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M = Motion Towards Equity

The Fambassador Program, created by the Department of Family and Community Engagement, is designed to enhance parents’ leadership skills and inspire them to share their unique strengths as parents and caregivers with others. This initiative honors and celebrates parents and caregivers in the DeKalb Community, recognizing their roles as leaders, mentors, and heroes within the community.

For more information, please contact Anne Ferreira

M = Motion Towards Equity

The Digital Literacy Program is an innovative initiative aimed at equipping participants with essential digital skills to navigate and thrive in today’s technology-driven world. The program targets parents, with a special focus on underserved communities, to bridge the digital divide and promote equitable access to digital resources.

For more information, please contact Anne Ferreira

M = Motion Towards Equity

Our Advocacy Training offers DCSD parents and caregivers valuable insights into student achievement, the inner workings of our school system, and advocacy and educational support skills. This program provides parents with training and resources to help them grow, achieve, and enhance their advocacy efforts for children, schools, and the community.

For more information, please contact Angelica Rosso

M = Motion Towards Equity

The I.M.P.A.C.T. Huddles are part of the initiative for building the capacity of families and school staff to partner in ways that support student achievement and school involvement. They will feature authentic dialogue on topics such as school safety, curriculum, vocational training, special education, cultural competence and other timely discussion topics recommended by the participants. This is a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders; families, community members, and DCSD district and School Staff. We gather virtually or in person in a relaxed setting to have purposeful and impactful conversations, discussing how our unique differences can be pooled together to positively affect student achievement. These are not just conversations, each session will end with actionable steps, and solutions to the issues raised.

For more information, please contact Angelica Ross

M = Motion Towards Equity

The Parent University offers a series of workshops designed to support parents in their personal and career development while enhancing their ability to support their children’s academic success and transition to higher education. The aim is to create a learning community that boosts parental involvement in their children’s education and improves families’ understanding of and access to postsecondary options. Workshop topics include but not limited to:

• Homework Routines
• Change Doesn’t Have to Be Hard: Managing the Elementary-to-Middle School Transition
• Recognizing and Addressing Stress and Anxiety in Children
• Becoming a More Resilient Parent
• Attendance Matters – Let’s Be There!

For more information, please contact Hau Dim

M = Motion Towards Equity

Parent Cafés is an educational workshop designed to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge and support they need to help their children succeed in school. The goal is to ensure that all students have equal access to opportunities and achieve the best possible success in their lives.

Some of the Cafés offered are:

• Attendance Café
• Social Emotional Café
• Stay Safe Café
• Stop Bullying Café

For more information, please contact Hau Dim

M = Motion Towards Equity

The Department of Family and Community Engagement has established a valuable partnership with the University of Georgia Snap-Ed to present “Food Talk” sessions in both Spanish and English, serving our diverse community. These sessions are an integral part of the 8-week Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), offering participants the opportunity to earn a certificate from the University of Georgia upon the successful completion of at least 6 out of 8 classes. The EFNEP program is structured around four essential areas: nutrition, physical activity, food safety, and food resource management.

For more information, please contact Nancy Pritchett

M = Motion Towards Equity

I = Improved Instructional Core

Read Across America is a nationwide initiative aimed at celebrating the joy of reading and promoting literacy among students of all ages. The Department of Family and Community Engagement will host Read Across Dekalb at our chosen Elementary Schools, that will encourage our students to immerse themselves in the magical world of books. ” This project is aimed at promoting reading and literacy. Our goal is to inspire a love for reading and to emphasize the importance of literacy among our young students.

For more information, please contact Nancy Pritchett

M = Motion Towards Equity

L = Learning Environments that Support Student Success

The DeKalb County School District’s Department of Parent and Community Engagement has developed the Family Friendly School Initiative Assessment to assist schools in fostering and sustaining a positive learning environment for all families. This initiative ensures that DeKalb County School District conveys a warm “Welcome!” to students, families, and the community in an environment that is friendly, inviting, and culturally sensitive.

For more information, please contact Demone Gunter

M = Motion Towards Equity

Volunteering provides opportunities for family members and communities to become partners in education with DeKalb County School District (DCSD) by helping our students and schools. Volunteers can strengthen school-community relations and support student achievement. DeKalb County School District welcomes parents and community volunteers.

For more information, please contact Demone Gunter

M = Motion Towards Equity

L = Learning Environments that Support Student Success

This initiative helps struggling readers improve their skills and confidence by introducing a new way to enjoy reading.

Book Tasting: In a café-like setting with music and decorative table settings, students participate in a three-course reading meal. Each course lasts about ten minutes, during which students choose a book, read a few pages, and note what they like. Clear instructions guide transitions between courses. At the end, students can take home their chosen books to build their personal library.

Book Buddies: A virtual reading program created to support literacy development in elementary-aged students. Participants read online with a virtual volunteer twice a week and also read independently throughout the week. Reading hours are tracked, and students earn incentives based on their total hours read. To ensure safety, each volunteer undergoes a background check before participating.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Valentine

M = Motion Towards Equity

DCSD GRANDConnection is a series of educational workshops and conversations designed to help custodial grandparents stay connected to their grandchildren’s education. This is followed by a “GrandAffair” to celebrate custodial grandparents who are standing in the G.A.P. (Grandparents as Parents) to take care of their grandchildren.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Valentine