What do 100 people who speak 7 languages have in common? The answer is: a commitment to the health and development of Clarkston’s babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Over 100 Clarkston residents and others interested in early learning, attended the second CDF Early Learning Community Trust meeting August 7 at the Clarkston First Baptist Church Family Resource Center. Many families were able to attend since free child care was available. With assistance from interpreters, participants discussed and prioritized early learning themes and issues important to the development of Clarkston’s young children. Participants ranked the five issues prioritized at the previous meeting.
The priority issue selected for the September 6th meeting is: “Early care and education centers – there will be quality early care and education centers serving Clarkston families, where home language and respect for culture are an integral part of the curriculum, and where families are trained and employed as aides and teachers.”
Many groups contributed to the success of the evening, including Refugee Family Services, Mommy and Me, Somali American Community Center, Clarkston First Baptist Church, and International Languages and Cultural Services, Inc. The next Trust meeting is September 6, 6 p.m., at the Clarkston First Baptist Church Family Resource Center. During this meeting, participants will brainstorm projects based on the priority issue and select Trustees who will guide the implementation process. The final project, to be funded through the $50,000 trust, will be selected at the September l8 meeting, l0:30 a.m., also at the Clarkston First Baptist Church Family Resource Center.
The CDF Early Learning Community Trust is funded in part by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through the Foundation’s early learning and family engagement initiative.