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The mission of ENHE is to strengthen the literacy of at-risk children in East Nashville. ENHE provides a structured and safe environment where children and families can learn, have fun, and find support.
Why literacy?
According to recent studies, only 43 percent of 3rd graders in the state of Tennessee are reading proficiently at a 3rd-grade level. The reading crisis for young children has become so dire that Governor Haslam announced in February a new state-wide program, Read to be Ready, that aims to get at least 75% of 3rd graders reading at a 3rd-grade level by 2025.
The Read to be Ready program is a great start for improving childhood literacy rates in the state of Tennessee, and we are excited for the many beneficial initiatives that are sure to come from it. But at-risk kids in East Nashville school systems need to learn how to read and improve their existing reading skills now, not just to do well in school but to prepare them for the life ahead of them. And that is where East Nashville Hope Exchange comes in.
For East Nashville’s at-risk youth and their families, literacy means hope—hope for educational success and a positive future.
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2015: A Year in Review
As we’re making our way into 2016, East Nashville Hope Exchange can’t help but reflect on the past year - and what a year it was! Here are a few of the highlights and favorite moments.
In 2015, we expanded our program to serve 78 students in rising kindergarten through 4th grade. This growth also meant another first for ENHE: two separate campuses for our summer program (one at St. Ann’s and one at Ross Early Learning Center).
During our summer program, 74 out of 78 students (95%) either maintained their current skill level or showed improvement in at least three of the four areas we assess.
Students also took home at least one new book every day, courtesy of Flowerpot Press and First Book, for a total of at least 29 books for each student overall! 71% of our families read nightly with their children and recorded their reading in a log for at least 50% of program days.
To read more about our 2015 highlights, check out our blog.
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JANUARY WORKSHOP:
Stress Management
Test Taking
Stress is an inevitable part of daily life, and the life of a student is especially stressful before and during testing. Families exchanged ideas on how to manage stress in their lives, while also learning about the stress their children may experience with standardized testing. Our guest reader and performer, Ketch Secor, demonstrated how music can be a great stress reliever. The students brainstormed other ways to deal with stress, like telling funny jokes, taking deep breaths and exercising. After the students enjoyed a reading of "The Big Test," they drew self-portraits that visually expressed what it felt like to be stressed. To read more, check out our January Family Newsletter!
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FEBRUARY WORKSHOP:
Social Competencies
Vocabulary and Building Background Knowledge
In addition to academic resources, equipping children with social competencies is essential to their success. In this workshop, families discussed ways they have created these assets at home and struggles with developing the assets. We spent some time on cultural competence, which includes a child learning about his/her own cultural identity and interacting positively with children of different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. To read more check out our February Family Newsletter!
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East Nashville Hope Exchange Summer Sneak Peek
Last summer, our program grew to 78 students in rising kindergarten through 4th grade at two locations.
This year, our Summer Program goal is to serve a total of 100 students in East Nashville. Help us grow to 100 students by supporting East Nashville Hope Exchange during the events below or donate now.
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You're Invited!
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The 2016 East Nashville Hope Exchange Wine Tasting and Silent Auction will take place on Friday, April 22nd, 2016 from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM at St. Ann's Episcopal (419 Woodland Street in East Nashville). Featuring wines from around the world, appetizers, a silent auction, and light entertainment, all proceeds will be used to fund our 2016 Literacy Program. Midtown Wine & Spirits will be the premier sponsor of the event.
For more information on donating items to this year's silent auction, call ENHE at 615-254-3534 or email Executive Director Brandy Fenderson at brandy.fenderson@enhopeexchange.org. Mark your calendars for this wonderful event. Click the button below to purchase your tickets today!
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The Big Payback
The Big Payback is coming up on May 3, 2016. Organized by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, The Big Payback helps non-profits in the Nashville area and beyond raise money by hosting a 24-hour giving extravaganza once a year, where individual and corporate donors come together to support organizations that are doing good in the community. Prizes are awarded for the organizations that receive the most donations, and last year over $2.65 million was raised for 755 non-profits in Middle Tennessee.
We will be putting out more information about The Big Payback and how you can participate soon, but for now, check out www.thebigpayback.org for more information.
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Partner Programs: Tutoring at KIPP Kirkpatrick
As part of its School Year Program, East Nashville Hope Exchange has been providing tutoring twice a week for ENHE students at KIPP Kirkpatrick Elementary School.
From Executive Director Brandy Fenderson: "During their reading block, the students get to have small group instruction with their classroom teacher and with me. Instruction is at the student's individual level using assessment data to drive instruction. This work complements what the teacher is doing in the classroom without pulling them out during their direct instruction with the teacher!"
It has been a privilege this year to work with the students at KIPP Kirkpatrick, and we look forward to continuing to offer support to the teachers and students during 2016.
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Brandy with KIPP Kirkpatrick students
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New Feature: ENHE Blog!
Wondering what East Nashville Hope Exchange is up to? Looking for information about literacy, childhood development, education and the arts and more? The ENHE blog is the place to be! Stay updated on all the latest happenings, learn more about our programs, and get supplementary education about topics important to childhood literacy and beyond. Check out the blog by clicking the button below!
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SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS
Our success is your success! Please consider supporting East Nashville Hope Exchange with a financial contribution. Your support makes our work possible.
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Spotlight On: Evite Donations
Do you use Evite.com to send email invitations for parties? Evite offers a free feature for your guests to donate to a non-profit of your choice. Simply add a donation button to your invitation by following the easy steps in the Donation Options section, allowing your guests to conveniently donate to East Nashville Hope Exchange.
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Volunteer Opportunities with ENHE
ENHE needs volunteers during our Summer and School Year Programs to help with the following:
- Summer reading buddies and tutors
- Summer Friday field trip helpers
- Year-round snack providers
- Year-round helpers for Children’s Activities
- Year-round helpers for Family Engagement Events
(food preparation, set-up, and clean-up)
- Year-round volunteers to take photographs and video
- Volunteers to lead ENHE by serving on committees or Board of Directors
- Administrative help in the office
Volunteer by filling out and returning our volunteer form!
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From all of us at East Nashville Hope Exchange,
thank you so much for your support so far in 2016!
We are looking forward to our best year yet!
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