In the spirit of this most unusual season, I write this from my living room to yours. Much has been said about the difficulty of this time, and it rings true in our world. The charts show our zip code near the top of Chicago's COVID case rankings, and multiple young adults in my circle have indeed lost parents or grandparents to COVID. The news talk about shortages of food, income, & access to technology, and texts from our families echo that. Officials worry about increases of domestic abuse, and two different youth that I love have had to call authorities on parents or partners in the past week. The dangers are real.
Also real are the opportunities: openings for creativity, innovation, and meaningful connection. As the whole world talked about how to deliver instruction, I began reflecting on the teachers I watch at our local Cameron Elementary School. The best teachers have classrooms that master HOW the kids learn, but also WHY the kids learn. These classrooms are incredibly focused, hard-working--and full of stickers, Beanie babies, lollypops, high-fives, parties, and recognitions. The two go hand-in-hand. The lack of WHY in remote learning plans birthed our newest "program": H.I.P. Hip Hurray. (Homework Incentive Program--get it?) It's pretty simple. Families track the remote learning their kids do for their local school and communicate that to R CITY. Each Friday, R CITY staff pile into a video call and pull raffle winners. There's winners from our kids, winners from our youth, winners from our donors' families (yes, you can get in on this!), and winners from the best remote learners nominated by their Cameron Elementary School teachers. Prizes of toys, snacks and STEM kits are hand-delivered to homes, with grand prize winners in each category receiving dinner from a local restaurant. It's great fun with an ulterior motive nothing less than ensuring the support of our families through constant communication. In this time of crisis, we want to do all we can to keep our kids on that path to career.
Besides supporting our youth, partnerships with River City Community Church and the Healing Corner have allowed us to collaborate in providing regular food and emergency rental support to R CITY and local families. We're so thankful for these partners! Those of you who have sent special donations in this season: the smiles of our prize-winning children are thanks to you. For all the many ways that you engage, thank you. The well-being of our youth and families are so very worth it.
May God cover you all with peace, joy, health, and comfort,
Elizabeth Galik, Executive Director