Committed to children
East Nashville Hope Exchange (ENHE) is committed to improving children’s academic performance – with an emphasis on reading. Equally important is strengthening caregiver and community involvement in children’s education. These passions are reflected in our mission: Mission Statement: Strengthening children’s literacy through the exchange of knowledge and support among families and the East Nashville community to affirm the right to read for all.
Vision Statement: Justice through reading for life
You can help
Our 501(c)(3) program welcomes your financial donations as well as donations of your time. Volunteers are needed as guest readers, reading and lunch buddies, tutors, event helpers, chaperons and readers.
Our main fundraisers – the annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction and Bourbon ‘n’ Books –benefit from donations of auctionable items as well as from volunteers to help pour and explain tasting notes.
And, of course, books for readers age 6 – 12 are always gratefully accepted!
P.O. Box 68423, Nashville TN 37206 615.254.3534 enhopeexchange.org enheoffice@gmail.com
Summer Program
One major component of East Nashville Hope Exchange’s approach to improving literacy rates is our summer program. Educators refer to the phenomenon of the “Summer Slide” where gains made during the academic year are lost over the summer vacation. With the aim of reducing this “slide,” ENHE offers a FREE annual program that operates Mondays–Fridays for six weeks beginning in June. Programming runs from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. with after-care available (for a nominal fee) until 5:30 p.m. each day. Academics are stressed, but the program also offers play time, enrichment activities, and field trips. Healthy breakfasts, snacks and lunches are provided.
Throughout the year
Strengthening the involvement of caregivers with their children is another critical element of ENHE’s work. Family Engagement sessions are offered year-round, providing parents and caregivers with educational insights, strategies and advice.
Additionally, after-school tutoring during the school year is yet another way ENHE supports students.
Does it work?
The need for Hope
Improving literacy rates has a profound effect – both on our children and our community. Third graders who cannot read on grade level are on track to be our nation’s lowest-income, least-skilled citizens. Not surprisingly, low achievement in reading correlates with problems in school discipline, attendance and dropout rates, as well as juvenile crime.
To top off the program, students receive an inspiring picture book to take home every day!
Recognized reading tests are administered both before and after the summer program, measuring the childrens’ progress as well as the program’s effectiveness. Year after year ENHE students show gains in these assessments, which cover phonics, reading comprehension, sight words and fluency. This isn’t surprising, as ENHE teachers implement a balanced literacy program that incorporates essential elements of reading instruction. Plus the program’s low student/teacher ratio enables students to make rapid gains in their reading skills.
“While all students lose some ground in mathematics over the summer, low-income students lose more ground in reading, while their higher-income peers may even gain. Most disturbing is that summer learning loss is cumulative….” (From *“Making Summer Count,” a research study by RAND Education)
To see how you can join us on our mission to improve literacy and leadership skills, see the back page.
