The purpose/mission of our organization is to build a community of parents who are educated about the school system within which our children reside and encourage those of us who are less motivated to begin generating positive results within their own family structure.
The focus for our impact on the community encompasses: Parent Involvement, Community Outreach, Education, and Equal Rights for Children, Empowering Women and Cultural Competency.
Examples are as follows…
Parent Involvement: Three members of C.A.L.M. hold positions on the executive board of Parent Council for the Abington School District, an out going President and Vice-President. The Abington Parent Council is the umbrella organization of all the PTO’s/PTA’s [including all elementary schools, junior and senior high schools,) special needs, and gifted organizations for parents in the Abington School District. Community leaders, representatives from the school board, administrators and faculty attend Parent Council meetings, which are open to all parents or guardians of Abington School District students.
Community Outreach: Members of C.A.L.M. help facilitate the VIBE and IMAGINE programs, which are groups of male and female leaders at Abington's Junior and Senior High Schools. The aim of these groups centers on many factors that serve as barriers to achievement for the boys and girls, such as: self-concept, cultural-specific coping mechanisms, cultural competency and being a leader in their own discovery for self-definition. C.A.L.M. members have also given back to the community through outreach to the Laurel House. Each month we donate needed items to this organization and within our monthly meetings, we discuss how to best reach out to battered women in our area.
A Mother-Daughter Book Club was started to encourage girls to be strong, educated and confident. The Choco-Latte-Read-a-Latte Book Club mothers and daughters are uniformed in chocolate brown and pink custom made t-shirts worn with khaki pants. The book club has 31 members and is a flourishing force in the community. The club meets at Barnes & Nobles every fourth Wednesday of each month. Activities include the Reading is Fundamental program and provides a vast array of experiences for these young readers and their parents. We have a committed group of mothers and daughters who open up, analyze, and share their views about the characters and situations of each story. The girls also do arts & crafts. Connections are made, friendships are formed, mother-daughter relationships are valued as essential partnerships, and the girl's leadership skills are enhanced through their increased self confidence.
Cultural Competency: C.A.L.M. convenes as a committee of parents to chair a cultural celebration for an entire elementary school during the spring. The event consists of authentic cuisine, storytelling, traditional attire, crafts, music and presentations. The school is transformed as students, parents, and faculty and our guests rotate to different areas, learning the customary ways of life of the host country for the evening. This event draws public figures to attend as well.
