Community Outlines Goals At Believe 2 Become Celebration
The Grand Rapids Times
4-8-2011
Grand Rapids – Fathers took center stage last week when nearly 500 people came together at Ford Middle School, March 31, to wrap up community action planning in the Believe 2 Become Central Zone.
Believe 2 Become (B2B) is a collaborative effort of Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Rapids Student Advancement Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation.
A neighborhood initiative B2B brings Central Zone residents together around helping children succeed in school, work and life.
Last week, 500 people met to hear recommendations from community action teams for achieving the goal.
Parental involvement was a top priority with particular attention on fathers.
“Men provide an identity for their children, and a strong family creates a system,” said Willie Patterson, LINC neighborhood liaison for Believe 2 Become.
To emphasize the importance of men as active, vocal role models, he quoted the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
The March 31 event celebrated the work of many residents over past several months.
Last fall B2B attracted more than 600 individuals, many of whom are continuing their interest and commitment.
At the first Meet Up, small groups first identified parent involvement as a top priority for the central zone, and then brainstormed ways to increase the involvement of parents in their children’s education.
At the November 18 session, by popular vote, they selected four strategies.
The top vote-getter on November 18, and the most popular presentation last week, was about increasing the involvement of men in children’s lives and education.
One presenter, Dennis McElwee, said he started coming to B2B meetings to help out the community.
The father of three girls under age 3, said, “I want my daughters to get the best education that they can.”
Another presenter, Alonzo Oliver, attended the meeting with Shaunté Paul and their newborn daughter Alonà.
“I want to be a good father to my child, and do the best I can,” he said. “I hope the best for my baby. I hope she’ll graduate from college. It’s good to be here and be active, to do this as a family.”
Rashid Robinson, also a presenter and the father of grown children, sees a big need in the community for education and training that would help men be better providers for their families.
After recommendations from the Male Involvement team, all fathers present gathered at the stage to demonstrate their support for their children.
In addition to help with life skills and parenting, he believes local colleges and universities should have campuses in the inner city where they provide training for jobs that can’t be exported, such as automotive repair, A/C-refrigeration-heating, lawn care, snow removal, and dry walling.
“We need to give opportunities to people to get hands-on skills, so they don’t have to survive by breaking the law,” he said. “Education is not the entire answer, but it’s a big part of it. Access to hands-on training is needed.”
Other men in the crowd also expressed support for the goal of helping all children succeed in school, work and life.
“I understand it’s I believe I become,” said Terrence Beene.
“I understand the idea of it… psychologically if you believe in something, it can become real.”
Manuel Casarez, father of three and grandfather of two, said, “I want my kids to become someone, go to college, not end up on the street corner or in jail.”
He added, “I don’t care what they become, I just want them to become something.”
After presenting the recommendations from the Male Involvement team, all fathers present gathered at the stage to demonstrate their support for their children. The crowd gave the fathers a rousing standing ovation.
At last week’s Meet Up, other action planning teams presented recommendations as well.
B2B is a partnership of organizations and individuals who believe in the unlimited potential of Grand Rapids students, who expect them to succeed and who are willing to provide real opportunities for students to become the people they aspire to be.
Some of the recommendations made last week also point to the potential for engaging organizations and other individuals as resources.
The Parent Advocacy team expressed the need for a Parent University that would teach parents how to advocate for their children, and announced that the first classes would launch in the fall.
The Parent Homework team called for workshops in English and Spanish that would help parents help their kids with their studies.
The Parent and Youth Community Center outlined ambitious goals for a place that would allow parents and kids to come together to improve literacy, learn life skills, participate in family activities and parenting classes, and learn about personal and home care.
The Youth Action Team brought forth recommendations from young people — substance abuse rehabilitation and counseling, education and support groups for fathers, a voucher system for mental health screenings, and a Big Brother and Big Sister adopta-school program.
At the end of the presentations, Minnie Dentmond said she is a big believer.
A mother of two, grandmother of eight, and greatgrandmother of one, she has been attending Believe 2 Become Meet Ups since the beginning.
“Grandparents and moms and dads, we’re all trying to make it better for our kids, teach them responsibility. It’s a good thing for the kids and for us too,” she said. “I tell a lot of grandparents you need to get involved, parents the same. Kids need the education and we need to be there for them. Reach out to them, give them a hug. Let them know there’s a better place to be.”
Robinson encouraged other fathers and parents to keep the hope, and take advantage of every opportunity. “There is hope. There is hope,” he said.
“My faith keeps me going. I’ve always had hope because I’ve always been a champion, and because champions never quit.”
