REACH Summer Camp 2023

2023 REACH Work-Based Summer Camp

50 High School Students Read to Lead & Learn to Earn

Kyi Brown

Mary Walker Choir

High School Freshman

Our Mission is to help alleviate poverty for all Chattanooga

Citizens and help create economic stability through literacy training and educational activities.

JOURNALISM TIMES FREE PRESS

Students toured the Times Free Press Headquarters and learned about history, importance, mechanics and new developments in publishing. They toured all facilities and had their questions about working in the field of journalism answered by various staff members.

The campers also enjoyed a visit to their camp from the Times’ editor.

The way to become a good writer is to write, said Alison Gerber, editor of The Chattanooga Times Free Press. She said although her advice sounds simple, it works. Good writers practice daily. Gerber (standing, left) and Digital Editor Tierra Hayes, (standing, right)

DIGITALPUBLISHING

10 REACH Students- with more in the wings- had articles published in the Chattanooga Chronicle both on their print and digital editions.The quality of the articles is excellent and well presented.

Two Camp REACH Coaches win gold medals in Tennessee Senior Olympics by

Sierra Crawford

Willie Kitchens headlines Camp REACH fundraiser by Brie McGlone

PRINT PUBLISHING

PHOTOJOURNALISM

Students enjoyed learning about using cameras and taking photos for publication.

Adrian Edwards, Mary Walker’s Executive Director, taught the Photojournalism class. Director Edwards attended Mary Walker’s Summer program as a young man and has served as newspaper photographer, writer and editor.

PUBLIC SPEAKING AND CITIZENSHIP

REACH Campers learned about government from former state representative, Robin Smith.They also had ample opportunities to display leadership skills within our REACH community and to speak

Robin Smith

100% of the 21 students in elementary and middle school show measured growth in literacy skills, advancing in word study, grammar and comprehension skills.

This year we partnered with the local nonprofit Community Development & Services to help boost reading skills.Their 8-week summer camp was held at New Monumental Baptist Church where 21 students participated in Lexia Core 5 Reading lessons.

Students in both Power Up and Core 5 accelerated their reading skills in the areas of: phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, structural analysis, fluency, and comprehension.

Lexia provides all students, from at-risk to on-level and advanced, a systematic and structured approach to the six areas of reading.

90% of HS students had documented growth in literacy skills, with especially great advancement in word study & comprehension skills. Growth in grammar was low, but we did see progress.

High School Students at Camp REACH with low English grades in school were required to participate in the Lexia ReadingAcceleration program.

14 of the 21 students began camp working on foundational reading skills, foundational reading skills are the skills that K-2 graders should master.

The graph below shows and example of students growth, 10 students began in the foundational group, by the end of five weeks, that number was down to two students. Students have access to this software and support throughout the year to continue their studies.

High School Sophomore

TylerAnderson High School Sophomore

WORK-BASED LEARNING

Logistics

NetworkTransport worked with students to teach them about the logistics transportation field and how to be successful in the professional world. We are excited to continue this relationship and work with NetworkTransport to help our young people find good jobs that pay living wages.

PAINTINGAND REPAIR

Allen and Jakari learned skills in drywall repair and basic painting.They painted a large room.They also worked on ceiling prep and repair.They both had great attitudes and willingness to learn.

Students completed classroom improvement project at Hope City Church. These renovations included replacing ceiling tiles and painting walls. Students practiced beginning, working through and completing a project in order to achieve shared goals.

SOCIALMEDIAMINI MASTERCLASS

During the CampREACH Social Media Mini Masterclass, students learned the history of social media and were introduced to fascinating facts about the most popular platforms to date. Students gained hands-on experience with posting to Instagram, including how to use hashtags, take photos and record video based on professionally produced content.At the end of the class, students created original posts to highlight their favorite moments at CampREACH.

Instructor

Paris Creative Consultant and Entrepreneur

Nea

MENTORINGAND LEADERSHIPDEVELOPMENT

The Mary Walker Board of Directors takes an active role in the REACH Summer Camp and they show up as positive Christian mentors to support students as they are planning their futures and advancing their life skills.

Our special guests, both male and female role models, share not only practical work skills but also offer spiritual guidance by sharing the love of God with campers. Each student has individual opportunities and invitations to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

BIBLICALVALUES

The value of community, family and individual development are all celebrated. Parents, guardians and students work together to help each other succeed.

R E A C H

- Respect for Reading

-

Learning to Earn

- Achieving Goals

- Citizenship

- Hard Work

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge

HOSEA4:6

SOCIAL& EMOTIONALDEVELOPMENT

ThegoaloftheSocialEmotionalclasswasequippingthestudentswithtoolstohandle trauma.Studentsareexposedtoanabundanceoftraumaticexperiencesathome,atschool, inourcommunities,andeventhroughexperienceslikeCOVIDandracialdivision, however,theyareoftenunawareofhowtohandleit.During6weeks,theyweretaught aboutthetypesandsymptomsoftraumaandhowourbodiesnaturallyrespond,aswellas copingskillstohandletheiremotionsinahealthyway.

Instructors

Daneille L. Gray Licensed Marriage and FamilyTherapist

Eboni Long Licensed Marriage and FamilyTherapist

INTERVIEWING SKILLS

REACH Campers worked with Renee Brasher, from NetworkTransport, who helped them build personalized, effective and professional interview strategies. Throughout the camp we focused on soft skills for the modern workplace.

SharkTank challenge with Pinnacle Bank's Vice President, Jimmy Moncrief & REACH Winners, Campers Logan Daniel andTysonArmour

to published article written by Kennedi Smith

FAMILYFINANCIALFREEDOM

Our work on financial literacy includes the whole family and provides ongoing supports. Opportunities are made available during the summer and when requested during the school year.

This year, students focused on saving, banking and entrepreneurship.

MUSIC

Willie Kitchens, former lead singer of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, The Impressions, brought his skills and talent to Camp REACH this summer.

STUDENT CHOIR & DANCERS

University of TN at Chattanooga and Bryan College

Camp REACH Visits Bryan College

Read the article by Honesty Williams

BASKETBALL

Students loved improving their basketball skills with a star basketball player all six weeks of camp REACH. Venus Lacy is a champion from the high school and college levels and went on to become an Olympic gold medalist and international professional player.

Logan Daniel, Venus Lacy, Jamison Malone, Kingston Brown,Avery Ford and Gary Cogar

AMessage from the Executive Director

ADRIAN J EDWARDS

As we concluded another successful summer session, it was certainly rewarding to watch our students’ academic progress, spiritual growth, and social-emotional development from week to week. The sincere appreciation we receive from parents and students is encouraging and inspires us to serve even more deserving students in our community.

AMessage from the Board Chair

LURONE “COACH” JENNINGS, SR.

“Jesus really touched students and teachers' hearts. It was a great learning experience for everyone and I am so blessed to have been a part of Camp REACH.”

“The growth of students’reading skills was phenomenal!”

PortiaThompson English

Timiethea DeLaney Music

Yolanda Putnam Journalism

Venus Lacy Basketball

Gary Cogar Painting

Michael Long Camp Counselor

GUEST SPEAKERS & MW FELLOW

Who is Mary Walker?

Mary Walker Was Born In 1848 In Union Springs, Alabama. She Was Enslaved Until She Was 15 Years Old When The Emancipation Proclamation Was Signed In 1863. She Was Married And Had Her First Child By The Age Of 20. She Worked A Variety Of Occupations By The Time She Was 68, Including Cooking, Cleaning, Babysitting, And Selling Sandwiches To Earn Funds For Her Church. Walker And Her Family Then Relocated To Chattanooga, Tennessee, In 1917. By The Age Of 114, She Had Lost All Three Of Her Children As Well As Her Husband.

She Enlisted In The Chattanooga Area Literacy Movement (CALM) In 1963, Where She Was Taught By Helen Kelly, A Volunteer Teacher. She Learned To Read, Write, Add, And Subtract In A One-Hour Lesson Two Times A Week For More Than A Year, According To WRCB-TV.

Walker Received A Number Of Medals And Accolades For Her Endurance And Determination, Including The Key To Chattanooga. She Was Also Designated Chattanooga’s Ambassador Of Goodwill Twice And Was Certified As The Nation’s Oldest Student By The US

Department Of Health, Education, And Welfare. In Addition, She Was Honoured By Two US Presidents, Dignitaries From Around The Country And Canada, And Even An Aircraft Flight In 1966. Following Her Death In 1969, The City Of Chattanooga Renamed Her Retirement Home And Built A Memorial To Honor Her Life.

MARYWALKER FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lurone Jennings, Sr.- President

Darrell Walsh, Ph.D

Nancy Cogar, Esq.- Vice President

Bruce Morgan

Nea Paris- Secretary

Regina Enochs

Terrance Swint- Treasurer

Sheryl Fletcher

John L. Edwards, III- Ex-Officio

Kemberly Edwards, Ph.D

SPONSORS & PHOTO CREDITS