According to Communities In Schools Dallas Region Interim President/CEO Adam Powell,
When the school year came to a bizarre close in March, my nine-year-old son asked why he didn’t get to see his friends anymore. As I struggled to find an age-appropriate way to explain what was going on, I realized that kids, unfortunately, will bear the brunt of the economic, social, and psychological costs of this global pandemic — not to mention the potential academic losses — if we as a society continue to ignore their essential needs.
And so I am proud to be part of an organization that was specifically created to meet the needs of Dallas-area students, which have only increased in the wake of the pandemic. Since its inception, Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region (CISDR) has partnered with school districts to address the scarcity of essential resources, focusing on the social, psychological, and behavioral issues that hinder educational achievement, and providing mentoring, counseling, and guidance designed to scaffold students’ success. As society struggles to adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 reality, CISDR will continue to work steadfastly and relentlessly to provide essential services to students and families, while simultaneously supporting the schools in our community and the teachers on the front lines, during what can only be described as unprecedented times.
Now more than ever, our kids need Communities In Schools. Low-income students are falling behind due to the Digital Divide, and children with underlying mental health issues are disproportionately facing anxiety. We have worked tirelessly over the summer to ensure we are there to support our students this coming school year, but we can’t do it alone. We need volunteers to be caring adults in these children’s lives, even if their presence is virtual for the moment. We need continued financial support to withstand an uncertain economy. Please visit our website at cisdallas.org to donate or volunteer today. Together we can make sure that our schools — whether physical, remote, or somewhere in between — will continue to be the “safe place” our students need and deserve.
* Graphic and photo provided by Communities In Schools Dallas Region