L EADI NG P E O P L E . L E A D I N G P R O S P E R I T Y.
Community Collaboration
Impacting Families Through the RezilientKidz Model
CHAD PATTERSON The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Pines
DAVID JOCHUM Director of Leadership & Business Development Longview Chamber of Commerce
Understanding the essential building blocks of what our kids need has our team working in alignment with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Pines and Thrive Longview on an important education initiative. We believe education/workforce initiatives in communities miss the mark if they do not start with our youngest learners. This is why Raising Highly Capable Kids, presented by US Title, is such a critical program as it guides parents in learning best practices to help their children succeed in school. Did you know? “Third grade has been identified as important to reading literacy because it is the final year children are learning to read, after which students are “reading to learn.” If they are not proficient readers when they begin fourth grade, as much as half of the curriculum they will be taught will be incomprehensible.” (National Conference of State Legislatures). These children will then struggle throughout their education, which then has an impact on their employability upon graduation, if they graduate.
Have you heard the term it takes a village? Our village is a strong coalition of like-minded leaders and stakeholders who are wrapping around families going through our program; “Raising Highly Capable Kids” (RHCK). RHCK began through the partnership the Chamber had with Ware East Texas Montessori Academy in 2017. “What we learned was our village had to grow and expand to have a greater impact and reach more families,” stated Dave Jochum. When Chad Patterson, Boys & Girls Club of the Big Pines and Clent Holmes, Thrive Longview became partners we knew it was time to dream big audacious goals about how we can help bring the program to families by training parents/guardians on the 40 Developmental Assets. The fall ’21 program kicked off in September at the Longview location of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Pines. Volunteers from area businesses and churches are demonstrating their passion and commitment to families by helping lift up, build up, and equip parents and children to be more successful at home and school. Like John Maxwell’s “Law of the Lid” teaches, “if you lift up one part, you’re actually lifting up the whole” of a family,
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team, or community. The program is a perfect fit with Boys & Girls Clubs. Chad Patterson, CEO, writes, “Every day, in every club, with every child and family, our mission at The Boys & Girls Clubs calls us to help children reach their fullest potential. “RHCK” aligns perfectly with our mission, and we’re grateful to have the opportunity to change the trajectory of family success for generations to come.” The fall class graduates in December and we are already working on the winter/spring class. Together we know we can build and mobilize a local coalition and our partners will help us cast the vision needed grow and sustain our work. Who can participate? We are seeking stakeholders who will rally around the program by providing volunteers to facilitate and lead small group workshops over a 13-week period. continued page 11
