the npn trumpet parents first edition february 2014

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February 2014 • Parents First Edition • Community Voices Orchestrating Change

VOTEParents Voices United for New Orleans Children

SPECIAL

PARENTS

EDITION

Neighborhoods Partnership Network’s (NPN) mission is to improve our quality of life by engaging New Orleanians in neighborhood revitalization and civic process.

Photo: Kevin Griffin/2Kphoto

I was 25 and clueless when I became a first-time mom, overcome with fear and anxiety from the moment my OB/GYN told me I would be expecting a present in February of the following year. From the first day my son was born, everything I learned was through trial and error. Resources and advice were scarce, and if they were available, they primarily came by word of mouth. Planning beyond the current moment and

questioning the “expert” or process was unheard of and frowned upon. Additionally, fathers being decision makers in the lives of their children was a rarity and their opinions were not often valued. I was fortunate to have a network that supported, guided and advised me along the way. I was empowered by my community elders to cherish those joyful times in the early phases of my son’s life. However, this unique and joyous experience was not without its very own unique challenges for which I was sometimes still unprepared.

This safety net that so many of us enjoyed was a casualty of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. As families were torn apart, parents no longer enjoyed the circle of community that could help navigate them through the process of having and raising young children. And now, sixteen years later I have the opportunity to start again at one of life’s most challenging and important tasks. That’s where this special edition of the NPN Trumpet comes in handy. It is filled with some of the tools and resources I can count on to help me and my husband as we embark on this journey of raising our daughter. Parents First brings you, the New Orleans resident, a whole new experience with articles designed to engage you as a parents in every step of the early childhood experience. It covers topics including pregnancy and birth; the infancy, toddler and preschool stages; holistic dialogue to help shape and create public policy; and community resources and tools to better enhance your family’s quality of life. This magazine also serves as a space where community voices are connected and amplified to continue making positive changes in New Orleans neighborhoods.

From time to time, all parents need a little help. Sometimes a solid piece of encouraging advice can help you have an “a-ha” moment that changes the way you think and act, instead of just focusing on what’s wrong. Through this Parents First Edition, the NPN Trumpet Magazine and our community partners want to create a strong network of support for all parents. We know that we all need a community of other caring adults—to share information, to ask questions and to turn to in times of need. I encourage you to get involved and get connected to the network so that we can all help our children be successful in the future.

Sincerely,

Timolynn S. Sumter

Timolynn Sams Sumter

Second TimeAround

Letter From The Executive Director

NEIGHBORHOODSPARTNERSHIP NETWORK

NPN provides an inclusive and collaborative city-wide framework to empower

neighborhood groups in New Orleans.

Find Out More at NPNnola.com

NPN Board MembersVictor Gordon, Board Chair, Pontilly Neighborhood AssociationWendy Laker, Vice Chair, Mid-City Neighborhood OrganizationAngela Daliet, Treasurer, Parkview Neighborhood AssociationTilman Hardy, Secretary, Leonidas/Pensiontown Neighborhood AssociationRyan Albright, CBNOKaren Chabert, Irish Channel Neighborhood AssociationBenjamin Diggins, Melia SubdivisionLeslie Ellison, Tunisburg Square Civic Homeowners Improvement Association

Sylvia Scineaux-Richard, ENONACTim Garrett, Marlyville/Fontainbleau NeighborhoodKatherine Prevost, Upper Ninth Ward Bunny Friend Neighborhood Association

Third Party Submission IssuesPhysical submissions on paper, CD, etc. cannot be returned unless an arrangement is made. Submissions may be edited and may be published or otherwise reused in any medium. By submitting any notes, information or material, or otherwise providing any material for publication in the newspaper, you are representing that you are the owner of the material, or are making your submission with the consent of the owner of the material, all information you provide is true, accurate, current and complete.

Non-Liability DisclaimersThe Trumpet may contain facts, views, opinions, statements and recommendations of third party individuals and organizations. The Trumpet does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information in the publication and use of or reliance on such advice, opinion, statement or other information is at your own risk.

Copyright© 2014 Neighborhoods Partnership Network. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Neighborhoods Partnership Network is expressly prohibited.

THE TRUMPET | PARENTS FIRST EDITION | FEBRUARY | 20142

The Trumpet Contents4 A Positive Image of Fatherhood

6 Puentes New Orleans Graduates First Group of Latino Parents 12 Urban League’s PRIDE Alumni on the Move

14 The Business of Being Born

17 Advice to Young Parents from a Young Father

N E I G H B O R H O O D S P A R T N E R S H I P N E T W O R K

The Trumpet Editorial StaffRachel D. Graham, Editor-in-ChiefScott Bicking, Art DirectorJason Stopa, Policy and Education EditorChemwapuwa Blackman & Remeka Jones , Associate Neighborhood Editor

THE TRUMPET | PARENTS FIRST EDITION | FEBRUARY | 2014 3

NEIGHBORHOODSPARTNERSHIP NETWORK

3321 Tulane AvenueNew Orleans, LA 70119 504.940.2207 • FX 504.940.2208 [email protected]

15 Doulas: A Holistic Approach to Childbirth

This Special Edition of The Trumpet is Sponsored by

10 11PlayBuild NOLAOrleans Public Education Network & community Partners Blaze A Trail for Childhood Development

9 Protector of the Pack


Giving Judah someone to look up to and showing him the path to success is what I hope will keep me from getting the dreaded phone call of any mother. “Maam, your son is…” Living in a community where youth of his gender and race are statistically more likely to be incarcerated, killed or drop outs of school than go to college, I battle to show him right from

wrong. Everything I do in my life is to teach him what it takes for him to grow into a man, how to love a woman and how to be successful. First and foremost, I tell him several times a day how much I love him. I always want him to know he is loved and to feel it. Second, I prioritize his education, I always want him to have options and opportunities. Finally, I pride myself on his sense of gratitude and appreciation for others when I hear him say “Tank do”, or for us grown-ups.. “Thank you”. Although I love to spoil him with shoes and toys and supply him with the best, having a child is not about accessorizing. It’s about contributing to the growth of the future by remembering lessons from the past. Whatever my son chooses to do, whatever talents God blesses him with, I want him to make the world a better place, not be the reason for anyone’s pain or despair. This lesson is not just taught but shown. Judah has changed me from a misguided girl to a virtuous woman. Not only do I owe him my life but if for his, I would lose it.

1. What is your responsibility/commitment as a father? It is my commitment as a father to raise responsible and educated young ladies.

2. What are some of the misconceptions, in your opinion, about parenting?I assume there is a misconception that having kids is synonymous with getting old. When I was in my “first” prime, I had my oldest daughter. Some friends thought it would be the end of my youth, but she in fact kept me very young and motivated. I had my second daughter at 40 after 12 years. Instead of turning me fully grey haired (laugh), she has sent me into my “second” prime. She peaks my will to remain healthy, fit, and relevant.

3. What is the significance of being the father to two girls? I believe it was a higher power telling me, “Hey, now YOU get to be behind that shotgun (laugh)!” On a serious note, it was an opportunity for me to correct the flaws I had witnessed in my mother, and to raise two women in the manner and light my mother would have favored.

4. Do you find that you are a father to more children than your biological children? I am naturally a father figure to many kids whether it is my daughters’ friend, my siblings’ kids or in teaching and mentoring situations. I demand respect as an adult, and I think this prompts kids to view me in such a way.

5. What mistakes do you see fathers making that you want to address? I believe that if you are making a conscious effort to do the right thing, then certain mistakes can be accepted. The one unacceptable mistake is for a man to bail out once he figures out that he’s not cut out for fatherhood after he makes the child.

6. If there was is such a thing getting prepared for fatherhood, what would be your advice for preparation? In my opinion, you can’t really prepare for fatherhood. Take it in stride and everything will fall in place.

7. Tell us a little something about both of your girls. We all look similar. We are all fairly goofy. Me and Linda (oldest) are probably best friends. The jury is still out on me and little Hazel who still seems to choose who she needs to stick to at the appropriate time (lol).

8. Academically, what are parents responsible for teaching their children? If you teach your kids the importance of valuing an education and the art of learning, they do the rest for you, in my case at a very high level with little help needed.

9. How do you become privy to academic and life experience opportunities for your oldest daughter?

Judah, My Love

A Positive Image of Fatherhood

By Megan Hite

By Kebori Denson

Being a young mom is one of the most challenging but rewarding decisions I have ever made in my life. While I strive to succeed, the hurdles associated with finding childcare and making time to show my love are outweighed by the desire to make him, my two year old son proud of me.


August H. Wilson Charter School Parents Proudly Playing Their PartBy Nakeisha Coleman

I’m also a volunteer for the school library. I help keep the books organized for the students and teachers. For example, take the book fair. I help set up the stations

and register. I enjoy watching the kids pick between books and magazines. Also, I attended a parent photography class at Wilson. It was for six weeks. The teacher

taught us about using different techniques, such as repetition, tonality, focus and different angles. We used these instead of the usual eye-level photo shots. One day, we brought our sons and they were our models. Our sons also took photos of us. During the school family meeting, we displayed our work in a slideshow to the other parents. Here are some examples of the photos I took.

My name is Nakeisha Coleman. I am the proud mother of Destin Darrough. I’m also a volunteer for Andrew H. Wilson Charter School for the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. I like volunteering because it gives me an inside track on how my son is doing in school. Also it shows him that I’m interested in his achievements in school. On the other hand, it’s great practice because it helps me with my training for when I start school up again.

I really let Linda choose her direction and support her as I need to. She knows I have her back. I don’t try crowding her, because she hates that. Apparently, my opinions are too critical (laughs).

10. Do you think that she is on a good or great path in life? What do you attribute that to? Do you attribute her achievements in part/ for the most part to your parenting? How does having a mother and father in the same home play a part?I can’t ask for her to be on a better path. She fully understands that she’s the only person who can mess it up and that’s the awesome. I attribute her success to her will to never settling for mediocrity. In some ways I think that her mother and I play a role, but I believe she’d be headed down a good road anyway. I can say that having both parents plays a part, because I can concentrate on being her father.

11. What is it like having an adolescent and a baby? It’s funny because I am a little older and wonder how I am going to reinvent myself to do this again. In this situation, she is the absolute opposite of the very obedient Linda. She is a defiant terror.

12. How do you think New Orleans can become a greater city for children of all ages? For starters, we should be allowing kids to stay kids. When I was an adolescent, the city network of parks, camps, and neighborhood centers offered many things to do for children up to age 17 at least. Parents are hard pressed to find activities for kids older than 10 now if they aren’t private or non-profit. Children are being thrown to the dogs at a very young age and right now we’re paying dearly for it. That is why I like to have my girls with me in public (schools/SUNO, mall, etc.) as much as I can so that I can represent a positive image of the African American father in New Orleans.


What would you like to share with other parents about your experience with the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors program?

Like the name indicates, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors is a workshop that opens many doors for us. One of the principal benefits from the program is that it provides us (parents) with the necessary tools to be better parents and to be able to collaborate and influence our child’s education, things that no school or university teaches – how to be a better parent.

– Maria Emma Mendoza de Aguilar

There were many wonderful themes. Everything was important. I never missed a session. Parents should assist this program so that can gain more knowledge. I would assist the program again.

– Paulina Gonzalez

Would you like to share something that you learned about how to advocate for your children?

Yes, most importantly, all the people who came to the sessions to help us not feel intimidated because we are limited English proficient. There are doors and ways to find solutions for problems, there are people that have offered us their support if we have concerns, we can count on different organizations.

– Maria Guadalupe Reyes

Did you meet other parents that you had something in common with at the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors workshops that you had not previously met before?

Yes, I met other parents who have things in common with me. Things that are basically centered on our concern for our children’s education and helping find a better future for them. I felt in solidarity with them (other parents) since we are all in the same position, desiring to participate in a more direct way in the education of our children and thanks to these workshops, we are able to do that now.


Anything else?I invite Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors to continue being a presence at

Head Start Centers, or in other schools. They should make provisions, or assist other parents in learning about Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors and meeting the wonderful people that have helped us out so much and have helped us not be embarrassed to ask questions, to not be so timid, to know that it is something positive, and that we don’t have time to waste because our kids need us. To those Latino parents, we need to challenge ourselves, there is nothing to lose, only more knowledge to gain.


Puentes New Orleans received a grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation as part of the “Stand Up For Our Children” initiative that supports the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors program. The initiative supports Puentes New Orleans and their work with the Latino community as one of the nonprofit organizations that sees parents as

change agents and as the primary advocates for their children. Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors is the nation’s first evidence-based Latino school readiness and parent engagement program and is being offered to Latino parents who have children ages 0-5.

The Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors program includes sessions on the importance of literacy, healthy food choices, and understanding of childhood development while also introducing parents to programs and services in their

community with an emphasis that parents are the first teachers and best advocates for their child. Puentes New Orleans has included two additional sessions to provide further focus on advocacy, language access, and knowledge of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, which are part of the public school system.

Puentes is proud to announce the graduation of the first group of Latino parents from the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors parent engagement program in December 2013. Mr. Larry Dale, School Board President of Jefferson Parish Public Schools, honored the parents with the presentation of their graduation certificates from the program in a ceremony. Graduates from the program are continuing to meet to work on an advocacy calendar for Spanish-speaking parents in the community.

Puentes New Orleans Graduates First Group of Latino Parents From the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Program

Latino Graduates of Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Parent Engagement Program Share Their Experiences

A new group of parents will begin the program at Louise Head Start Center in Orleans Parish this February.

For more information please call Puentes New Orleans at 821-7228 and speak with Jenny Yanez, MSW, the principal facilitator for the program.


Puentes New Orleans ha recibido fondos del Greater New Orleans Foundation como parte de la iniciativa “Stand Up For Our Children/Defendiendo a Nuestros Hijos” que apoya el programa Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors. La iniciativa apoya a Puentes New Orleans y su labor con la comunidad Latina, como unas de las

organizaciones que reconoce a padres de familia como “agentes de cambio” y los que principalmente abogan por sus hijos. El programa Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors es reconocido a nivel nacional por sus resultados en la preparación escolar y participación de padres Latinos y está ofreciéndose a padres Latinos que tienen hijos de menos de cinco años.

El programa Abriendo Puertas incluye sesiones sobre la importancia de alfabetización, opciones alimenticias saludables, y entendimiento del desarrollo de los niños como también introduce programas y servicios disponibles en la

comunidad para padres Latinos. El programa enfatiza que los padres son los primeros maestros de sus hijos y los que mejoran pueden abogar por el bienestar de sus hijos. Puentes ha incluido dos sesiones adicionales para proveer un mayor enfoque sobre abogacía, acceso al idioma, y conocimiento de los programas de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) que forman parte del sistema escolar público.

Puentes se complace en anunciar la graduación del primer grupo de padres Latinos que se graduaron del programa Abriendo Puertas en diciembre del 2013. El Señor Larry Dale, Presidente de La Junta Escolar de las Escuelas Públicas de la Paroquia de Jefferson, honoro a los padres con la presentación de sus certificados de graduación en una ceremonia. Los graduados del programa continúan de reunirse y están diseñando un calendario de abogacía para padres de habla Hispana en la comunidad.

¿Qué le gustaría compartir con otros padres sobre su experiencia con el programa Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors?

Como su nombre lo indica, es un taller que nos abre muchas puertas, en el cual uno de los beneficios principales que obtenemos es que nos proporciona las herramientas necesarias para mejorar como padres y poder colaborar e influir en la educación de nuestros hijos, ya que en ninguna escuela ó universidad nos enseñan a ser buenos padres. En este sentido, a todo el que tenga la oportunidad de asistir a este taller los invito a hacerlo ya que aparte de que se hacen amigos, abre muchas puertas, además nos ayuda a conocer nuestros derechos y responsabilidades.


Hubo muchos temas bonitos. Todo fue importante. Yo no falte ningún día. Padres debían de asistir este programa para adquirir más conocimiento. Yo volvería a asistir el programa.

– Paulina Gonzalez

¿Pudiera compartir algo que aprendió sobre como abogar por sus hijos?

Si, principalmente, todas las personas que vinieron (a las sesiones) a ayudarnos a que nosotros no nos sintamos intimidados por el idioma. Hay puertas y maneras para poder buscar solución de algún problema, hay personas que nos

han brindados su apoyo, si tenemos alguna duda, nosotros podemos contar con diferentes organización.


¿Conoció otros padres como usted en los talleres educativos de Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors que no había conocido antes que tengan cosas en común con usted?

Si, conocí a otros padres con los que tenemos cosas en común las cuales básicamente se centran en que nos preocupamos por la educación de nuestros hijos y buscamos un futuro mejor para ellos. Me sentí en solidaridad con ellos ya que estábamos en la misma posición, queriendo participar de una forma más directa en la educación de nuestros hijos y gracias a este taller hoy en día podemos hacerlo.


¿Algo más?Los invito a que Abriendo Puertas continúan en Head Start, o en otras escuelas.

Que aporten o ayuden a que otros padres conozcan Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors y personas lindas que nos han ayudado mucho, y que nos han ayudado a que no tengamos pena a preguntar, y a no ser tan tímidos, es algo positivo, y no hay que perder tiempo, nuestros hijos nos necesitan. A esos padres Latinos, hay que animarnos, no hay nada que perder, nada más ganar conocimientos.


Puentes New Orleans Gradua a El Primer Grupo de Padres Latinos del Programa Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors

Los Graduados del Programa Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Comparten Sus Experiencias

Un nuevo grupo de padres empezaran el programa en Louise Head Start Center este febrero.

Para más información, por favor llamar a Puentes al 821-7228 ext. 234 y hablen con Jenny Yanez, MSW, encargada principal del programa.


Living in the New Orleans metro area has been an adventure to say the least, both bad and good. When deciding to move to Louisiana from Florida, my husband and I were concerned with the quality of education that was available for our daughter in the area and finding a safe place to call home, while embracing the local. Both finding an affordable and safe place to live and finding a school that was effect was a difficult task. We settled on living in Metairie in very undesirable accommodations, with a local school that we were told was one of the best. My daughter went from being challenged at her old school and learning at a steady rate, to bringing home one sheet of homework a night and learning nothing at all. In the area where we moved there were large population of Latinos and the majority of her class was made up of children who barely spoke English, with a teacher who did not speak Spanish. My daughter was being left behind in a system that was not prepared for their Spanish-speaking students, and as a result neglected the student whose first and only language was English.

Then my Mother saw an interview with the on the morning news of the student leader from the new charter school opening in Gretna called Young Audiences Charter School. This school seemed perfect because it was based on an arts integrated curriculum that reminded me of how the schools were when I was growing up in Los Angeles, CA. So, my

husband and I took a leap of faith and enrolled our daughter, hoping for the best.I can honestly say that we found the best curriculum for our daughter,

but in the process we also inherited some bad. In all of my years I had never experienced such aggressive, unhappy, and stressed children, who parents and school staff seemed at a loss when it came to a solution. These children were the exact opposite of my child who believes in magic, rainbows, and everything nice. These kids seemed to be hardened by their circumstances and their experiences, while also lacking the ability to regulate the emotions associated with them, which I believed to be contributed to toxic stress and depression. And as I became acquainted with some of their parents I also saw the same hardening in them, and they seemed to approach everything as a fight. This is no way to live for anyone especially a child, and the problems that arose from these children in the form of bullying, aggressiveness towards teachers and students; which made it hard for the teachers to teach the other students is no way to run an effective school. My daughter as a result was being negatively affected and in culminated into her having a breakdown at school, when motivated me to do whatever necessary to bring about change for my daughter and every other student at her school. That is when I began to build a relationship with Amaunet Ashe, who is the parent engagement coordinator at Young Audiences. She pointed me in the right direction in order to use effected use my voice to advocate for my daughter and referred me to the Parent Leadership Initiative to learn how to be an effective child advocate in the community. Through the program, my educational background in mental health, and my experiences at Young Audiences I was compelled to create a program that helps children suffering from toxic stress and depression, and advocate for policymakers to create policies that require school personnel to know how to identify, effectively treat mental illness, and/or refer students in their families for treatment.

The name of my proposed program will be called the Youth Well-being Initiative and it will focus on treating the whole child and not just the illness, because depression and toxic stress affects the affects the whole of a person’s life, impairing occupational, social, emotional and physical health. Studies have also shown that children who face environmental stressors, such as poverty, homelessness, and lack of resources, as well as experiences with trauma (e.g., physical abuse, substance abuse) are at a higher risk of developing depression. Children who face these issues frequently have psychosocial, educational, behavioral, and family difficulties. This is why this program is so important. The goal of this program is to help educate the adolescents on the skills needed to control their depression. The program will teach relaxation techniques, controlling negative feelings, social skills, communicating, resolving problems, while also utilizing social/educational activities and mentoring. Parents will also play a pivotal role in their child’s success in the program, because they will be given the ability to actively reinforce and support any positive behavioral and emotional changes at home. Through helping the parent you also help the child and the family as a unit. Hopefully with patience and perseverance my program will become a reality in the city of New Orleans.

The Well-being Initiative By Brandi Thomas-Scott


The Lindy Boggs National Center for Community Literacy (the Center) and the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium (NOFC) request community support in identifying men to participate in Dads of Distinction. We are looking to invite 15-20 men, who are fathers or father-figures for children ages 0-8, to join us for this enriching experience. This program will increase the capacity and

competence of the men in areas of education, advocacy and civic engagement around issues that matter most to them, their families, and their children.

Over the past 5 years, the Boggs Center and NOFC have engaged a number of strategies and practices recommended by the Parent Leadership Training Institute, foremost of which is “Bring in the fathers.” Low-income men and fathers have been blocked out of the picture for so long, but we feel it is important to really listen; to offer information they request on issues that matter most to them; to talk in language they understand; and to meet in settings they are comfortable with. While we focus on short-term successes and celebrations, we never lose sight of the long-term goals: changes in institutional structures that take fathers into account; changes in laws and practices that encourage rather than discourage father-presence; and building leadership skills and capacity to advocate for policies and laws that result in better outcomes for themselves, their families and their children. We welcome this opportunity to focus on fathers and their very young children, for we feel that it is in this age group that we can have the greatest impact.

We propose to expand both our core group of low-income men and fathers, as well as expand the knowledge and skill set of men already engaged, especially fathers of small children ages 0 to 8 years old. We will also expand the core father group’s reach by publishing a white paper in the men’s own words that utilizes their knowledge, both in how they see their role as fathers, and advice they have on expanding the work to other parents. A graduation celebration will culminate with the men’s public presentation of their white paper.

NOFC to Help Build Capacity with Dads of Distinction Program

If you would like to participate in Dads of Distinction or recommend someone for an invitation, please feel free to contact the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium at (504) 864-7077 or [email protected]

Wilson School helps to provide a forum where men, young and old, get together and talk about men being seen in the public eye as pillars of our community and

helping wherever they see fit! We learn together how to provide each young person we meet with the right tools to be a productive citizen and leader.

I love the family bond we have created to allow each man the opportunity to share his opinion on anything he feels is on his heart. As a grandparent, I know we must work with young people in order to take our streets back. I’m eager to see the outcome. Push for Change!

Protectors of the Pack is the dads/granddads group at Andrew H. Wilson Charter School in the Broadmoor neighborhood. The group is open to all male caretakers, meets monthly and plans events such as school beautification days and basketball tournaments. Protectors of the Pack is organized in partnership with the New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium.

Protectors of the PackBy Wellington Ratcliff Jr. (Grandparent of Lamira, Joshua and Elton Simmons)


PlayBuild NOLA is a non-profit educational initiative established in November 2012. Our mission is to transform under-utilized urban spaces into exciting kid-friendly environments for play and learning. With

educational activities and programming focused on design, architecture, city planning and related disciplines, our goal is to expose under-served populations to these fields and to stimulate curiosity, enthusiasm, and engagement with the professional community in New Orleans.

Our first innovative playground is located at 2828 Thalia Street in Central City. We can host school and community groups for private events.

For more information, please contact Charlotte Jones, Director of Operations and Programming, at [email protected] or visit PlayBuild.org or Facebook.com/PlayBuild


Building on its work to promote early childhood development and school-readiness as part of its Ready, Set, Go! initiative, Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) has partnered with VIET (Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training), Entergy, and United Way to bring New Orleans’ first Born Learning Trail to VIET’s Village de L’est community

center (13435 Granville St. New Orleans 70129).The Born Learning Trail is an outdoor area specifically developed to help parents and children grow, play and learn together as they walk along the different steps of the path. Together, families sound out words, act out situations, sing songs and more. The trail that appears in Village de L’est is the first one in all of New Orleans, and the first one in the country to include signs in three languages: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Village de L’est has a higher-than-average number of young children ranked as developmentally vulnerable on the Early Development Instrument scale, but still has limited access to high-quality and affordable early childhood resources. The trail is an example of a community working to build solutions to immediate challenges while working towards systemic change: in this case, providing an open-to-the-public area that also promotes social interaction, communication skills, physical activity, and knowledge of letters, shapes, colors and numbers.

When OPEN’s Community Coordinator Saundra Reed first learned about the trail, a collaboration with VIET “immediately sprang to mind,” she said. VIET’s Executive Director Cyndi Nguyen has been diligently advocating for the community’s young people for years, demanding opportunities for kids who cannot demand them for themselves. Ms. Nguyen was excited to hear about this holistic

approach to child development and volunteered her services and space on VIET’s community grounds in Village de L’est. United Way and Entergy were soon to follow, forming a partnership that worked together to realize the trail in a matter of months.

The ribboncutting and opening ceremony were attended by a wide spectrum of local educators, nonprofit leaders, civic officials, and community members. Entergy CEO Charles Rice spoke on the importance of partnership, while OPEN Executive Director Deirdre Johnson Burel clarified the purpose and intent of the Born Learning project. Orleans Parish School Board President Ira Thomas provided the keynote address, speaking on the intense value of cherishing our community’s children and providing them with every tool possible to reach their potential.

Pamela Rogers of the New Orleans Public Library East Regional Branch led a fiery rendition of the book “SHOUT IT OUT!” before a gathered class of kindergardeners from Einstein Charter School. As soon as the ribbon was snipped, they ran down the pathway to hop and jump along the steps to learning!

Early childhood development is a keystone component of overall life quality in our city, state, and country. Growing mountains of evidence suggest that these years are crucial in forming overall life skills and physical health. The Born Learning Trail gives parents and kids the opportunity to exercise and improve every component of whole-child wellness.

“OPEN is elated to have been a part of this project,” said OPEN Executive Director Deirdre Johnson Burel. “When kids are engaged on every level, they come to school ready to not just learn but to excel.”

Orleans Public Education Network and Community Partners Blaze A Trail for Childhood Development in N.O. East

To learn more about early childhood development and Ready, Set, Go!, visit www.opennola.org


Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) in conjunction with its early childhood initiative Ready, Set,

Go!, is excited to announce the launch of its Parents as First Educators groups. This weekly meeting series will give parents of young children the tools they need to prepare their child for their first day of kindergarten. The objective is to help parents understand their role in preparing their children for school.

Every child is born ready to learn, but not every child arrives at school prepared to excel. The Parents as First Educators groups will explore an array of strategies and exercises to promote holistic development, focusing on the five domains of school readiness. These domains include: social competence,

physical well-being, language and cognitive development, emotional well-being, and language and cognitive development. The program covers every base in order to make sure parents understand their role in helping little ones is getting all the support and stimulation necessary to succeed.

OPEN’s Ready, Set, Go! work is a citywide initiative that is part of a national effort to strengthen early childhood systems (TECCS). It has been well documented that providing support during these crucial early years of a child’s life is a primary factor in their physical, social and emotional development, and has implications in their future school success and life outcomes as they grow. OPEN’s goal is to

use data collected from kindergarten classrooms throughout New Orleans using the Early Development Instrument (EDI) and share the results with communities, neighborhoods, and parent groups in order to increase the number of children that arrive to school ready to learn on their very first day.

The PRIDE Alumni evolved from a group of parents who successfully completed 8 weeks of training through the Urban Leagues’ PRIDE Leadership Academy. The parents, who developed projects as part of their training wanted to continue their work in the schools and community.

In November, they launched an “Anti-Bullying Campaign,” at Renew Schaumburg Elementary School. Fifty-two students in first and second grades participated in the campaign. The parents read “From Best Friends to Bully” authored by Tanya Savory to the students. After the reading, students participated in a classroom discussion and took an “I am not a bully” pledge. They received anti-bullying bookmarks reaffirming their pledge. The alumni hosted a “bully-free” classroom competition providing the class, which had the least amount of bullying incidents with a pizza party. Students also learned and presented a poem about bullying at the schools holiday event. The Schaumburg administration was very receptive to having PRIDE parents introduce the anti-bullying campaign and have asked the alumni to consider working with several other grade levels. PRIDE looks forward to the program migrating through the school and other schools in the New Orleans Area.

On the move again, PRIDE Alumni recruited thirty-eight parents for the next PRIDE Leadership Academy at the eighth annual Urban League Schools Expo held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, on February 1. With parents having access to over 117 schools and 100 community organizations, the venue provided the perfect opportunity for recruitment.

The PRIDE Leadership Academy offers an eight-week workshop series to parents to increase their awareness of core early childhood concerns affecting children’s readiness to learn. Parents receive training on how to use various civic engagement strategies and tools including the world café model, power mapping and the principals of community organizing. Parents also receive advocacy

and policy training. Parents participating in the program receive mentoring and support from community partners who assist them in obtaining resources and developing and executing events and activities to increase parent engagement and awareness about early childhood education. Each participant develops a project that helps to organize at least five additional parents.

PRIDE Alumni’s’ mission is to engage parents, students, and communities in education to achieve success. Its vision is to foster a safe educational environment through community commitment. The PRIDE Leadership Academy training supports long-term sustainable relationships among parents, schools, and communities. The Urban League of Greater New Orleans Parent Information Center executes the leadership academy.

Parents as First Educators Giving Parents Tools to Support Child Development

Urban League’s PRIDE Alumni on the Move

The First Educators Network’s Parents as First Educators group meets every Tuesday from February 11th to March 25th, 2014. Spaces are limited to 25 slots, so sign up to be a part of this group by emailing [email protected] or calling (504) 821-4004 ext. 404 today. More information on Ready, Set, Go! and OPEN’s other early childhood work can be found at opennola.org

The EDI evaluates children based on five domains of child development:• Physical Health & Well-Being: Motor skills, nutrition, energy level,

independence, and overall physical development.• Social Knowledge & Competence: Social skills, accepting responsibility,

following routines, respecting adults and fellow classmates, and self-confidence.• Emotional Health & Maturity: Aggression level, attention span, self-

control, ability to focus.• Language & Cognitive Development: Reading and math abilities,

interest in learning, ability to attach sounds to letters, shape recognition.• Communication Skills & General Knowledge: Communication skills,

storytelling abilities, articulation of complex concepts, understanding and being understood.

For information on the PRIDE Leadership Academy beginning in March, contact the Urban League of Greater New Orleans Parent Information Center at 504-620-2332.


These new leaders are however more powerful than we can imagine. They have at their fingertip mastery of technology, the uncanny useable knowledge of cultural community politics and benefit from diverse revenue streams that are often undetected by mainstream America. I recognize the need and opportunity to expose

their leadership skills that are more communal (not defined by geography), include diverse leadership archetypes that include icons from universal history, comic heroes and well marketed new millionaires. This new leadership of pregnant and new parents have the ability and potential to overturn deep seeded archaic systems particularly outdated educational systems, health care treatments and delivery systems, public safety – virtual and physical (not found in imprisonment or the patriot act) and retirement (what to do in the seven major career change periods in their work lifetime).

This overturning is possible because fathers and mothers of these newborns have an increasingly common experience of prison systems, global markets, concurrent episodes of trauma, creative work income and diverse education experiences. The tolerance of overt assault, illusion of sameness and injustice is over. It is met with a smarter, quieter and multi-strategic leader.

This is the generation to watch, help, support and yes, follow. To assist with the evolution process from “just me and mine” to “us and all of us,” there are some things we need to know and do. We must listen and work to understand this population, share best practices and create “a shared benefit” strategy to assure effectiveness and longevity.

There is no universal way to expose this powerful group to its own self. It is possible to utilize targeted universal strategies that are population and situation specific. It is possible to identify heroic archetypes and channel the 1,000 faces of

heroism to create a community of plenty for all. This process includes assessment of person location, life vision intention, tool set evaluation and redirection, landscape analysis and creation of a long term plan for a quality life with beneficial short term wins along the way.

For more than 30 years, Peace Ministry LLC founder Rev. Dr. Denise Graves worked to build relationships that enhance our world. Denise worked with and studied senior and seasoned leaders to discern what behaviors led them to experience the end of life scenarios of health, belonging and accomplishments. After frightening moments as a nursing home administrator witnessing workers frustration with the inability to compute time cards and the inability to make coherent sentence statements in medical records, Denise went from the nursing home to colleges, high schools, elementary school class rooms, communities and congregations to find out what made leaders successful and others not. The essence of the learning was that people are smart in many ways. Our challenge it recognize the ways we are smart, life paradigms and values that inform how we love, live and work. Peace Ministry facilitates the evolution of individual ability

recognition and directs that awareness toward the actualization of powerful change that benefits self, family and community.

Building New LeadersBy Rev. Dr. Denise L. Graves, Peace Ministry LLC

The most ignored population of leaders is young women and men of childbearing age, those who are pregnant and those parenting young children. This population of parent decision makers are ignored because its values are unknown, how they manage time appears reactionary and their experience of education was significantly different. The education experience is different because of the illusion of color blindness, remnant impacts of the post-freedom/civil rights era, the return of economic depression that mimics 1929, alienation from supportive extended family and their seemly deep dependence on virtual relationships.

Denise worked with and studied senior

and seasoned leaders to discern what

behaviors led them to experience the end of life scenarios of

health, belonging and accomplishments.

For more information on Peace Ministry LLC contact Denise at [email protected] to receive a free Peace Ministry Newsletter or leave a message 504.410.5194 to request a speaker, group facilitator or other service.

In joint effort with the Birthing Project USA, Denise will work with pregnant parents, parents of young children and mentor sisters to surface ways this population can reduce infant mortality by reducing stressors, increasing family resources, equipping parents to earn a living wage and build a supportive village around children and families. Everyone in the community has a responsibility to assure that the air is clean, water is safe, housing affordable and secure, communities are safe, companies pay living wages and people are prepared for parenthood at every developmental stage.

This work is not an issue of rich or poor though poorer communities and people have higher infant mortality rates. The trauma from uncompleted pregnancies, underdeveloped and underweight babies affect us all – directly and indirectly. This group of historically unrecognized leaders can make a difference for themselves and others. The leadership development plan is a part of equipping parents to provide every good thing they want for their children.


The Business of Being Born is a 2008, documentary that explores modern-day childbirth experience in the United States. It was produced by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (who later finds out that she is pregnant during the filming), after Ricki’s less desirable birth experience during her first child. The documentary criticizes the American health care system for its capitalization of child birth, through the overuse of medicine and interventions; and its distortion of childbirth as a medical emergency rather than a natural occurrence. It reveals the history and role of midwives, the evolution of the obstetrics; and asks: Why the system does not support midwives despite their proven record of quality care and success?

The documentary primarily draws from women, midwives, and physicians’ childbirth experiences in New York City, with some expert commentary from international and national expert in obstetrics and maternal child health. It compares the various childbirth methods and practitioners: caesarean sections, epidurals, natural births, midwives,

and obstetricians. Opening with Cara, a New York City nurse and midwife, preparing for the delivery of her client; throughout the documentary Cara will attend

several success homebirths. Cara’s arrival at her client’s home is followed by short snippets of women discussing their opinions of homebirths and a statistic of the use of midwives in Europe and Japan (70%) versus the United States (8%). In most highly developed countries the overwhelming majority of births are delivered by midwives with a small percentage of doctors delivering those pregnancies that present complications during labor. The documentary alleges that this difference attributes to the United States’ high rates of infant and maternal mortality. The blame partially lies with the medical education system, according to the medical professionals in the film most medical students have never and probably will never witness a natural delivery within the current maternal health system.

The documentary provides a good historical review of childbirth in United States and how the medical system converted childbirth to a medical procedure; beginning in the early 1900s with smear campaigns to vilify midwives with photographs of black or immigrant women described as ignorant, illiterate, and dirty. This campaign created a cultural shift in women’s perception of homebirth from the standard to antiquated and hazardous; while the reality was that many obstetricians of that time had never witnessed a live birth leaving women more vulnerable to complications. With this new school of thought women increasingly began opting to deliver in hospitals, leaving them subject to risky experimental treatments and increased usage of unnecessary medical interventions; and over the course of the early and mid- 20th century several common practices in labor and delivery including the use of x-ray machines on pregnant and harmful drugs such as scopolamine and thalidomide, were found to have adverse effects on the mother and/or baby. Other countries have a national health review board that determines the medical soundness or necessity of a medical procedure, the United States lacks a similar entity. Therefore, in the United States medical procedures become common practice based on physician implementation whether or not the procedure is medically sound or necessary.

Throughout the documentary, real women described their experiences of childbirth, with most women recalling a negative experience with their hospital based delivery. They described feeling pressured to progress in labor and forced to comply with interventions; because as one woman stated, “Once you are [in the hospital] it’s difficult to refuse treatment or certain drugs or just get up and leave.” Based on the amount of time that woman was in labor; the hospital staff would begin to initiate interventions. Once the first intervention began it was followed by a series of interventions, ultimately ended with a caesarean section. Many of these interventions are not medically necessary if a woman is allowed complete labor naturally. On the other hand those women who did deliver naturally have fewer rates of complications during pregnancy and fewer rates of caesarean section. These women also describe the intangible emotional impact of natural childbirths, and the power that women discover in themselves. The most interesting part of the film was when all physicians even those who did not agree with homebirths reported that vaginal births pose the lowest risk to mother and child; yet the number of caesarean sections were increasing among hospital births. Despite the lower risk and cost associated with vaginal births, many insurance companies did not cover the midwife or birth center services, severely limiting the childbirth options.

Overall, The Business of Being Born is recommended to any women of childbearing age, or any person interested in childbirth system in America, or anyone interested in the business of medicine. Although the film focused primarily on childbirth options in New York City, many of the stories and experiences are shared among women throughout the country. The Business of Being Born is a fascinating informative perspective of contemporary childbirth experiences and the “business” or monetization of childbirth in America. While some may argue that the documentary is dangerous one-sided midwifery propaganda, the film clearly emphasizes the need for more accessibility to information on childbirth options. The emphasis on the alternatives is intentional to counteract and dispel common childbirth practice enabling women to feel empowered and informed when making the appropriate choices that they feel are best for them and their babies.

The Business of Being BornA Film Summary of

By Remeka Jones, NPN Neighborhoood Liaison


Menhati J. Singleton is one of four doulas in the Na’Zyia Doula Collective. The Na’Zyia doulas were trained and completed their apprenticeship with Planned Parenthood. Currently, they provide informational, emotional, physical and practical support during pregnancy with massage,

education, labor preparation and other needs. They provide a number of packages that include assistance with birth planning, water birth, pre-natal massage, postpartum consultation, as well as spiritual and energy services. Na’Zyia means a mother’s love, and it is the role of the doula to provide comparable care to the mother. Whereas a midwife’s role is more medical, the doula attends to the emotional component of birthing. Menhati would say that she reassures her mothers of their power as women to bring fourth life. In that regard, the assisting doula should be completely in tune with the mother and what her body is experiencing. It is also a doula’s responsibility to be prepared, flexible, and knowledgeable to ensure full support. During labor the Na’Zyia doulas ride the contraction wave with their mothers. They become so in sync with the mother that they know when the next contraction is coming before the mother begins to feels it. Menhati recommends having a doula because labor pain can often be unbearable for a mother who does not have the right support. She thinks that this is why women choose to have epidurals. She says that if a woman is open to the idea of a natural birth, she is able to convince the woman to follow through. While not all doulas are skilled in massage therapy, Menhati is able to provide pressure to certain areas of the woman’s body and direct her position to ease pain. Mom’s have been grateful for delivering their babies naturally but attribute the success and comfort to having sufficient support. Women often have a family member present, but family members are not able to provide the correct support if they don’t understand the process or how to be involved. Na’Zyia also specializes in family involvement with acting in harmony with the mother. Finally, the doula ensures that both family and medical staff adhere to the birthing plan.

A Holistic Approach to Childbirth

Doulas

A doula is a birthing coach. A doula prepares the mother and the family for the birth. A doula is highly compassionate in nature but very strong in her abilities to control the environment. A doula is like an eagle in the birthing room.

For more information: Please visit the website www.nazyiadoulas.com

A Doula is…Menhati Singleton with the Na’Zyia Doula Collective


Cheryl Salahudine has give birth to three children naturally and is working with doula Menhati Singleton to plan her next pregnancy. A friend referred her to Menhati during her last pregnancy and she began receiving assistance at 5 months. Prior to having a doula, she had never had an official, written

pregnancy plan. She knew that she wanted to have her children naturally, and that she wanted to observe her religious culture in their birth. Before birth, Menhati modeled a number of pregnancy plans and used a questionnaire to get an understanding of how she envisioned her birth happening, to examine her preferences in birthing methods and styles, as well as to determine what religious or cultural nuances there might be for the child’s birth. Cheryl was also impressed that Menhati is a licensed message therapist. Menhati knew a great deal about methods for relieving pain and natural ways to correct birthing issues. According to Cheryl, having a doula helped to make her simple plans into a formal plan. She considers a doula as a personal lawyer in the delivery room who knows exactly what you want, knows your rights, and will

advocate on your behalf based upon your plan. Salahudine thinks that hospitals have maternity practices that sometime conflict with a woman’s birthing plan especially if she wants to deliver a baby naturally which is why it is important to have a doula. Her last child

was breached prior to delivery. In most cases, if the baby does not turn in a certain amount of time, the woman is advised to have a cesarean section. Menhati walked her through movements and body positions to turn the baby. It is also a normal practice for nurses to clean the baby immediately after birth. After birth, she wanted to breast feed the child before he was cleaned, which she feels is a part of establishing the post-pregnancy mother-child connection. Salahudine also wanted to honor the family’s Islamic faith and have the father recite the Adan, the call to prayer, in the child’s ear as the first voice the child hears. Cheryl is certain that Menhati’s presence and professionalism allowed her pregnancy plan to be fulfilled thoroughly, which is why she trusts her next pregnancy to her doula. She also feels that in having a doula, she developed a kinship that will last forever. Cheryl would recommend a doula to any expecting mother. She thinks that if more women knew that they could receive assistance with natural child birth, and knew that it is

a healthy option, that more women would proceed naturally.

A Doula is a Personal AdvocateCheryl Salahudine

Nori Laney began looking for a doula when she found that she was pregnant with her second child. She had a midwife with her first pregnancy. Although she valued the assistance and medical expertise, she also wanted someone who would be available throughout the entire process of labor and birth. A doula would be

more involved throughout the entire process, whereas she thought that her midwife was not in the room enough. Laney understood that different doulas provide different services, so she narrowed her choices by seeking a doula that also practiced message therapy. She wanted assistance with pain and relaxing her body for birth. When she went into labor the second time, Menhati Singleton was at her side throughout the entire process. She got exactly the support that she needed.

As she had contractions, Menhati would gently push and apply pressure to her knees. Nori was unsure if the message was relieving the pain or if feeling the other sensation was causing her to feel the contraction pain less. She assured that the message made the sensation much more bearable. Nori also mentioned that she had learned that when the woman’s body feels threatened when in labor, it will postpone the process. She is sure that the delivering a baby in the hospital is often the cause of lengthy births because it is often a scary place, although it is safe. Her second baby was delivered much faster than her first child and she attributed part of that to how comfortable and relaxed her doula helped her to feel. She planned to have a water birth with both of her children; however, she delivered her second child while they were drawing the water. Nori is also in favor of having a doula

because they are also supportive after birth. After Nori’s second child was born, Menhati communicated with medical staff about which procedures her baby would have or wouldn’t have according to her pregnancy plan. Nori chose not to have certain common procedures, because she believes in and advocates for natural birth. In her experience, the connection she has with both of her children is strong in part because she did not have an epidural. In her study on natural birth, she learned that the natural chemicals that create those bonds are inhibited in both mother and child as a result of the epidural. She thinks that this might also cause post-partum depression. Nori would like to see a return to natural birth and breast feeding as a norm instead of the high level of intervention and manmade processes. She stated that the mother’s body is prepared to address any post delivery conditions. For example, she didn’t cut her umbilical cord immediately, but allowed the blood flow to decline significantly first. When it was cut, she did not allow the ointment to be applied to the baby’s belly button in order for it to dry quickly, but it dried easily on its own. She also applied her breast milk to the baby’s eyes instead of eye drops.

Doula and the Ease of BirthNori Laney

She also feels that in having a doula, she developed

a kinship that will last

forever.

Nori is also in favor

of having a doula

because they are also

supportive after birth.


Once Jonathan knew he was having a baby, he was determined to be a great father like his father had been to him. What he loves about having a child is that as she learns, he has to learned how to handle situations. The following is a reflection of Jonathan’s experience as a father.

“It is not about what you do, but the circumstances related to the decisions you make. It made me grow up faster. You can live the same life but you have to maintain a level of maturity in relationship to your child. Your child can’t be smarter than you or wittier than you. You have to be wiser. I had to stop my personal growth in order to learn to be a parent. Your life takes a detour. You have to learn quickly, because once the baby is born, you have to be prepared. You begin to be more protective of your child. You become cautious about what your child is learning, seeing and the environment they are in. You have to make decisions about age-appropriate life education. You have to create a relationship of trust with your child. A program is not going to teach you how to deal with your specific child, because life circumstances are very specific. It is important for parents to think about what is best for their child’s life rather than be comfortable with any negative life

circumstance they may have to deal with. It is up to the parent to take the initiative to seek direction in the best way for raising their child. A father will look at life differently in comparison to a mother. He thinks that his daughter has an advantage over girls who don’t have their father present. He is interested in making fatherhood socially exciting and more sociable. He wants to hang out with other fathers and their children. You have to be stable in order for your child to be stable; but that requires for you to have a bond with your child, and live with the intent of giving your child the best life possible. He knows that he wants his child to have a better life than him, and so he will go above and beyond to find opportunities for academic advancement and life experiences for her. I am concerned with the schooling choices for my daughter. New Orleans does not have the highest functioning public school system. It is important for me to pay attention to her progress and her life in school. What he loves about having a child is that as she learns, he has to learn how to handle those situations. My focus as a father is being dependable and reliable. I make sacrifices in order to do that. I have to be in a position that works with me, which often means I make less money or sacrifice my free time. “

Advice to Young Parents from a Young Father

It was November 25, 2011, the rest of the America up and ready to compete for some great shopping deals on Black Friday. My baby, that was not due for another two weeks, had a different plan for me that day. Imagine being away from family and friends on the day after Thanksgiving; no one around but you and your dog. However, calling on those folks that were a part of “My Village.” If not for Mr. and Mrs. McClellan, I was ready to make the seven-minute

drive to the hospital. They put their plans on hold that day and made arrangements so that they could come to my rescue.

Word got out that I was in labor. Five more folks from “My Village” came to be my side. I definitely was not alone. Before my child had even entered the world, “My Village” was there with open arms. Spare you the rest of the details, but my son who was born that evening was showered with an overwhelming amount of unconditional love.

This village I speak of is not a literal one but a figurative one. “My Village” that I am ever so thankful for. “My Village” that supports me as a single mother and a professional. “My Village” that brings together more parent leaders to be effective in advocating for their families and children. “My Village” that I have called home. “My Village” is filled with motivated and passionate community leaders, educators, parents, businesses, and organizations that understand the need for parent voices. This is “My Village.”

Maria Vibandor is a resident of Metairie, LA but originally from Chicago, IL. She is a graduate of the inaugural class of PLTI-NOLA. She is a working professional that works with schools across Louisiana and Mississippi promoting education of critical life skills for K-12 students. She dedicates her time to advocating for parents and children.

It Takes a VillageBy Maria Vibandor, Parent Leader, PLTI-NOLA 2013 Graduate

Many people say that it takes a village to raise a child. Although cliché, I would have never understood that phrase until the day I became a mother.

Twenty-six year old Jonathan Saber is a single parent of a five-year-old daughter. As a 21 year old, Jonathan did not imagine having a child. Raised in a stable household with only brothers, Jonathan had always wished for a little girl. Although he had not planned to be a single parent, Jonathan was prepared for the consequences.


Word Play, an early literacy program developed by the Louisiana Children’s Museum, kicked off

its second year with an exciting seven week session at the Royal Castle Child Development Center in the Holly Grove neighborhood of the city. Word Play empowers parents to be effective first educators of their children. Each session

begins with a book reading for the whole family. Parents and their children are then separated as the children immerse themselves in learning more about letters, words and ways to enhance the chosen book. At the same time, the program coordinator works with the parents, giving them the tools they need to help their child learn to read and enjoy reading. Parents also have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their work with the children from the past week. At the end of each session the families are reunited and the parents see and hear from their children while we all share dinner. The families receive a packet each week with the book they

read and a family project to work on together. Over twenty families attended and their enthusiasm and lively discussions were truly inspirational to us! We asked the group to be our curriculum advisors and let us know their likes and dislikes about the program and curriculum. The comments were so positive the staff felt uplifted by their words of encouragement.

For the last session, we all came together at the Louisiana Children’s Museum for a night of food, learning and fun. The families turned in the How-To books they created with their children, too. These included How to Read a Book and How to Catch a Crab. The families and staff truly enjoyed the program!

Word Play with the Louisiana Children’s Museum“What I liked most about Word Play was the learning time for parents. It was great to see and hear from other parents. The program taught me more creative and fun yet effective ways to teach my son about learning to love to read and the importance of reading.”

Our next Word Play has already begun. Working with other partners in Broadmoor including the Broadmoor Improvement Association, New Orleans Public Library and the Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN), we are holding Word Play at the Rosa Keller Library and Community Center.


Prior to PLTI, I had the opportunity to impact the lives of children with mental health in the schools and in their homes as a social worker until my life was changed due to medical reasons. I was no longer able to perform the task that I was very passion about.

Then, one day, “A Purpose Driven Calling” came upon me to be a part of Parent Leadership Training Institute. I am so grateful that I responded to that calling. After learning about PLTI, I discovered that I can continue my passion for children and mental health by addressing some of the concerns that took place during my place of employment. Although there isn’t any pay, as for me in the life as a social worker, the REWARD is much greater.

I see myself as a wife, parent, leader, advocate and role model as a part of the PLTI matrix. The first half of the training courses focused on self, family, and community. Now, I am in the second half which focuses on the process and content. The title of my project is “Resources for Children with Mental Health in East New Orleans Area.” My goal is to improve the knowledge of mental health agencies for children. My purpose is to interact with civic society to produce a positive outcome of sharing information about mental health agencies for children within their community. I have learned so much from attending the PLTI classes such as: the matrix systems and what information to put into my tool kit. I also found out if there is an updated resource list; and how to research the way it is distributed to whom, and what the constraints are; what the challenges and opportunities are to have it more widely disseminated. I have had the opportunity to meet with

Ms. Nancy Freeman, Executive Director with Institute of Mental Health, who invited me to attend the Fall Behavioral Health Forum. At that forum, the Health Department

released the Behavioral Health of New Orleans Resource Guide. This was truly an excellent experience to also connect with so many interested agencies as it relates to the work of my project. I have had the opportunity to attend numerous workshops, meetings, and the River Oak Hospital’s mental health training; grand opening that will be valuable assets to my project (Stem Program Meeting – met with Councilmen James A. Gray, II). I learned from PLTI that it is important to know your councilmember.

I am aware of some of the barriers facing my research project, such as the lack of access and knowledge about mental health services in the communities. I have begun to address those barriers by researching about the various communities of New Orleans East. An additional barrier is the stigma about accessing mental health services in the Vietnamese community. I have first- hand knowledge about this barrier, as a previous social worker with the Office of Community Services (Child Protection from 1990-2003), I had the opportunity to work with one Vietnamese family. The stigma surrounding mental health

was also a concern for that family.I would like to include outstanding shout outs to Mrs. Carol Alexander-Lewis

(OPEN’s PLTI Coordinator) and the co-facilitators: Dr. Glenda Allen-Jones, Hamilton Simons-Jones, Amelia Pellegrin and Dr. Kyshun Webster. More importantly, I want to shout out Neighborhoods Partnership Network.

A Purpose Driven Calling!My Name is Yvette S. Martin. I am a participant in the second cohort of Orleans Public Education Network‘s Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI). I first learned about PLTI at my daughter’s parent meeting with the Urban League College Track in September 2013. Mrs. Carol Alexander came in to present about the Parent Leader Training Institute. She showed us a short video, and she had applications available for interested parents. I had an interview with Ms. Carol during the first week of October at the Broadmoor Library and then attended a retreat the following weekend. Our first PLTI’s class took place on October 15, 2013. This session was so important for PLTI because the title was “Thriving with Diversity in the Group Process” with a focus on “Standing up for Children.”

Parent Leadership Training Institute

The title of my project is “Resources

for Children with Mental Health in East New Orleans Area.”

My goal is to improve the knowledge

of mental health agencies

for children.

Neighborhoods Partnership Network Thanks The

Greater New Orleans Foundation for The Generous Support of this Special Issue

of The Trumpet.

Information is power. Here are some guides, resources and organizations that can help connect you with the information you need for your family. This list is just the beginning. We want advice from the experts: you, the parents.

Tell us what resources your family needs, and we will include information in our monthly Parents Tidbits e-Newsletter. To share information or to join the mailing list, contact Chemwapuwa Blackman at 504-940-2207 or via email at [email protected].

For Health and WellnessThe Common Ground Health Clinic provides the following lists of health services in New Orleans:

● Community Resource Guide (Greater New Orleans) ● Guia de Recursos Comunitarious de New Orleans en Espanol● Women’s Health Resource Guide ● Mental Health Resource Pamphlet

Pick up your copy today at the clinic office, 1400 Teche Street at Socrates in Algiers. PDF version can also be found at www.commongroundclinic.org.

Community Resource Guide to Pregnancy Healthy and Services: A Guide of More than 300 Greater New Orleans Resources to Promote Healthy FamiliesAs a trusted quality healthcare provider, Planned Parenthood is dedicated to addressing healthy pregnancy options for Louisiana families. The Community Resource Guide to Pregnancy Health and Services is a component of Planned Parenthood’s Healthy Pregnancy Education series, which provides expectant mothers with one-on-one education sessions with a certified doula. From the birthing woman’s bill of rights to childbirth classes and postpartum services to mothers’ support groups, the guide includes over 300 resources and was created as a community tool to guide pregnant women and their families toward a healthy pregnancy and birth.For more information about the guide or our health pregnancy education, please contact our educator at [email protected] or (504) 899-1447 ext 1.

For FathersThe New Orleans Fatherhood Consortium (NOFC) is a collaborative of organizations and individuals dedicated to developing comprehensive social supports, programs, public awareness and policies that will assist fathers in reaching their fullest potential. For information, contact Greg Rattler, NOFC Director, at (504) 864-7042 or via email at [email protected].

For Children in School and Beyond The Orleans Public Education Network’s (OPEN) Ready, Set, Go! nitiative is focused on developmentally appropriate assessment of school readiness. The initiative is designed to help communities acquire information on how prepared children in their neighborhoods are for school during this critical time when essential funding and resources for Early Childhood Education is being reduced or eliminated completely in our community and across the nation. Specifically, OPEN is working in partnership with over 30 schools in the RSD, OPSB, and the Archdiocese to collect data on kindergartners’ school readiness. Visit www.opennola.org or call (504) 821-4004 for more information on the Ready, Set Go! Utilizing the Early Development Instrument (EDI), the information was collected from 65% of kindergarten-age New Orleans children in 2013, and shared with various neighborhood organizations, parents, early childhood service providers, city government leaders, and other key stakeholders to help them better support families in preparing children for school. Visit www.opennola.org to view the community profiles created using the EDI and for more information the Ready, Set, Go! initiative or call (504) 821-4004.

Urban League Parent Information Center (PIC) provides a wide variety of information and services for parents including an annual school expo, The New Orleans Guide to High Schools, and the PRIDE Parent Leadership Academy. Visit the Urban League of Greater New Orleans website at www.urbanleagueneworleans.org to learn more.

The VIET Summer Adventure Program is one of the longest summer programs in New Orleans. It has been in existence since 2002 with no interruption for the past 10 years. Even Hurricane Katrina did not keep the door closed. As working parents need to continue to work during the hot summer months, children are in need of structured and organized environment where learning becomes FUN. The VIET Summer Adventure Program is packed with all different activities depending on their age including guitar and piano instruction, breakdancing, pottery class, photography, lion dance, karate, swimming, fishing, gardening and sports. The program has received strong feedback from parents and students as “the BEST summer program ever.” Our participants are on an adventure with VIET has they discover and learn about all sorts of things. The program accepts students from grades Pre-K through 8. It operates from June through July as a eight-week summer adventure. For information about the program or summer employment with VIET, please contact the office at (504) 255-0400.

Total Community Action, Inc. is a community service organization that provides aid to low-income residents or New Orleans and Southeast Louisiana with include a large network of Head Start and Early Head Start programs. Learn more at www.tca-nola.org.

New Orleans Family Resources

SPECIAL

PARENTS

EDITION

the npn trumpet parents first edition february 2014

Documents

community resources

edition community voices

new experience

community partners

community elders

circle of community

little help

new orleanians