First, I'm sorry I've been so absent. I just had my housewarming party this past weekend and I finally feel like I can get back into the swing of things. My house officially feels like a home now, and while there will always be a to do list for it, I can now breathe a bit more and enjoy the house rather than stress about fixing it up to present it to the public.
I will show pictures soon of the improvements I made to the house!
Now on to the main point of this entry: Could all of you do me a huge favor?
Kohl's is running a campaign called Kohl's Cares. They will award $500,000 to 20 schools, and all that needs to happen is for the schools to get votes in order to be rewarded the money. I ask this of you:
1.Get out there and VOTE for George Washington Community School in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2. PLEASE spread the word on your personal blogs.
I'm sure you are asking why, and my answer is this: out of the kindness of your hearts.
I've taught at George Washington for two years now, and was also a student-teacher there during my last semester at Indiana University. From the beginning, I saw how much heart there was in the school, and how much the west side Indianapolis community depends on the school for support, guidance, and success. If the school succeeds, the community succeeds... and that is how the cycle will continue if we are able to get funding to support programs that really guide the students to better goals and opportunities.
The school has been around for generations, but closed in the 90s when crime and drugs overtook the neighborhood, and the economic situation of the west side of Indianapolis declined immensely. After it closed, the community rallied together, and as a result, the school was reopened in the early 2000s as a "Community School."
What is a community school, you ask? The Coalition for Community Schools defines it best:
A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development and community engagement leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends.
Using public schools as hubs, community schools bring together many partners to offer a range of supports and opportunities to children, youth, families and communities.
Our school is now connected directly with more than 50 organizations throughout Indianapolis that support the school in multiple ways. In order to keep this going and growing, we need financial support.
My goal is to turn the Learning Center at GW into a fully up-to-date resource for any student who needs guidance with homework or other academic goals. Besides updating the center with the latest technology and resources, we could also use the money to hire tutors around the clock who could be available to students in the community from 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday.
The students of this community need this more than ever. 93% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch, revealing that the average socio-economic status of the neighborhood is very low. Our graduation rate within four years still waivers at the 50% line.
The students are responding positively to the programs offered, and we need you help to keep the programs from dwindling away. I want the opposite to happen... I want them to grow and grow and grow.
How cool would it be if people from all walks of life decided to pitch in and help these kids? I'd love you, and so would they.
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