Lane County Promise Neighborhoods
There is a national “Promise Neighborhoods” movement to develop of a continuum of “cradle through college and career” solutions to improve the educational and developmental outcomes of children living in our most distressed neighorhoods. Based on Geoffrey Canada’s ground-breaking Harlem Children’s Zone (www.hcz.org), Promise Neighborhoods may, in fact, be the key to releasing thousands of children from the life-long effects of poverty.
In Lane County, two Promise Neighborhoods have been identified. One is in Springfield and one in Eugene's Bethel area. We know that 82% of children entering kindergarten in these neighborhoods do not meet the early literacy benchmark, as compared to 56% across Lane County.
If we can improve the early childhood development of children in our Promise Neighborhoods, we will move the needle on school readiness across the county. We will also be able to scale up effective practices to other neighborhoods in our community.
Our vision is to develop a full continuum of supports for children, prenatally through emerging adulthood, in families, schools and neighborhoods. This requires the support of a broad range of community partners: education, business, social service, health, government, faith, and many more.
Eugene/Bethel and Springfield
Promise Neighborhoods
Click map to enlarge image.
THREE SIMPLE ways you can TAKE THE CHALLENGE to support United Way’s Promise Neighborhoods Project...
GIVE
• Skip one specialty coffee and send $5.00 to your local school foundation
• Donate gently used books to a childcare facility in your neighborhood
• Make a gift to United Way through your work place campaign
• Introduce us to a local philanthropist or foundation that might be interested in the Promise Neighborhoods
ADVOCATE
• Take a few minutes to call or email one of your elected officials to let them know about the Promise Neighborhoods
• Attend a PTA or neighborhood association meeting to share Promise Neighborhoods information with others
VOLUNTEER
• Become a volunteer reader at a Summer Reading Spot in the Promise Neighborhoods
• Help get the word out about Kids In Transition To School (KITS) spring enrollment in the Promise Neighborhoods
• Assist in the installation of a Born Learning Trail
• Join the Success By 6® Leadership Team
For more information contact Holly Mar Conte at hmar@unitedwaylane.org
or click on the image to the left to download the United Way Success By 6® Education Action Area 2010 Status Report
