PUTTING FREE BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN
National Grid Foundation
A quarterly publication created to share a
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glimpse into the work of the organizations and programs National Grid Foundation supports. DESTINY INTERACTIVE XV Q2 2021
Editor Creative Director Executive Director
Christine Berard Pamela Focá Edward H. White Jr.
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BOOKS ARE WINGS:
PUTTING FREE BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF CHILDREN Pawtucket, Rhode Island, based Books Are Wings works to engage students in their classrooms, at school functions, community events, and playgrounds. But what makes it unique is its mission and desire to provide every child with regular access to books. Books Are Wings is grounded in the belief that offering books to children in different environments instills a consistent message that reading is not just school work – it’s a way of life. Founded in 1998 by Elizabeth M. Dennigan, her family, and a group of dedicated volunteers committed to literacy, reading, libraries, and fun, Books Are Wings launched its dedicated community involvement, and by 2003 had fully committed itself to children and community service. Unique book parties began at local libraries and parks, giving children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading by choosing their own books, and new “gently” used books were collected from local friends and neighbors and distributed at day care and community centers. Today, it annually works with more than 100 volunteers and distributes more than 75,000 books in cities and schools around the state of Rhode Island. The National Grid Foundation has been a proud supporter for four years.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering on its mission, core values and goals did not come without its challenges last year. Books Are Wings believes the power of literacy transforms the lives of children, their families, and communities for the better, and even during the worst of times, it worked at the grassroots level to respond to community need by providing children free books and digital programming. It changed its existing programming and created new programs that can be flexible as needed. During 2019 – 2020 Books Are Wings delivered 76,845 books into the hands of youth in eight of Rhode Island's most needed communities. Below are some additional highlights from some of its programming and the children and families it served.
The Books All Year Program This includes read-aloud and crafts in every classroom. Children get access to two free books to take home and keep that day. It also provides free books to students and their families at two after-school community events and before summer vacation.
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20,752 books 5,130 children 10 elementary and 2 early centers 36 in-person programs
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Literacy Partnerships: Summer Programming, Community Agencies Strategic Partnerships are the key to Books Are Wings program and helps to decide which direction will have the most impact.
■ 19,766 books ■ 3 literacy training sessions
Book Spots These spots are either indoors or outdoors and are designed to readily make available books for children and families to find and take home. Structures and shelving units are hosted and maintained by community organizations throughout Rhode Island.
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20,121 books 6 outdoor locations in Central Falls 4 in community locations 6 in Rhode Island State offices
The Book Bag Project When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the Book Bag Project was created so children could still access books when the school buildings and libraries were closed. This included two books placed in plastic bags and labeled for easy viewing and distribution. Working with Rhode Island Governor’s office, Department of Health and the Department of Education, the program is a welcomed success.
■ 8,103 bags ■ 16, 206 books ■ 8 school districts
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Faith and Abby, Green Teens at the Healing Garden prepared to plant seedlings in the freshly composted soil.
EARTH DAY
A great day for making lasagna!
By Pamela
Last year was Earth Day's 50th Anniversary. Most of the celebrating was placed on hold because of the Covid pandemic. However, it never stopped the Green Teens from skipping a beat (pun intended), and from continuing their work at the garden to make sure that fresh produce would be available to the many in need in their communities. So what does that have to do with making lasagna? Everything!
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Faith shows off the compost bin at the Healing Garden in Far Rockaway, Queens.
The cold temperature and blustery wind doesn't usually make for a great Earth Day event. Never the less, a few hardy souls ventured out to volunteer their time and muscle to help prepare the soil at the National Grid Foundation Healing Garden which is The Campaign Against Hunger's (TCAH) largest urban farm, located in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY. The garden is maintained and operated by the Green Teens, a group of young adults who participate in the programs created by TCAH, who National Grid Foundation proudly supports. The Green Teens Internship Program lasts about 10 weeks during the summer, and The Green Teens Workforce Program for 10 months during the year. The Programs provide a compensated farm-based
experience, where the apprentices receive hands-on training in farm and market management.
"Nothing goes to waste in the cycle of life!" – Paul, Green Teen On this Earth Day, Green Teens: Paul, Abby and Faith lead the volunteer group in soil preparation and seedling planting. They also gave a workshop on creating compost lasagna. The hands-on tutorial allowed participants to help prepare the lasagna and learn the recipe to enrich the soil of their own home gardens.
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All the Green Teens are very knowledgeable about the science of composting and the physical mechanics involved in its many stages of preparation. "Nothing goes to waste in the cycle of life," exclaimed Paul. Instead of discarding vegetables that are no longer fit for human consumption at TCAH food pantries, TCAH sends it on to two of its urban farms (Saratoga Farm & the Far Rockaway Farm) both cared for by the Green Teens. Paul explained, “Here on the farm the food gets eaten, but not by people. It's eaten by insects and bacterium which produce great compost that nutrifies the soil. I use to hate worms and bugs until I learned how important and useful they are in making good compost.” The process of lasagna composting takes up to six months to complete. It is a mixture of green (vegetable and fruit), and brown (dry grass clippings, paper, and wood chips) materials which are alternately layered and placed in a bin loosely covered by a breathable fabric which allows for air and rain water exchange. After the compost has matured, about six months, it's ready to be placed into the soil. First the dirt broken up and then the compost is mixed in. After this process, the garden beds are ready to receive the seedlings. The seedlings were carefully grown in an indoor shelter or hoop house. This gives the garden a jump start on the growing season. Abby, who gave instructions for planting the seedlings, empathized the importance of not pressing the ground around them
Paul waters the seedlings to prepare them for planting.
down too firmly because the seedlings need to breathe. Who knew? In the past nine years, the Healing Garden has not only transformed the lives of the teens who go through TCAH’s program, but it has also transformed the community itself by encouraging the education of eating healthy food and promoting good health in the community it serves. The Green Teen workshops provide the community with knowledge about farming in a small spaces and grow healthy nutritious food, and yes ... even how to make lasagna. ❧
If You are interested in volunteering at the Healing Garden, or In the Green Teens Programs please Click on the TCAH logo.
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Recipe for Compost Lasagna! Lasagna composting is all about the layers. The base layer of the lasagna starts with newspaper or cardboard. This will smother existing grass and keep weeds from growing. 4 to 6 sheets of newspaper or a single layer of cardboard will do to start. Soak the paper layer thoroughly to start decomposition and help it stay in place. Alternate Brown and Green Layers
Top the paper or cardboard base with a 2-inch layer of carbon-rich "brown" material such as: chopped leaves, straw, sawdust, wood ash, wood chips, and pine needles. The smaller or more finely chopped the material is, the more quickly it will decompose. Add a 2-inch "green" layer on top of the brown. This layer might be grass clippings, kitchen scraps from fruits and vegetables, well-rotted horse or cow manure, coffee grounds, and garden trimmings. It's not the color that matters, it's the materials which have moisture in it, unlike the dry and crispy brown material. Continue layering 2-inch green layers on top of 2-inch brown until your lasagna is anywhere from 18 inches to 3 feet tall. As the materials decompose, they'll shrink down quite a bit. For a finished edge, ring your lasagna compost bin with stones or bricks. If you want to create a raised bed in the space, add sturdy boards around your layers. Bugs and earthworms go to work
No worries, if you build it - they will come. Microbes and earthworms will show up to your lasagna layered feast. It can take 6 months to a year to transform the organic debris into nutrient-rich soil. Exact timing depends on the size of the composted debris, temperature, and moisture. It's well worth the wait.
Lasagna Compost.
Leafy lettuce grown on lasagna enriched soil.
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SEAT Construction Students Build A Future While Learning Valuable Skills By Christine Berardi
The future is bright for 25 young men from the Schenectady-AlbanyTroy New York area all thanks to the SEAT Center. The mission of Social Enterprise and Training (SEAT) is to provide transformative educational and workforce experiences that create a sense of purpose in the communities and connect business to real-time solutions.
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SEAT operates a multi-step approach to training that leads students to jobs and improved lives. The four-step model begins with a holistic look toward workforce development; generating a workforce that impacts the community; creating job
“I’m so impressed by these young people who want to learn a trade, earn a job and hopefully find a career in construction. This is a crucial time for these students.” — Jennifer Lawrence, Founder and CEO of SEAT
opportunities; and linking young people with the business community. SEAT’s newest program is the Building Futures Construction Training Program which is designed to provide young people with a paid 12-week credential training program leading to employment in the
construction industry. Like other programs, the Construction Training program is offered to low-income young people ages 17-24 who are from underrepresented communities and are unemployed, underemployed and who may have been through the justice system. Jennifer Lawrence, Founder and CEO of SEAT, said, “I’m so impressed by these young people who want to learn a trade, earn a job and hopefully find a career in construction. This is a crucial time for these students.” Since the need is great for the students, businesses and communities, SEAT offered a shorter, intensive program. The first group of students are targeted to complete the program in July. The next group will begin shortly after and graduate later this year. The hands-on programming provides students with entry-level skills, soft and hard skills to enter the trades and an opportunity to continue to receive advanced training
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and up-to-date programming and to assist graduates. SEAT students are expected to illustrate capabilities in professionalism with Attitude, Attendance, Attire and Aptitude along with hands-on and written tests in core competencies. Some of the lessons include: Basic Safety and OSHA 10/30 regulations; Construction Careers; Leadership Skills; Hand and Power Tools; Communication Skills; Construction Math; and Materials.
through apprenticeships. In addition, the students receive career planning, participate in career workshops while earning technical, industry recognized credentials and matched with employers. Since construction workers are desperately needed in the Capital Region, SEAT actively works with construction companies and trade unions to provide the most needed
The program means so much to the students and to SEAT executives. “The students tell us that they love the program and that it is the ‘boost’ that they needed to get back on track,” said Jennifer. “They have found a new gratitude for life and for themselves.” SEAT offers opportunities and a way toward a future for underserved young people, and the entire community benefits. ❧
If you want to fly, you have to give up the things that weigh you down. — Toni Morrison
First African – American woman to win the Nobel Prize in literature.
Seagull photo: Dakota Focá