Food For Free’s Post

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Well said Jim Davnie and Kent Pekel. With a focus on solutions, Family Engagement, Positive School Climate/Multi-tiered Systems of support, Data-Driven Early Warning Systems, Increased Caring Adults and Mentors, we are addressing the root causes instead of solely placing the blame on the student and/or their families. According to the MN Student Survey data, 25% of 11th grade students, 28% of 9th grade students, 32% of 8th grade students, and 54% of 5th grade students in MN say "adults in my community care quite a bit/very much about me". Flip the language and say out loud the % of students who feel adults don't care about them. This is why our community efforts to listen to and come alongside our young people is so important. Our young folks need multiple layers of support and this isn't only the school's responsibility. We continue our efforts to open a youth center in our small rural community for this very reason; our youth have told us what they need! Read more in MN Alliance with Youth report, Chronic Absenteeism: A National and Local Challenge. https://lnkd.in/gM-rXwwW

This week, I had the fantastic opportunity to come together with other educators from across New Jersey to learn all about integrating Youth Participatory Action Research into the classroom. While this training was very fruitful for my dissertation research (with 5th graders), I left thinking about integrating YPAR into the elementary and early childhood classroom. This got me thinking about what type of skills and competencies we can focus on developing in our youngest learners so that when they enter middle and high school, they can be agents of their research. They can draw data-supported conclusions and inform decisions that impact their lives. This is how youth can become Citizens of the Now. However, this year, I am teaching preschool (I teach during the day and conduct my dissertation fieldwork after school). It was challenging and exciting to brainstorm ways that 4 and 5-year-olds can conduct their own research. How can they "collect data" and then "analyze" the data? We all know little kids love grabbing our phones and tablets and taking pictures all around them. They might not be able to write full sentences yet (although many can!), but they certainly can ask questions and even conduct a survey or interview (with support). They love questions! And they love finding connections between different observations. They love talking about big visuals and pictures. That sounds like data analysis to me... What do you think? Can preschoolers conduct research?

M25 Barbecue is personal, selfless, effective and Christ-honoring. It's an outreach ministry that combines compassion, service, evangelism, and, yes — barbecue — what appears to be a winning recipe for any church or community. - The Baptist Paper

A good one. Quality education is the key to a growing and safe community.

In 1970, community members in New Hope, Minnesota, joined with faith-based partners to establish People Responding in Social Ministry (PRISM, Golden Valley MN) to help neighbors struggling with food insecurity. What began as a small shed of essentials in New Hope has grown into a resource serving a larger community area, stretching into Plymouth, Crystal, New Hope, Robbinsdale, and Golden Valley. PRISM’s mission is to provide social services and connections that empower people to build healthy, stable lives. Programs include the Marketplace Food Shelf, housing assistance, Shop for Change thrift store, and children’s programs offering birthday party supplies, a Holiday Toy Shoppe, and back-to-school items. As food insecurity rises, PRISM remains a crucial resource. Before the pandemic, 1 in 11 families faced hunger; today, it’s 1 in 6. Despite these challenges, PRISM treats every participant with dignity and compassion, providing vital services while honoring the resilience of the individuals they serve. Learn more about PRISM below - https://prismmpls.org/

Not only does Feed the Children help children around the world, but they are headquartered right here in OKC making an impact locally, nationally, and globally. I loved getting to attend the grand opening of the FEED's Partner Market! This new program is based out of our distribution center in Oklahoma City where local partner organizations can shop for the products they need - whether that be food, cleaning items, hygiene, and even books. Did you know that 15% of people live below the poverty line right here in Oklahoma City? With the Partner Market, FEED is working to create measurable, sustained impact, and create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. https://lnkd.in/dpg2Jc35

HONORING HER LEGACY “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Those words, spoken by the late Helen Keller, encapsulate the overriding purpose of Overbrook School for the Blind. And as we celebrate her birthday celebration on June 27, Ms. Keller’s words underline the importance OSB’s ongoing mission (https://obs.org/) is to that collegial effort.  OSB has been educating and enabling the deaf/visually impaired community since 1832, serving students within its walls first, and later establishing additional schools for the blind throughout the nation and abroad. Its scope has adjusted and expanded over its decades of service to educate those with additional challenges beyond their visual impairments, requiring the school to adjust and expand its facilities and capabilities.  Over the last decade the school has added a greenhouse, a new aquatics center, and improved accessibility for those with mobility challenges. Among Ms. Keller’s other well-circulated observations is that “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.” Whether it’s the students, the faculty, the parents, the support staff or the alumni, the smiles that saturate this 192-year-old school are a testament to that truth –one  that overrides even the most daunting of challenges. Please consider making a gift today to honor Ms. Keller, and ensure that legacy for decades to come. (obs.org/donate)

In a recent edition of Exchange Every Day dedicated to embracing families, communities, and culture, Monica Wells, our family and community program administrator, shared her deep connection to families and communities and how it positively impacts children's success. "Strong, authentic relationships between our families, students, and educators are key. We must speak life into our students, cheer them on, teach them the skills, and provide the tools they need to be prepared for the future. We must show examples of the power, importance, and necessity of community." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gc7ur8uu

Building a Legacy of Positivity and Growth The Children of Fallen Heroes mission is about more than just our organization or any one individual—it’s about something much bigger. It’s about taking care of the foundations of what truly matters: family and children. When we invest in these pillars, we create a ripple effect of strength, resilience, and hope that extends far beyond us. Our work is rooted in the belief that by fostering a positive community movement, we encourage growth and the power of positivity. We have the opportunity to build up our families and our communities in ways that inspire and uplift, ensuring that future generations not only thrive but carry forward these values of compassion and care. At the heart of everything we do is the commitment to honoring the legacies of those who have sacrificed for us. But beyond that, it’s also about laying the groundwork for those who come next, creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and be supported by a community that believes in them. Together, we can cultivate a future where our children feel empowered, our families feel supported, and our communities grow stronger through shared purpose and unity. This movement is about building lasting connections, creating positive change, and ensuring that no one is left behind. Let’s keep moving forward—together, for the children, for the families, for the future.