Esperance Mukeshayezu and Carol Pratt meet three days a week for an hour and a half at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Portage. Mukeshayezu escaped genocide in Rwanda and Pratt, a volunteer tutor at the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, helps her improve her English skills.
The partnership has been moving to its next phases in December, including planning of a summit focusing on attaining input from local parents, and learning their priorities and concerns regarding early childhood education.
WMU president Dr. Edward Montgomery formally announced the partnership during his welcome address Friday, December 10, at the 2021 Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium.
Dr. Edward Montgomery will formally announce the partnership during his welcome address at the 2021 Adult Literacy Research and Training Symposium from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, at the Fetzer Center and online. This free, annual symposium, “Fostering Leadership and Equity Through Adult Literacy,” facilitates cooperation between the academic research of best practices in adult literacy and community-based application of this knowledge.
The Edison Early Childhood Education Career Pathway has received a $300,000 Child Care Innovation Award from the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC). The funds will be used to launch Phase 2 of the program and scale up efforts to develop a sustainable career path that addresses the growing need for qualified early learning professionals in the Edison community of Kalamazoo.
