This week I have been continually impressed by the dedication to social change in our community. A large part of our social change work happens through MORE2 (More Squared), which stands for "Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity". One of the issues that MORE2 focuses on is education, and I have been wondering: What have you heard about Kansas City schools? Do you know about the variety of nonprofit organizations that exist to support the Kansas City Missouri School District (KCMSD) and supplement its programming? Do you know the passionate activists who are consistently calling the city government, School Board, Superintendent, and Principals to accountability for the experiences our children are having in school?
I am beginning to get to know these individuals and organizations and I am hopeful for the future. Here is a little bit of what I've learned and who I've met:
Start at Zero: Gives parents of young children the tools they need to best prepare for formal education starting in Kindergarten. This group provides classes for Parents, Playgroups for families, and developmental screenings for children. Click here to learn more
Turn the Page KC: A initiative from Mayor James to achieve grade level reading proficiency for all students by third grade. Click here for volunteer opportunities
St. Mark Center: Provides high quality educational child care and early childhood education for KC's most underserved neighborhoods. They are also working with Turn the Page to secure government funded preschool for all of KC's 4 year olds. Click here to find out why early childhood education matters
Murray Woodard, Kauffman Foundation Program Officer in Education: After successfully creating external partnerships for Kauffman Scholars, Murray is tasked with Kauffman's initiatives to support K-12 schools in KC. He is a graduate of KCMSD, who is working for racial and economic equity across the district, charter, and private schools.
Show Me KC Schools: An organization dedicated to helping parents find the right school for their child. You can go on tours of schools and a community member, to gain first-hand knowledge of what's happening. Click here for the calendar of School Tours
MORE2 Education Task Force: A group comprised of folks from MORE2 congregations who are concerned about government policies and procedures that impact education. The group is currently fighting TIF (Tax Increment Financing) requests from real estate developers.
These are just a few of the hard working organizations and individuals who are shaping the changes in our schools. If you would like to get involved in Broadway's efforts to improve education in our city, let's talk.