More than ever before, this year has been defined by collaboration and innovative partnerships. As needs arise in Durham, we continue to adjust our priorities, our focus, and our strategies to better serve children and families, keeping our mission at the forefront: to ensure every child enters school healthy and ready to succeed.
After seeing a need to address gaps in mental health services, we convened an Early Childhood Mental Health Task Force. After seeing an opportunity to work together with new partners in new ways, we played a key role in three United Way Collective Impact Collaboratives that address everything from early education to ending family homelessness. We are deeply involved in the newly formed Community Early Education/Preschool Task Force that will help more children in Durham access high-quality early education, and we are working with partners right now to bring the Campaign for Grade Level Reading to Durham.
These are just a few examples of our new collaborations this year.
We could not do this critical work without the partnership and support of many other organizations, agencies, parents, businesses, and community volunteers.
Everyone has a role – from parents to policy makers to principals; from civic leaders to school bus drivers to specialists in child development. Everyone has a stake – and school readiness is a high stakes enterprise.
This innovative work can only continue with your support. Please make your gift today! And today is another BIG GIVE DAY, so when you donate today you’ll have a chance to win a gift basket with gift cards, beer or wine, and recipes from the chef at Basan in downtown Durham, courtesy of Eschelon Hospitality. Give big and win big!
