‘It has been an incredibly unpredictable year, from both policy changes to funding instability’ When Rickencia Clerveaux McClean’s son was around 18 months old, she noticed he wasn’t speaking the way she expected. He pointed instead of asking. He struggled with food textures. McClean looked ahead at his future in public school with some dread. Fortunately, she said, there was…
For the small kids who attend preschool at a Head Start center in Dorchester, learning happens in a variety of ways. They sound out a cacophony of “buh” sounds as their teacher holds up a letter “B” block. During circle time, their eyes pop with curiosity at a bowl of bean sprouts passed around during a lesson about plants. One child puts…
ABCD’s Walnut Grove Head Start participated in the African Explosion that featured cultural dance by performer Sir Taylor, a self defined peacemaker and an original member of the Jesse White Tumblers in Chicago – a training program that provides a positive alternative for urban youth ages 6-16. The African Explosion closed out ABCD University High School’s ( UHS) Light Saver week, a component of their Commonwealth…
Three lawmakers, all members of the House Education Committee, toured early childhood education sites throughout Dorchester and Roxbury last month to learn more about early childhood education in the government-funded Head Start program. Rep. Denise Garlick of Needham, the committee’s chairperson, joined host state Rep. Chris Worrell and Rep. Kate Donaghue of Worcester in stopping by the ABCD Head Start…
BOSTON – In a matter of days Shaunea Tavares doesn’t know if her WIC benefits will be there to help with the food assistance she relies on for her 2-year-old son, Khalib. “My child, he loves milk, fruits, veggies, he loves veggies, so those things come in handy, especially in the month where you are lacking funds. It helps a…
Head Start programs provide about 10,000 children from low-income families throughout Massachusetts with services from child care to education. But a government shutdown would mean Community Action Pioneer Valley, one of the state’s 28 programs, would not receive its annual federal grant on Oct. 1 — which will impact its locations in Western Massachusetts. Should a shutdown last until November,…
ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler joined Josie Guarino on WBUR to discuss the potential impact of a government shutdown on Head Start families who rely on multiple federally-run programs to get by.
Assistant Speaker Clark joined Action for Boston Community Development to celebrate the new Head Start Center in Medford and highlight federal funding that’s helping families access affordable child care MEDFORD, MA. – Yesterday, on October 18, 2022, Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined representatives of Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) to celebrate Medford’s…
Vote marks critical step to strengthening low-income families and communitiest On Friday, May 13, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5129, the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2021-2022 on a 246-169 vote. The bill reauthorizes the Community Services Block Grant program through FY2031 and makes important changes concerning administration and leadership. performance measurement, and minimum and maximum…