Join us to volunteer by emailing gumboforthesoul-subscribe@yahoogroups.comor request a workshop at gumboforthesoul@yahoo.com
The most recent published report from the National Center for Education Statistics conveys the high school drop-out rate for African Americans is 10.9 percent, far outpacing the percentage for whites, whose drop-out rate is 7.3 percent.
Bay Area parent and adult tutor Beverly Black Johnson has taken steps to address these dismal statistics.
She founded "Gumbo for the Soul" Literacy Program to implement resolutions to black students' declining GPA’s, and to improve the scores of college-bound high school seniors by developing local tutoring programs. Created to implement tools to support and promote higher
learning strategies for black youth starting with awareness,
tutoring, and scholarship programs to contribute to their success. Additionally, she launched the Gumbo for The Soul Scholarship Awareness Program.
We've adapted the Literacy Support Ribbon to heighten awareness of our vision, wearing it as a show of support and unity. Plans are underway developing partnerships with educational institutes, churches and libraries in major cities throughout the US.
Ms Johnson- "We as parents have to step up and place higher demands on the education system to get our kids the quality of education they need and deserve. We have to instill in our youth that illiteracy is unacceptable. It's our responsibility to send them to school prepared to learn. We cannot afford to stand by the wayside and let our kids slip through the cracks".
Support literacy in the black community by wearing the ribbon and stepping up to the plate and batting for our kids' future. We need our collective efforts to secure the future of generations to come. At the present rate, we could easily become enslaved in our minds and think there’s really nothing more that can be done or worse be enslaved again if nothing is done.
Were asking for your support and contributions by wearing the Literacy Support Ribbon we’ve chosen to represent our cause and heighten the awareness of the statistics that are plaguing our youths’ future. Contributors will receive a kente-cloth "literacy ribbon." When worn, the ribbon will identify the wearer as a supporter of and contributor to
Literacy in the Black Community
Scholarship Workshop:
Our workshop focuses on equipping individuals with tools and resources to help their students succeed in school.
You'll learn about resourceful information, how to's, techniques and tools for providing students with the support needed to be successful in school.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to be a successful citizen in a thriving and resourceful society. Learn how to identify and deal with issues that contribute to lack of focus and failure.
Our workshops are designed to help you not only identify problems but to devise a plan of action to get students on course to becoming successful high school graduates and college hopefuls.
Workshop facilitators are comprised of a mixed team of parents, teachers, and professionals.
Gumbo for The Soul Workshop 2006 Schedule:
Sept./2006
Ms. Beverly Black Johnson-founder of Gumbo for The Soul
conducted 2 workshops:
September 16, 2006 Church of God in Christ, Oakland, CA www.eastoaklandcogic.org
This was an excellent, informative workshop. On top of that, I got resources!...anonymous participant
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2007
Ms. Beverly Black Johnson-founder of Gumbo for The Soul
will be conducting a workshop (closed to the public):
TBA
Family Supportive Housing San Jose Family Shelter
San Jose, CA 95133
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2008
Ms. Beverly Black Johnson-founder of Gumbo for The Soul
will be conducting a workshop (closed to the public):
February 21, 2008-6:30pm
Family Supportive Housing San Jose Family Shelter
San Jose, CA 95133
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San Jose City College February 28, 2008-12:30PM Student Center
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Gumbo for The Soul is a 501(c)(4) public service organization.