Project READY

Generously funded by the The Akron Community Foundation, Project READY (Readiness through Expanded Acculturation Development of Immigrant/Refugee Preschool Youth) Program. During the summer of 2009, the program will provide a culturally and linguistically appropriate school readiness pilot program for immigrant and refugee young children (infant to five) and their caretakers. The program will serve 10-12 families mainly from the Karen and Bhutanese communities (refugees from these countries are considered “high need” emerging populations in Summit County) in the Kenmore Cluster of the Akron Public Schools (the area is one of two locations where the Karens and Bhutanese are resettled by the International Institute of Akron).

The 8-week summer program will use the Born to Learn program, a research-based curriculum developed by the national Parents As Teacher organization that has been used in bilingual/bicultural settings across the country. The goal of this program is to prepare low-English proficient pre-school immigrant and refugee children for successful entry into kindergarten.

For more information, contact Ed Kollin (edkollin@asiainc-ohio.org).