Community Vitality 2023 - Strong Start
Community Vitality 2023
Strong Start
Inclusive Education for All
Grant: $65,000 for 2 years
Education is not only a fundamental human right, but it also serves as a catalyst for personal growth, societal progress, and economic development. It is through inclusive and barrier-free access to education that we can create a society where every individual has the chance to succeed and fulfill their aspirations. Early childhood intervention plays a critical role in this endeavor, as it ensures that every child has an equal opportunity to access quality education from the very beginning.
In line with this vision, Strong Start provides programs and services aimed at helping children learn to read and acquire essential early literacy skills. One of their notable initiatives, the Letters, Sounds, and Words program, supports one-on-one instruction for children who require additional practice with reading fundamentals, catering to their unique learning needs and individual challenges. Within the Thames Valley District School Board, this program has been implemented by 36 Middlesex County schools, with 25 schools in the City of London. It has consistently demonstrated success, with an impressive 95% of children achieving considerable, excellent, or outstanding gains.
It has been twenty years since the program was launched in Kitchener, and an external review of the program materials identified that 55% of the games and activities could be enhanced from an equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) perspective. The two-year $65,000 Community Vitality grant will enable Strong Start to make necessary changes to ensure that the program materials are more inclusive and representative of the diverse children, volunteers, and school communities served by Strong Start.
Brooke Eby, Strong Start’s Director of Development and Communications, says that in our ever-evolving communities, it is crucial to embrace inclusivity and diversity to enrich our education system and cultivate an environment where every child can thrive. “This work is critical to Strong Start’s alignment with the system change that is underway in our school boards, schools, and communities. It will help ensure the relevance of our program for years to come and our ability to impact thousands of children over time.”
Find out more about the Community Vitality Grant program at LCF and Strong Start.
Read about the other grantees: