Desert Garden UCC is giving a kick start to the West Side Head Start Literacy in the Home program. The goal of the program is to have 22 free libraries, one for each of the 20 sites and two for the home visitors.
Each teacher was invited to submit a list of books representing the cultures and languages of the families served. The church then designated $250 per site and has purchased books for each of the 22 sites. The free libraries will give families access to free, high-quality books on a “take one, leave one” basis.
The sites encompass a wide sweep of the West Valley. There are four in Avondale; two in Buckeye; one in El Mirage; nine in Glendale; one in Peoria; two in Tolleson; and, one Tonopah.
In a recent publication online, Office of Head Start Director, Dr. Bernadine Futrell said that Head Start is committed to being a leader in anti-bias education, anti-racism, and as an important “Equity Lever”. From its onset, Head Start has brought voices to the table about issues that are directly related to bias and inequities in the communities they serve.
Desert Garden UCC Mission Outreach Team members have been educating themselves about racial injustice. They have asked themselves the question “What can we do, as members of a predominantly white, privileged community, to work toward elimination of racial inequities?” What better way than to support a program like Head Start?