Inside the Organization

Lumumba's Literacy Project, Inc. is a non-profit organization in Washington, DC

dedicated to promoting literacy among urban students ages 7-11 years old. We

believe the program builds upon one simple concept - engaging children is the

gateway to literacy and academic success. The curriculum is designed to help students to escape into a world of imagination, creativity, fun and adventure while teaching basic reading, writing and

speaking skills along with some of life's lessons. 

The organization was started by

Dr. Cherie Ward. While studying for her Master of Arts and 

Teaching degree, the research was overwhelming, revealing that the literacy

rate for urban students in Washington, DC area ranked them last in the nation.

Moreover, as an English teacher within the District of Columbia Public Schools

(DCPS), many of her students were not reading at grade level. Many were at a

third to fourth grade competency. Alarmed at this, she combined her profes-

sional experience as a veteran television producer, theatrical artist and teacher

with imagination and creativity to create an educational television program,

"Lumumba's Playground", which would reach not only local, but a global commu-

nity of learners. Lumumba's Literacy Project, Inc. is an extension of that

because it is the hands- on implementation of the tenets of pedagogy that will

be utilized in classrooms and educational environments.

Dr. Ward believes that utilizing only standardized teaching methods within DCPS

and urban communities nationally, does not effectively engage many of their

students. As a result, achievement is dauntingly low. The organization pro-

poses to develop a teaching module for use by educators in urban educational

environments to challenge and stimulate learning through reading, writing,

speaking and basic life skills, utilizing proven theoretical and creative teaching

and learning approaches, as well as the performing arts of drama, music, dance

and poetry.

Our mission is to help educators creatively reach under-served children to break

down barriers to achievement, build self-confidence, and foster an enduring

love of reading and learning. We achieve our mission through the use of multi-

media, including television, to entertain while engaging children in reading and

learning.

Supporting Statement: We believe the current use of standardized struc-

tured teaching methods does not effectively engage diverse inner city stu-

dents to become literate. Therefore, we propose to pilot and develop a

teaching module for use by educators in urban educational environments to

help meet this challenge. Additionally, by implementing principles, practices

and techniques of diversified multicultural teaching and learning approaches,

students will be more engaged and inspired, thereby sustaining a desire to

read, write and speak English effectively and ultimately achieve greater suc-

cess.