initiatives.As an AmeriCorps VISTA Member I am working to eliminate poverty and the negative effects it has on our community. In my role as a VISTA Member, I support these goals by helping provide high-risk children with the core skills they need to succeed in school.
One main highlight for the past two months was the Kindergarten Countdown Camp that I helped put together at North Elementary School in Waukegan, where 32 children with little or no preschool experience participated. Almost half of incoming kindergarten students in Waukegan School District do not attend a formal preschool program. Kindergarten Countdown Camp was led by licensed teachers who worked with the students to get them ready for their transition into kindergarten.In addition North Elementary served as a Summer Feeding Site. There were 118 children who received a nutritious breakfast and lunch. The program served breakfast from 8:45 - 9:00 a.m. and lunch from 11:40 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Our next Camp will take place at Lyon Elementary School, starting on August 1st and lasting through August 11; where the site will also serve breakfast.
Working in a community of low income and underserved families can pose many challenges to the educational achievement of our children. Helping children successfully overcome these challenges will help reduce social inequality and create opportunities for our youth. Education is the best tool for empowering our community, and this is how United Way of Lake County’s Success By 6 Program is helping eradicate poverty. Our success is measured by the gains these children make in their literacy skills development as well as making sure parents know all of the health requirements needed in order to start school.
Our efforts fall in line with the VISTA mission; I am proud of the results we have achieved together and how we are enriching our children’s lives. At a personal level, I have been deeply motivated by the smiles on their faces, noticing the development of their love for learning, and knowing that we are paving the path for them to have better opportunities in the near future.
AmeriCorpsWorksAmeriCorpsAmeriCorps VISTAVISTAIamVISTAUnited WayLake CountyIllinoisChicagoKindergartenNational ServiceServiceNationalServiceWorksVolunteerVolunteerism
Original Source: https://nationalservice.tumblr.com/post/158202810577/united-way-and-americorps-vista-member
