Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Keshawn Dodds
R.E.F.O.R.M.
Reconnecting Education For Our Readjusted Minds

Mission Statement

The mission of the R.E.F.O.R.M. Program is to change the lives of several youth that live in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. The goal of this program is to help our youth to understand the importance of their education through the guidance of author, Keshawn Dodds’, Menzuo ~ Solar Warriors book series. These books will be used as a tool to help educate the youth and to spark their love for reading and education.

This program will also provide the youth with real world experiences. They will be partnered with their own tutor from one of the local colleges. Each student will also have the opportunity to experience life outside of the city of Springfield, Massachusetts with several educational trips and tours that will run throughout the year.

R.E.F.O.R.M. Program Format

10 – 15 inner city students (Boy's & Girl's) will be chosen to participate in this program.

The ages of the students will range from 9 years old – 15 years old.

The student will come from several schools located in the Springfield Public Schools System.

Each student will be paired with a tutor that will come from one of the local colleges.

The youth will meet with their tutors once a week to go over all school work.

Each student, parent and tutor will be given books from author, Keshawn Dodds’ Menzuo ~ Solar Warriors series to read.

There will be two (2) monthly meetings / Workshops with author Keshawn Dodds. The following items will be discussed:

- Chapter discussions about author Keshawn Dodds’ books,
- Issues pertaining to parent involvement in their child’s education,
- Specific goals for each student through each grade level,
- Things that parents and students should be focusing on to become better students,
- Discussions about MCAS Preparation at each grade level
- Discussions about life outside of Springfield, MA. How people live in other states,
Weekly reports will be kept on each student about their progress in school and will be turned in to the R.E.F.O.R.M. Program Director.

Educational trips to museums and historic sites throughout the New England area will run during the school year.

For one week in the summer, the students, along with their parent/guardian will have the opportunity to experience life outside of Springfield, MA. They will have the opportunity to:

- Learn about life on a farm by working on an actual farm for one (1) week
- Learn how to camp in the wilderness for one (1) week
- Explore several different hiking trails throughout New England
- Explore Different Wildlife by visiting Zoo’s
- Visit Major Cities throughout the United States (Sites to be chosen)
All parents will be highly involved in all aspects of this program and will have the opportunity to explore these different activities with their children

Each student must report their experiences with the program. This will allow the program Director to adjust and develop the R.E.F.O.R.M. program to best serve the students and their parents.

The opportunity to build and run the R.E.F.O.R.M. Program is a long standing dream of author, Keshawn Dodds. He firmly believes in the power of education and this is his way of building the future leaders of our country.

If not now, then when?
If not you, then who?
Someone must take charge and stop the fall of our youth. Education is too precious and far too important. We must “make” them understand that this is the key to their future and the way to a better life. The R.E.F.O.R.M. Program provides an opportunity for our youth to succeed. It is time that they see the light and we must be the ones to guide them towards it.