MEDIA RELEASE
Update Nov. 5: See the story that ran in the Grand Rapids Times.
GRAND RAPIDS – Along with students, educators and concerned citizens, parents of GRPS students came out in force Thursday evening (October 28) to share their ideas about helping parents be more active in their children’s education. The forum was the fourth Believe 2 Become Neighborhood Meet Up in the central zone.
Deanna Jacobs, a parent who lives in the central zone, encouraged other parents to overcome their anxieties and get involved.
“I think sometimes we’re afraid to speak up for our children, neighbors, and community,” Jacobs said. “Our voices have to be heard.”
Believe 2 Become is a collaborative partnership of Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation, more than 50 local organizations and hundreds of individuals who believe in Grand Rapids students. Believe 2 Become is creating real opportunities for students to become the people they aspire to be.
Jacobs was one of about 300 people in attendance for dinner, small group work sessions, and a large group meeting. Kelley D. Gulley, president and CEO of National Community Development Institute, led the meeting in collaboration with Lighthouse Communities, Inc.
With a mindfulness toward helping youth achieve more success in school, small groups were asked to brainstorm ways to increase the involvement of parents in their kids’ education. In a previous Meet Up, participants identified increasing parent involvement as a top priority for the central zone.
“The parents are powerful in this setting,” said Rita Broyles, a youth group director and community supporter. “Parents coming here are realizing we can do this… they are agreeing about how children should be raised. I wish they would realize the power they have.”
Most of those present have attended two or more of the Neighborhood Meet Ups, and many expressed enthusiastic support for helping to restore a sense of community and shared responsibility in their schools, neighborhoods and business districts.
“As a community, we need to make up for lost time. We are behind other communities,” said Don Everette, a business owner and community supporter. “We take for granted what other people have fought for. Community pride has to return.”
Tonya Jerry, a mother of seven children, including twin boys, expressed similar sentiments.
“We need to have the community come together so kids feel like they can be part of something, so they don’t go to the streets to get involved in gangs,” she said.
Jerry said the community needs to focus on prevention and positive opportunities for youth, both of which are in short supply, she said.
“There are plenty of places for them to go once they start breaking the law,” Jerry said.
Even business can play a role in positive youth development, according to Don Everette.
“As a small business owner, I think we have to start employing kids as they come up,” he said. “We need to engage more small businesses in employment of youth.”
In one small group, a participant talked about the need for parents to band together and more proactively support their children in school. Too often, he said, parents get upset about an isolated issue, such as a school closing, before they get vocal. “We shouldn’t need that kind of an issue to get involved,” he said.
Leah Carpenter, a youth group leader and community supporter, agreed. “We already have an issue,” she said. “Our children are not graduating with the rest of the nation. They are not ready to conquer the future. That’s our issue.”
Students who were present also shared ideas for increasing parent involvement.
“My mom is right there for me,” said Deonquè Johnson, a student at Ford Middle School. “Every mom and dad should be there for kids, to come and be part of their children’s school and education.”
Deonquè said his plans for the future include becoming a defense attorney and an involved parent.
“When I’m a parent, I will be there,” he said. “I will show up for meetings like this.”
Carolyn Pue, a new parent and a nursing student, said she’s already getting involved so that when her son goes to school, it will be better.
“When kids are fighting, smoking, or doing drugs, it’s a cry for help. They are trying to get attention,” she said. “We need more parental involvement, period.”
Nathaniel Stanley, an eighth grader at Ford Middle School, suggested creating a community calendar where each parent can pick a day to volunteer. He said feels that if parents had more information about school they would be more likely to offer help.
Jalon Corp, also a Ford eighth grader, thought more neighborhood activities, such as a trash pick-up day, would help parents build a stronger sense of community.
Other ideas for increasing parent involvement included offering parenting classes, defining a shared set of parenting standards and rules (including for curfews), and creating a place for parents to gather and support one another. Many participants talked about overcoming barriers to parent involvement, such as a lack of transportation or policies that prevent parents from volunteering at their children’s school.
It’s all possible.
During the next Meet Up on November 18, participants will plan the next steps to increase parent involvement, as a community. Then, residents will organize groups to help guide the development of future Believe 2 Become programs for parents, students, schools and congregations.
In 2010, Believe 2 Become sponsored summer learning experiences and after-school opportunities for students and hosted Neighborhood Meet Ups in the central zone. The enthusiasm on Thursday evening suggests future parent programs will be well received.
“There should be education for parents,” Jerry, the mother of seven, said. “We have to help families raise those children. Some people didn’t have both a mother and dad in the house when they were coming up.”
Carpenter, the youth group leader, reminded other participants how much was at stake.
“Years ago, there were people who died for the right of our children to be educated,” she said. “All kids want to learn. We have to help them.”
