Learning Empowered Inc

TO ALLEVIATE THE SYMPTOMS AND ADDRESS CAUSES OF POVERTY THROUGH SERVICE, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY.

THE QUALITY EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVE TAKES NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS OF LEARNING AND WHAT MAKES A CHILD SUCCESSFUL AND READY TO ENTER SCHOOL AND PUTS IT INTO PRACTICE. EACH CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING IN THE QELI CONTAINS EIGHT QUALITY COMPONENTS THAT ARE PROVEN TO START CHILDREN ON THEIR LIFELONG JOURNEY OF LEARNING AND GROWING. FACILITIES ARE LICENSED BY THE PINELLAS COUNTY LICENSING BOARD AND HAVE OR ARE SEEKING NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN. STAFF HAVE PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS, INCLUDING BACHELOR'S DEGREES FOR TEACHING STAFF AND CDA'S FOR CLASSROOM AIDES. ALL CLASSROOMS HAVE AGE APPROPRIATE GROUP SIZES AND RATIOS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INVOLVES THE ADULT MEMBERS AND SIBLINGS OF EACH CHILD IN THE LIFE OF THE CENTER AND PROVIDES THEM WITH NEEDED INFORMATION AND SKILLS TO REACH FAMILY GOALS OF STABILITY, EDUCATION AND INTERACTION. OUR CENTERS USE EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM, THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM, THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. OUR CENTERS HAVE QUALITY ENVIRONMENTS BASED ON THE ITERS AND ECERS RATING SCALES THAT PROVIDE A RICH LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING CENTERS THAT ENGAGE THE CHILDREN'S IMAGINATION. OUR CENTERS ALSO FOCUS ON CULTURAL COMPETENCE THAT IS EXHIBITED ON A DAILY BASIS BY STAFF AND COMMUNICATED TO FAMILIES AND STUDENTS SO THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE CENTER FAMILY ARE VALUED AND CELEBRATED AS UNIQUE PERSONS.

FOOD PROGRAMS:"PACK-A-SACK 4 KIDS" IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM OF UMCM SUNCOAST, LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS IN PINELLAS, MANATEE, AND PASCO COUNTIES, AND AREA CHURCHES AND COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP ADDRESS CHRONIC HUNGER AMONG ELEMENTARY AGE CHILDREN IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 10-15% OF ALL CHILDREN ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED MEALS AT SCHOOL. A SCHOOL WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM IS MATCHED WITH A LOCAL CHURCH, CIVIC GROUP, BUSINESS, OR OTHER ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY SNACKS EACH WEEKEND FOR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.TO MEET THE EMERGENCY FOOD NEEDS OF THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES UNABLE TO PURCHASE GROCERIES DUE TO FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, WE SUPPORT FOOD PANTRIES IN PINELLAS, PASCO, HERNANDO, AND MANATEE COUNTIES. THE PANTRIES ARE STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE HOST CHURCHES AND SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY BY UMCM, THE HOST CHURCH CONGREGATIONS, AND OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS.THE DOUG BROWN STREET MINISTRY PROVIDES HOT MEALS TO THE HOMELESS AND WORKING POOR SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL FOOD CENTER IN ST. PETERSBURG. THROUGH A ROTATING SCHEDULE OF TEAMS FROM CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, CIVIC GROUPS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, THE DINERS RECEIVE A NUTRITIOUS DINNER AS WELL AS A LISTENING EAR. SERVING TEAMS ARE MADE UP OF 10-20 VOLUNTEERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO PREPARE AND SERVE THE FOOD. OVER 200 PEOPLE ARE SERVED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY EACH NIGHT.

UMCM'S CHILDREN OF THE WORLD PRESCHOOL IS A UNIQUE PRESCHOOL DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO ENABLE THE CHILDREN OF RECENT IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO LEARN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, DEVELOP SOCIAL SKILLS AND LEARN AMERICAN CULTURE THROUGH THE USE OF CREATIVE CURRICULUM. CURRENTLY, CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL REPRESENT FAMILIES FROM 18 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. THE CURRICULUM WAS INTENTIONALLY CREATED TO REMAIN RESPONSIVE TO EACH CHILD AND FAMILY'S ETHNIC, CULTURAL, AND LINGUISTIC HERITAGE. FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UMCM'S FAMILIES LEARNING TOGETHER LITERACY PROGRAM, INCLUDING ENGLISH (ESOL) CLASSES, CIVICS CLASSES AND CITIZENSHIP TEST PREPARATION.

THE SUNCOAST CITIZENSHIP PROJECT PROVIDES STUDENTS SEEKING US CITIZENSHIP WITH ALL OF THE PREPARATION THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGHOUT THE NATURALIZATION PROCESS. STUDENTS ARE SCREENED FOR ELIGIBILITY, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH, STUDY US HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT, PRACTICE INTERVIEWING, AND COMPLETE NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS. LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY LAWYERS AND BIA ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVES, WHILE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY EXPERIENCE TEACHERS. SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN PINELLAS, MANATEE, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTIES. UMCM ASSISTS APPROXIMATELY 100 PERSONS EACH YEAR TO ATTAIN CITIZENSHIP.