GADC and Auburn Gresham Partners Unveil Middle School Plan
Maureen Kelleher encourages the ISES participants as she is recognized by Carlos Nelson and Ernest Sanders as the "glue" of this project.
Ronnie Mosley
Imagine a middle school where children not only fill their minds with learning and arts but fill their bodies with meals of fruits and veggies prepared from scratch. Imagine those children staying fit by running, playing sports and even swimming. Imagine a center where Auburn-Gresham families can access services to promote their physical, mental and financial health.
On Wednesday, June 6, this vision took another step toward reality with the unveiling of the Integrated Services in Extended Day Schools (ISES) plan for Perspectives Calumet Middle School. Perspectives and the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) co-hosted the meeting, which brought back about 45 community residents who had been involved in the planning process. The June 6 event was a chance for them to reconnect and see how all their work had been integrated into a comprehensive plan.
Ernest Sanders shares his appreciation with ISES participants.
Ronnie Mosley
The intensive ISES planning process took four months from start to finish. After four initial visioning sessions with the community, subcommittees researched best practices in extended day and learning, health and social supports. GADC led the search for a health provider, which led to not one but two partnerships: with Access Community Health Network and with the University of Chicago Hospitals.
A coordinating group of 10 people from Perspectives and GADC, with support from consultants provided by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), pulled together the plan, which will be submitted to The Atlantic Philanthropies later this summer.
"We have a fabulous plan. Every single last person has a role in here to make sure this comes to pass," said Tamara Davis, principal of Perspectives Calumet Middle School. "We really appreciate you using your time, whether it's helping chaperone a field study, helping with Saturday school or being an instructor in our after-school program."
Members of the coordinating team took turns reviewing the core areas of the plan. Davis told the group that by hiring excellent teachers and extending time for learning into the late afternoon and Saturday, middle school students will graduate above grade level in reading, math and writing.
The dynamic trio of GADC's Ernest Sanders, Perspectives' Marc Arakelian and Tamara Nelson of Access outlined the health components of the plan. Access and the University of Chicago Hospitals will partner to provide an on-site health clinic offering physicals, immunizations, age-appropriate reproductive health care,
mental health services and dental referrals.
Tamara Davis informs ISES participants of academic initiatives starting in the Fall of 2007.
Ronnie Mosley
Perspectives, a city leader in promoting healthy school food, will bring its outstanding food service to the Calumet campus this fall. Healthy eating will be integrated into nutrition education. "We hope students will leave here with healthy food habits that will last a lifetime," said Arakelian.
Sanders outlined another crucial aspect of the health initiative, restoring the Calumet pool and opening it to students and the community.
Perspectives' Leslie Wood described the social supports called for in the plan. Peer supports, especially for male students, will be a key element. "When we heard it from a student, we made it a priority," she told the group. More social workers on staff will help Perspectives make home visits and connect even more strongly with families. A potential partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity will help to bring more African-American male mentors to the school.
GADC's executive director, Carlos Nelson highlighted school-community connections in the plan and strategies for engaging parents.
He noted that part of the ISES plan includes developing a resource guide to local services, which "all the folks in this room will have the opportunity to participate in."
He then introduced Sharon Stokes, the financial counselor for Auburn Greshman's Center for Working Families, housed at the St. Sabina Employment Resource Center.
Nelson pointed out a number of the longtime residents of Auburn Gresham who participated in the planning process. They included Shirley Bryant, Betty Swanson, James Drake, Gary Breathett, Amanda Norman, and Sam Miller. "You guys endured, and now we're on the way back up."
Finally, he also mentioned the Community Advisory Board at Perspectives-Calumet, which works with all three schools in the building.
Carlos Nelson applauds community stakeholders for their more than 200 years of collaborative community activism.
Ronnie Mosley
The plan was received enthusiastically by attendees. "I especially like that our young people will learn to swim," noted Sam Miller, a longtime resident.
In appreciation for their work on ISES planning, everyone in attendance received a GADC tote bag and a t-shirt that says, "Bringing New Perspectives to Middle School Education."
Sanders also recognized the core team members who helped complete the first phase of this planning process. Core team members include: Carlos Nelson, Diana Shulla-Cose, Leslie Wood, Tamara Davis, Ray Thompson, Jaime Barwig, Mark Arakelian, Chris Brown (LISC Consultant), Maureen Kelleher (LISC Consultant/Scribe), Dr. Cynthia Mears (Healthcare Consultant), Vijay Bhargava (Healthcare Consultant), and Tamara Nelson.