Message from Starfish CEO Ann Kalass As is true for so many of you, the anxiety and anticipation of the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial has dominated my head, my heart, and my hands. Upon hearing ‘guilty’ for all three counts, there was a sense of relief. Yet, reprieve faded quickly before focusing again on the work ahead to seek a just society in which all children, families, and communities have equitable opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive. This verdict was not justice and will not return George Floyd to his family. It was, however, a step towards accountability. For nearly 60 years, Starfish Family Services has been strengthening families to create brighter futures for children across metro Detroit. Our high-quality programs are focused on early childhood education, behavioral health services, and empowering families. We recognize that children are inherently connected to their families and communities, and that we must engage wholistically. Additionally, we … [Read more...]
How this Michigan preschool teacher builds strong parent connections in her hometown
Koby Levin, Chalkbeat Detroit | Published online March 31, 2021 How do teachers captivate their students? Here, in a feature we call How I Teach, we ask great educators how they approach their jobs. In the early months of pandemic learning, Carmen Price was having trouble getting her preschool students to pay attention to virtual lessons. So she began experimenting. After some trial and error, she came across a few techniques that kept her students interested. PowerPoint, for instance, made it easy to include videos and photos in her lessons, which her students seemed to like. Her success made her wonder: Were other teachers thinking about the same things? Price consulted with the leaders of her preschool, Starfish Family Services, then invited other educators in her program to talk about their techniques for teaching young students online. “It just was awesome. The first meeting, I was surprised. All the teachers came. My heart was just so full because I … [Read more...]
Starfish Blog: African Heritage and Health Week
The first week of February is African Heritage and Health Week. It's an integral part of launching the February observance of Black History Month. What is the week all about? African Heritage and Health Week celebrates the healthy foods, distinct flavors, and cooking techniques/traditions of four regions of the African Diaspora—West and Central Africa, the American South, the Caribbean, and South America. How did it start? It’s an observance held by Oldways, a nonprofit organization that "develops resources and initiatives to promote the healthy foods and delicious eating traditions of African Heritage for good health and community." What can we learn? According to Oldways, “This is more than just about food. This is about shaping people’s identity and how they see themselves . . . how they see their culture as a part of their health solution.” The movement helps people rediscover and embrace healthy, sustainable joys … [Read more...]
Cradle-to-career program at Marygrove campus serves Detroit’s littlest people
By Anna Clark | Published online February 1, 2021 On a Tudor Gothic campus designed for college students, a $15 million, 28,000-square foot educational center designed for Detroit’s littlest people aims for a grand opening in Fall 2021, despite the uncertainties for both construction and school programming brought on by a global pandemic. It has been just over a year since the closure of Marygrove College, a beloved institution of higher learning founded in 1905. But a massive intervention by a number of collaborators, along with a $50 million investment from the Kresge Foundation, spared the west side neighborhood from being hit with 53 acres of vacancy. The emerging cradle-to-career program at Marygrove, or P-20, is intended to use education as a form of community investment. Priority enrollment is given to families who live within 1 to 2 miles of campus. The new early childhood center has a “foundational role” in the P-20 program, said principal Celina Byrd, but she … [Read more...]
Starfish Blog: Martin Luther King Jr. Day events
Monday, January 18, marks the 35th anniversary of the federal holiday that honors the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (His actual birthday occurs on January 15.) Signed into law in 1983 and first observed in 1986, the holiday is a deserving tribute to King for advancing civil rights and social justice through nonviolent protest. "In 2021, 53 years after King’s death . . . the protests against police brutality and the demonstrations in support of Black Lives are a powerful reminder that the United States has yet to fulfill its promise to Black Americans. King’s closing words at the Bishop Charles Mason Temple the night before his death captures the purpose and meaning of Black protest and sacrifice. 'I might not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.' On this MLK Day let us all re-dedicate ourselves to building a promised land where Black protest and sacrifice are not a requirement to live in the United States." … [Read more...]
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