With its community partners, Summit Academy Community School for Alternative Learners – Lorain will roll out the red carpet for school families at its November 13 community resource fair.
Agencies and organizations from Lorain and beyond will participate in the Connecting Family – Building Community – Sharing Resources event. Designed to serve the varying needs of school families, the event is providing tailored support that will help all reach their fullest potential, according to Community Liaison Mitchell Rodriguez.
“Beyond simply receiving resources, the fair can empower families to become more engaged in their child’s education and community. Seeing themselves reflected in school and community events is crucial for building trust,” explains Rodriguez.
Exhibitors include Big Brother Big Sisters of Lorain County, Legal Aid Society, Lorain County Community College, Lorain County Health & Dentistry, Lorain Fire Department, Lorain Police Department, Lorain Public Library, National Youth Advocate Program, Ohio Guidestone and Second Harvest Food Bank. Joining the school’s mascot Bobcat, Cleveland Browns mascot Chomps will bring some Dawg Pound spirit to event. Sponsors Fligner’s Market and Key Foods will provide refreshments.
Among the fair participants, Lorain County Health & Dentistry, a federally qualified health center, will provide families with health education. Staff members will be on hand to answer questions and connect families with health care resources.
“It’s important for Lorain County Health & Dentistry to connect with Summit Academy – Lorain families because children can’t succeed in the classroom if their health needs aren’t being met. Issues like dental pain, vision problems or behavioral health concerns can make it hard for kids to focus and learn,” says Alexa Geiger, outreach and advocacy coordinator. “By partnering with Summit Academy, we can share information about a wide range of services we provide for the entire family, answer questions and make sure students and parents have the care and support they need to thrive both at home and school.”
Meanwhile, at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain booth, families will learn about the nonprofit agency’s free programs and services for youth ages 6-19, and how to apply for those services. The organization offers one-on-one mentoring, mentor/mentee match activities, group mentoring, academic enrichment and tutoring, social and emotional learning, career and college readiness, summer camps, family engagement activities, a parent university, a learning resource center and a host of prevention services.
“The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County is to create and support one-on-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. To achieve this mission, we focus on one-on-one mentoring and provide the added support necessary to help each child graduate from high school with a plan for the future and positive mentor whose impact will last a lifetime,” says Senior Administrative Specialist and Community Outreach Coordinator Bridgette Hawke.
Rodriguez says the event’s broad span of participating agencies is sure to benefit the diverse, individual needs of school families.
“Recognizing that different people have different needs and providing tailored support helps everyone succeed to their fullest potential. This moves beyond treating everyone the same and addresses specific barriers,” Rodriguez says.