Grantees

This program will implement a standardized, comprehensive and replicable technology program into preschools which is intended to provide teachers and center staff with the necessary skills to help students develop strong social and comprehension skills.

We are requesting funding to overcome structural barriers to teachers’ use of our Farm to School garden for learning. We have maintained an educational garden since 2017 to foster an early exploration of where healthy food comes from. Over the years, there has been one teacher, the Garden Coordinator, who primarily takes care of the garden, which led to one group of children spending the most time there. We have practiced rotations for the Garden Coordinator to facilitate garden exploration and cooking with other groups regularly. However, we are striving to encourage use of the garden by all teachers. We seek to mitigate their structural barriers and continue to provide professional learning and leadership. We believe that the garden is a setting not only for learning about nature and food, but also for all the same learning objectives that one can practice indoors including motor skills, observation, language, and problem-solving. Children who visit and tend the garden will also understand deeply how they can grow something beautiful and nourishing from a small seed. By adding equipment that facilitates learning, safety, and comfort, all children in our Center can benefit from the emergent learning opportunities offered by the garden and its produce.

The Early Learning Center seeks funding to expand its sensory tool library through the acquisition of specialized equipment designed to support children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical development. These tools will promote inclusion and provide therapeutic benefits for children with sensory sensitivities. Our future location will have a room specifically designed for sensory breaks. Children enrolled at the Early Learning Center represent a diverse population with varying developmental needs. The current sensory library is limited in scope and lacks varied equipment that could more effectively support regulation, engagement, and learning. Upgrading the space will help address these gaps and provide equitable access to sensory interventions. Our goal is to support neurodivergent learners better in our community and these additions will create a safe, stimulating space where all children, especially those with sensory processing challenges, can engage, regulate, and grow in alignment with our core values.

The Early Learning Express (ELE) bookmobile visits early care and education centers, afterschool programs, and low-income communities in our region. It is uniquely effective outreach to early care and education providers in isolated rural areas. These programs often lack the ability to access local libraries or other resources to provide program enrichment to the children they serve. The ELE has always included books, songs, stories and interactive learning. Recently we expanded our programs to include more arts exposure. Art is a great vehicle to introduce young children to literacy, math and science concepts while their brains are still developing. Thus, the bookmobile is a portal to learning through music, puppetry and other forms art.

A literacy program for the very young children at Neshobee Children's Center.

Provide family literacy opportunities to families with young children

They would like to expand the program to include extended materials for families to use together as a way to give all families an opportunity to foster their child's learning and increase their social emotional, communication, and cognitive skills

Future Genius, Inc. provides high-quality, affordable summer enrichment programs that explore 21st century sustainability education and stewardship. Through exploration of the U.N. Global Goals for Sustainable Development, Future Genius activates middle school youth, regardless of family income or background, to become agents of change—future leaders and problem-solvers—energized to transform the planet. Our innovative STEM programs are designed to boost academic achievement, foster social and emotional well-being, and create civic responsibility for a sustainable future. With a focus on personal development, Future Genius builds confidence and initiates exciting ideas for making a difference.