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.
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